TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) has raised concerns regarding Umrah backpackers, urging Indonesian Muslims to utilize the services of Umrah travel agencies licensed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
“Umrah travel must be done with the Hajj and Umrah organizers (PPIU),” the DPR Commission VIII deputy chairman, Ace Hasan Syadzily, said in a video statement published on the TVR Parliament’s YouTube channel in Jakarta on Tuesday, April 30, as reported by Antara.
Ace made the call in response to Muslims performing Umrah independently after the Saudi Arabian government allowed personal visit visa holders to perform Umrah.
According to him, the new Saudi policy contradicts Article 86 of Law No. 8 of 2019 on the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage, which mandates all Umrah trips to be facilitated through the PPIU
Therefore, he hoped that the government could clarify this policy to the Saudi government so that Indonesian pilgrims could follow the existing rules.
Saudi Arabia’s New Policy on Umrah
Previously, Saudi Arabia has expanded the eligibility for Umrah pilgrimage to all types of visa holders, including personal, family, transit, work, and electronic visas.
“Arrivals from anywhere and with any visa can perform Umrah with ease and comfort,” the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said in an X post, as reported by Gulf News on Thursday, April 25.
Saudi Arabia also encouraged pilgrims to use the Nusuk app to obtain an Umrah permit and adhere to the designated times for the holy rituals at the Grand Mosque in Mecca. In recent months, the kingdom has provided facilities for overseas Muslims, such as an extended Umrah visa duration from 30 to 90 days, entry via land, air, and sea ports, and an exemption from the requirement for female pilgrims to be accompanied by male guardians.
ANTARA | GULF NEWS
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