Jakarta, The Indonesia Post – Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said that Saudi Arabia would open the implementation of the hajj pilgrimage for foreign pilgrims, including Indonesia, during the Hajj 1443 Hijri or 2022 AD.
“I met the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah yesterday, I received an explanation that there will be departures for this year’s Hajj pilgrims from outside Saudi Arabia,” said Minister of Religion Yaqut in a written statement received in Jakarta, Monday.
The news was conveyed by Yaqut during a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq F. Al-Rabiah in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Sunday.
During the meeting, Yaqut also touched on the issue of hajj quotas. He hopes that Indonesia can get the ideal quota along with the many pilgrims who have been waiting and longing for the Holy Land.
He emphasized that Indonesia was ready to dispatch prospective pilgrims and most importantly Saudi Arabia provided certainty about quotas.
“I said that maybe this year’s hajj quota has not been normal because of the pandemic, but I hope that Indonesia will get an ideal allocation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq F. Al-Rabiah said the Saudi Arabian government would open up opportunities for pilgrims outside Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj this year. Moreover, at this time Umrah pilgrims from various countries have also arrived and the implementation is running smoothly.
As for the quota, Tawfiq could not confirm because the decision was not from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah alone. The decision-making process on quotas should involve other relevant agencies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
According to him, the number of quotas will not be the same as before the pandemic. However, Saudi Arabia this year is ready to accept foreign pilgrims and preparations are continuing. (mhn/ojn/bbs)
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