“Our aim in holding this workshop is to create and align the information system on Hajj and Umrah,” Deputy for Foreign Relations at the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Hassan Al-Manakhra, said.
Al-Manakhra emphasized the Saudi Arabian government’s commitment to continuing to build sustainable relationships with the Indonesian media.
He highlighted the importance of disseminating accurate information on Hajj and Umrah rules so that prospective pilgrims can obtain accurate information and carry out their pilgrimage with peace of mind, as per the established rules.
“If the information provided about Hajj is accurate, it will make pilgrims feel comfortable and at ease. Otherwise, if the information provided is invalid, Hajj and Umrah pilgrims will feel uncomfortable and unsafe,” he said.
Hence, through the workshop, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah strived to foster cooperation with the media to align information systems so that prospective Hajj and Umrah pilgrims can obtain accurate information.
During the workshop, participating journalists were encouraged to share the problems they face in finding appropriate sources of information about Hajj and Umrah implementation.
They were also invited to provide inputs and suggestions on how they can obtain such information.
During the session, one participant said that he was still facing difficulty accessing information regarding the Hajj pilgrimage situation.
He then suggested establishing a media center to help journalists obtain reliable information. He also expressed the hope that through the media center, journalists could ask questions about certain issues.
While explaining the mechanism for obtaining information, the media manager of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia, Moath, said that information about Hajj can be obtained through the official website and social media accounts of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Ministry of Media of Saudi Arabia, and the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
At the end of the workshop session, he also shared several guidelines and instructions from the Saudi Media Regulatory Authority on accessing information about Hajj.
The guidelines encourage the media to publish information and statistics from reliable official sources, such as spokespersons of government agencies, among other things.
Aerial photography using remote-controlled aircraft (drones) is strictly prohibited during the Hajj season unless the necessary permits have been obtained from the authorities.
Then, the installation of closed-circuit television networks inside hotels in Mecca and Medina also requires obtaining the necessary licenses from the Saudi General Authority for Media Regulation.
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Translator: Katriana
Editor: Primayanti
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