Kemenag Affirms That Delayed Hajj Pilgrims Does Not Mean Canceled Departure

Dream - Director of Domestic Hajj Services, Saiful Mujab, emphasizes that delayed hajj pilgrims do not mean canceled departure. This statement is issued as an explanation of the news regarding the delayed departure of hajj pilgrims in several embarkation points.

"We assure you that delayed hajj pilgrims do not mean canceled departure. We will fly them to the Holy Land once all the conditions required for departure have been fulfilled," said Saiful in Jakarta on Friday, June 2, 2023.

Mujab explained that there are several factors causing the delay in the departure of pilgrims, such as unfulfilled health requirements and unresolved immigration requirements, such as the issuance of hajj visas.

He explained that if pilgrims are delayed due to health factors, efforts will be made for their recovery first and they will be sent on the next batch. The same goes for those delayed due to the non-issuance of their hajj visas.

"Due to certain health problems, it is not possible to fly them on the current batch. Recovery must come first. Well, then we will try to arrange for them to depart on the next batch," said Mujab.

"Currently, the visa process is done independently through bio visa. They have to record their faces and fingerprints using their own gadgets," he added.

Mujab revealed that in the field, the Ministry of Religious Affairs found many pilgrims facing obstacles, so their visas had not been issued by the time of their scheduled departure.

"As a result, their departure was delayed and they did not leave with the designated batch," said Mujab.

"We will wait for them. Once their visas are issued, we will send them on the next batch. Remember, delayed does not mean canceled departure," he concluded.