Ministry Of Religion: There Are No Rules Yet Regarding Umrah From Saudi Arabia

ILLUSTRATION/UNSPLASH

JAKARTA - The Director-General of Hajj and Umrah (PHU) of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag), Khoirizi, emphasized that the Saudi Arabian government has not opened the implementation of Umrah for pilgrims from abroad.

Khoirizi confirmed that the Saudi Arabian government had opened flights to 7 countries that had been banned so far.

"The diplomatic note given by the Arab government to us is true that Saudi Arabia has opened flights to 7 countries that have been suspended so far, but only for believers and expatriates", said Khoirizi in a Webinar, Thursday, August 26.

For those who have a residence permit in Saudi Arabia and are currently in Indonesia, then they can return to Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, if they want to go to Indonesia, can also return to their homeland.

"Therefore, I once again convey that there is no rule whatsoever regarding the implementation of Umrah, including Indonesia", said Khoirizi.

It is known that the news about the opening of the implementation of Umrah previously circulated in a circular of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia regarding the plan to open the implementation of Umrah on August 10.

"August 10, there were countries that sent Umrah pilgrims but the procedures were strict. Second, the cost was very high because he had to carry out several COVID-19 protocols. That's what we are mitigating", said Khoirizi.