Hajj Candidates Over 65 Years Old Who Are Constrained By The 2022 Age Restriction Are Urged Not To Withdraw The Initial Deposit

Director of Hajj Development at the Ministry of Religion Arsad Hidayat in Jakarta, Wednesday (25/5/2022). (ANTARA/Desi P)

JAKARTA - Pilgrims who are over the age of 65 who are affected by the policy of not being able to go to the Holy Land in 2022 are asked not to withdraw their initial Hajj deposit.

Director of Hajj Development at the Ministry of Religion, Arsad Hidayat, said there was still hope that next year the Hajj could return to normal without any age limit over 65 years.

"The pilgrims who are over the age of 65 still have the hope of performing Hajj, meaning they do not withdraw the initial deposit in the hope that in the following years they will be able to go for Hajj," said Arsad in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, May 25.

According to him, it is very unfortunate if the elderly, who have waited for years and paid off the initial deposit, withdraw their deposit because it could be that when they re-register the waiting time is even longer.

"Hopefully in the future it can return to normal. We hope that the implementation of this year's Hajj will be smooth and the pilgrims will maintain good health protocols and return to the country and not carry the COVID-19 virus," he said.

According to him, the implementation of the Hajj that went well, according to him, would also be a material consideration for the Saudi Arabian Government for the implementation of the Hajj in the future regarding the restrictions that apply this year.

During the 1443H/2022M Hajj, there were restrictions related to Indonesia's hajj quota, which previously reached 218,150 pilgrims this year, only around 46 percent, namely 100,051 pilgrims.

In addition to reducing the quota, there is also a limitation on the age of pilgrims, namely 65 years. For the age limit according to the provisions of Saudi Arabia.

"Hopefully it will be opened without any restrictions. Congregants can carry out health procedures properly so that this year's policy can be revoked," he said.