The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) Jeddah again appealed to Indonesian citizens (WNI) not to be involved in non-procedural hajj activities, following the deterrence and repatriation of 117 Indonesian citizens who tried to perform the pilgrimage with a work visa (AMil).
The appeal follows the actions of the immigration apparatus at Madinah Airport, Saudi Arabia, which prevented the entry and repatriation of 117 Indonesian citizens holding Amil.
The Indonesian Consul General in Jeddah Yusron B. Ambary in his written statement revealed that the Jamaah Protection Team (Linjam) of the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah on May 14, 2025, received information related to a number of Indonesian citizens being detained in Saudi Arabia Immigration, for trying to enter Saudi Arabia using a work visa but allegedly carrying out the pilgrimage.
"The 117 Indonesian citizens arrived in Medina using 2 planes, each: Saudiese airline SV827/14 May 2025 (49 Indonesian citizens Passengers) and Saudiese airline SV813/15 May 2025 (68 Indonesian citizens Passengers)," explained the Indonesian Consul General in a short message to VOI, Friday, May 16.
He further explained that Indonesian citizens came using work visas. However, physically there are irregularities because some Indonesian citizens are elderly, while the visa they have is a worker's visa.
"This condition sparked suspicions from the Immigration Department, so they took steps to prevent them from entering Saudi Arabia," said Consul General Yusron.
"After being interrogated, several Indonesian citizens finally acknowledged that the purpose of arrival in Saudi Arabia was to make pilgrimages," he said.
Consul General Yusron ensured that the Jamaah Protection Team (Linjam) of the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah accompanied the entire process of taking information and fingerprinting as Indonesian citizens by Saudi Arabian Immigration.
"On May 15, 2025, the 117 Indonesian citizens were sent back to Indonesia using the Saudia SV 3316 airline, transited to Jeddah and continued flights to Jakarta using the Saudia SV826 airline. They are planned to arrive in Jakarta on May 16, 2026 at 22:45 WIB," he explained.
Consul General Yusron revealed, throughout the period 3 15 May 2025, there were more than 300 Indonesian citizens from various regions who used Work Visa (AMil) and Visit Visa (Ziyarah) arriving at several International Airports in Saudi Arabia with the aim of illegally Hajj, based on the monitoring of the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah,
In terms of their modus operandi, they are also starting to change. If at the beginning they used uniform attributes (wear and suitcases), now they disguise and avoid uniformity of attributes.
"The Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah again appealed to all Indonesian citizens not to be involved in non-procedural hajj activities, and to always comply with applicable regulations and regulations in Saudi Arabia," said Consul General Yusron.
"Let us be wise in responding to God's orders to perform the pilgrimage, lest the money disappears, the Hajj floats," he said.
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Separately, Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry on Thursday clarified that all types of visit visas did not grant visa holders permission to perform the pilgrimage, except for Visa Hajj, quoted from the SPA.
The ministry emphasizes that individuals who hold all types of visit visas entering or staying in Mecca and holy places from 1 Dzulqa'dah 1446 H (May 28, 2025) to 14 Dzulhijjah 1446 H (June 10, 2025) will be fined up to 20,000 riyals (around Rp89,134,039). In addition, violators will face deportation and a ban on entry to Saudi Arabia for 10 years.
The ministry urges everyone to comply with Hajj rules and instructions, which are meant to ensure the safety and security of the congregation.
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