Minister Of Religion Yaqut Meets Sheikh Essam Bin Abed, Discusses Hajj Preparations Including The Potential For Increasing Quotas

Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and his staff when receiving an audience with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia (Via Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas will soon go to Saudi Arabia to meet the Minister of Hajj to discuss preparations for the implementation of the Hajj, including exploring the possibility of using other countries' quotas that have not been completely absorbed.

"We are studying and will meet with the Saudi Minister of Hajj to discuss countries that do not take advantage of their hajj quota so that it can be used by Indonesia," said the Minister of Religion in an official statement from the Ministry of Religion quoted from Jakarta, Antara, Thursday, March 10.

Yaqut's statement was delivered after receiving a visit from the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, Sheikh Essam bin Abed Al-Taqafi in Jakarta today.

Until now, the government of Saudi Arabia has not given the green light whether the Hajj will be opened to foreign pilgrims or not. However, the signal to open has strengthened along with the lifting of a number of rules, such as PCR and quarantine.

In addition to discussing the hajj, Yaqut said the meeting with Sheikh Essam bin Abed Al-Taqafi discussed the planned visit of the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Da'wah and Counseling of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al-Shaykh to Indonesia.

Yaqut said he was pleased with the planned visit of the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Da'wah and Counseling of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al-Shaykh to Indonesia. Moreover, when he visited Saudi Arabia he was warmly welcomed by the Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs and Da'wah.

"This makes me feel indebted to welcome and serve him during his visit to Indonesia. We will try our best regarding the visit of the Minister of Islamic Affairs to Indonesia, such as meeting with the President and Islamic organizations in Indonesia," said the Minister of Religion.

Meanwhile, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, Sheikh Essam bin Abed Al-Taqafi, expressed his gratitude to the Indonesian government for inviting the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Da'wah and Counseling of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia.

"We also feel very comfortable in Indonesia because the Ministry of Religion, NU and other Islamic organizations are friends. The Ministry of Religion and NU are two important sectors for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," he said.