Claims In line with Jokowi's Instructions, AMPHURI Urges Immigration to Remove Requirements for Letters of Recommendation for Umrah

Illustration of pilgrims from Indonesia performing Umrah. (ANTARA-Saudi Ministry of Me

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Central Executive Board of the Muslim Association of Hajj and Umrah Organizers of the Republic of Indonesia (AMPHURI), Firman M Nur, urged the Directorate General (DG) of Immigration to revoke one of the requirements in making passports for Umrah purposes.

The rule in question is that prospective Indonesian citizens (WNI) Umrah pilgrims are required to bring a letter of recommendation from the Regency/City Ministry of Religion office and Umrah Travel Organizers (PPIU) as a condition for making a passport. According to Firman, these conditions are discriminatory.

"This is a discriminatory rule against Muslims who want to make passports for Umrah travel, while the same requirements in the form of letters of recommendation are not required for people of other religions who will go on their worship trips," said Firman in a written statement, Sunday, September 11.

Firman assessed that AMPHURI's insistence was in line with President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi) order which asked the Directorate General of Immigration to change the old way of carrying out its duties and functions. Jokowi even asked the relevant ministers not to hesitate to reshuffle immigration officials who did not follow their instructions.

He compares that Indonesian citizens who make passports to travel abroad are not required to bring a recommendation from the Tourism Office. Meanwhile, for Umrah, he continued, there must be a recommendation from the Regency/City Ministry of Religion.

Therefore, said Firman, AMPHURI urges that this requirement be revoked with the consideration that having a passport is the right of every citizen. Then, the recommendation letter from the Ministry of Religion is not a guarantee that the congregation will not run away while in the holy land.

"The conditions for this letter of recommendation are acts of discrimination by the Directorate General of Immigration to Umrah pilgrims and Muslims," he said.

Firman admitted that the problems presented by President Jokowi were different. However, the subject and substance that many complain about are the same, namely the services of the Directorate General of Immigration.

"Once again, AMPHURI appreciates and supports President Jokowi's steps to make improvements at the Immigration Agency to simplify regulations," he said.