JABAR EKSPRES – Five Indonesian hajj candidates were denied entry to Saudi Arabia at different times during immigration checks at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport or Madinah Airport and King Abdulaziz International Airport Jeddah.
Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Abdul Aziz admitted that he received information that one of those repatriated had been recorded as committing a violation of hajj on a pilgrimage visa in 2018.
“He was sent home because it has not been 10 years since he was allowed to return to Saudi Arabia,” Abdul Aziz said in Mecca, Saturday (6/24).
Meanwhile, Head of the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah Eko Hartono admitted that he had not checked directly the cause of the five Indonesian hajj candidates being refused entry into Saudi Arabia.
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However, according to him, usually people who have had problems related to immigration are prohibited from entering Saudi Arabia for 10 years.
Currently, according to him, the five Indonesian hajj candidates are already in the country.
“They have returned to the country. They were not allowed to enter, so when they arrived at the airport, they were checked at immigration here and their status was still banned and they were sent back by finding a plane back to the country,” said Eko Hartono.
According to Eko, the five hajj candidates received visas from Saudi Arabia because the ban list system has not been connected to visa issuance in e-Hajj.
“Including Umrah, yesterday there were also Umrah pilgrims who were sent home as soon as they arrived. He can get a visa after paying at the travel office. However, once at immigration here it is on the ban list,” said Eko.
He asked people who have had immigration-related problems with the Saudi Arabian government to really know the time limit when they can re-enter Saudi Arabia so that they do not lose when they have paid for Hajj or Umrah.
