No haj pilgrims from Indonesia this year

Indonesia has decided not to send pilgrims for the 2021 haj session this year.

“Because it is still a pandemic (Covid-19) and for the safety of the pilgrims, the government has decided that Indonesian pilgrims will not leave (for haj) this year,” ​​Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said at a press conference today.

He added that the decision was also because the Saudi Arabian government had yet to extend an invitation for discussion on allocation of haj quota and the preparation of pilgrims from Indonesia.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 230,000 pilgrims from Indonesia performed the haj every year.