It issued the statement here on Tuesday following the circulation of a video of the Hajj operation by Saudi Arabian authorities.
Director of protection of Indonesian citizens at the ministry Judha Nugraha said that foreign nationals were caught in the Hajj operation because they did not have official permits (tasreh). Those caught would be taken to Jeddah, and there would be no detention.
"Detention will only be carried out on people who act as coordinators," he added.
Related news: Indonesia thwarts departure of 264 non-procedural Hajj pilgrims
On June 1, 2025, the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah reported that Saudi security forces had found three Indonesian citizens stranded in a desert in Jumum, Mecca, on May 27. They were suffering from dehydration.
"One Indonesian citizen, with the initials SM, was found dead, while two other Indonesian citizens, with the initials J and S, were successfully rescued," Indonesian Consul General in Jeddah, Yusron B. Ambary, said when contacted from here on Sunday.
He informed that SM and 10 other Indonesian citizens were earlier caught in a raid for trying to perform Hajj on a non-Hajj visa and were deported to Jeddah.
SM, who arrived in Saudi Arabia on a non-hajj visa, tried to return to Mecca with J and S using an illegal taxi through the desert.
Related news: Avoid being deceived by offers of departure using non-Hajj visa: Govt
Reporter: Katriana
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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