Response To The Umrah Phenomenon 'Backpacker', Commission VIII DPR Reminds Umrah Muslims Through Official Agents

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives, Ace Hasan Syadzily, responded to the issue of the Umrah phenomenon independently or Umrah backpacker after the Government of Saudi Arabia granted permission for Umrah pilgrimage by using a personal visit visa or independent visa.

Ace reminded Muslims in the country to travel Umrah through Umrah Travel Organizers (PPIU) or official agents who have received permission from the Minister of Religion.

"The Umrah journey must go through the organizers of the pilgrimage and Umrah," said Ace, Tuesday, April 30. Ace explained that the Saudi Arabian government's policy regarding tourist visas can carry out Umrah worship is contrary to Article 86 of Law Number 8 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah, which states that Umrah travel must go through PPIU. "In the future, we hope that the Indonesian Government can explain the policy to the Government of Saudi Arabia, so that Umrah pilgrims from Indonesia can follow the rules that apply in the country," said the West Java Legislator.

Kinian, Menteri Haji dan UmrahArab SaudiTawfiq Bin Fawzan Al Rabiah telah menegaskan, pihaknya tidak mengizinkan apabila visa yang digunakan tidak resmi.

"The use of visas other than hajj and procedural visas, we would like to convey that the Saudi Arabian government does not allow it," said Tawfiq at Hotel Four Season, Kuningan, South Jakarta, Tuesday, April 30.

Tawfiq said that his party would not tolerate those who carry out Hajj or Umrah without proper procedures. He said, his party would have serious sanctions for pilgrims who do not use official visas.

"It will not tolerate even strong enough sanctions if it is proven to carry out the pilgrimage or come there with a visa that is not procedural. And it will not be silenced, we will seriously impose sanctions," he stressed.