Saudi Minister Of Hajj: Hajj Rules This Year Are More Tightened

Minister of Hajj and Umrah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah. (ANTARA / Asri Mayang Sari)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Hajj and Umrah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, emphasized that his party would further tighten the Hajj rules this year, and would impose sanctions on anyone who violates these rules.

"This tightening is intended to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims in general, including pilgrims from Indonesia," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, April 30.

The Saudi Arabian government is ready to welcome the arrival of prospective Indonesian pilgrims, which reached 241,000 people this year, he said, stressing that his government also continues to pay attention to the implementation of the hajj through official channels.

"There is no longer a term illegal hajj," Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah admitted that he was happy to be back in Indonesia during his visit from April 29 to May 2.

"I am very happy to be in Indonesia. This year's visit is the second after the visit in 2022," he said.

This year, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has also started using a system called the nusuk application. namely a smart card that makes it easier for pilgrims to do Hajj.

"This application was only introduced for the first time in Indonesia, and this facilitates the movement of Indonesian pilgrims during the pilgrimage," he said.

Smart cards are cards made specifically to provide services to pilgrims, who contain information about Hajj and help pilgrims to find out the locations where the pilgrimage is held.

"The implementation of Umrah this year will reopen on 14 Dzulhijah, namely a week after the implementation of the pilgrimage," he added.