Ministry Of Religion Affirms Not Managing Mujamalah Hajj Visas Aka No Queues

Director General of Hajj and Umrah at the Ministry of Religion Hilman Latief in Mecca (ANTARA/HO.MCH2022)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Religion emphasized that it does not have the authority to manage Hajj mujamalah visas (without queuing) in accordance with Law No. 8 of 2018 concerning the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah.

"According to the law, the Ministry of Religion does not administer mujamalah hajj visas, only Indonesian quota hajj visas," said Director General of Hajj and Umrah at the Ministry of Religion Hilman Latief as quoted by Antara, Monday, July 4.

Previously, on Thursday (30/6) as many as 46 Hajj candidates with mujamalah visas were detained at the Saudi Arabian Immigration Office upon arrival at Jeddah Airport, Saudi Arabia.

The company that dispatched the unofficial (non-quota) furoda pilgrims was PT Alfatih Indonesia Travel. This company is located in Bandung, West Java, not registered with the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag).

The 46 people were already wearing Ihram clothes, but not through the Special Hajj Organizers (PIHK), not travel that usually sends special pilgrims. However, now all have been returned to the country.

Hilman said in the law, the Indonesian Hajj visa is divided into two, namely the Indonesian quota Hajj visa and the Mujamalah Hajj visa invited by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Ministry of Religion's authority, he said, was the management of Indonesia's quota hajj visas. It includes a regular hajj quota visa and a special hajj quota visa.

"Because it is an invitation from the king, the visa manager is under the direct authority of the Saudi Arabian Embassy," he said.

Regarding technical departures, mujamalah visa holders must go to Saudi Arabia through the Special Hajj Organizer (PIHK).

Law No. 8 of 2019 Paragraph (2) article 18 stipulates that Indonesian citizens who receive an invitation to a Hajj mujamalah visa from the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are required to depart through PIHK.

"This provision is intended so that the departure process for every Indonesian citizen who will perform the pilgrimage is recorded. In addition, the organizers who are responsible for this matter are PIHK," he said.