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View all search resultsImmigration foils unauthorized haj attempt by 13 pilgrims
Last year, Indonesian immigration authorities prevented the departure of approximately 1,250 Indonesians who attempted to perform the pilgrimage through unauthorized channels.
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Prospective Indonesian haj pilgrims practice circumambulation rituals on April 5, 2026, around a replica of the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest shrine, at the Al Mahmudah Manasik Training Center (AMTC), a haj training facility featuring the replica, in South Tangerang. (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)
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mmigration authorities at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, have prevented 13 people from departing the country after officials suspected they intended to perform the haj through unauthorized means.
Galih Kartika Perdhana, head of the airport’s immigration office, said the group was intercepted over the weekend while attempting to travel to Saudi Arabia on work visas.
“They listed Jeddah as their destination. However, upon further questioning, they admitted that their true purpose was to perform the haj outside official procedures,” Galih said on Tuesday, as quoted by Kompas.id.
Previously, Soekarno-Hatta Immigration Office also uncovered five other individuals attempting to use a similar method, with one of them flagged in the system for having made a prior attempt.
Galih emphasized that immigration checks extend beyond document verification. Officers also carry out profiling, system-based analysis and cross-unit coordination to ensure that every departing citizen has a legitimate purpose and complies with applicable regulations.
“We do not want Indonesian nationals departing through improper channels and risking problems in the future,” he said.
Galih urged the public not to be tempted by unauthorized haj travel offers. Beyond violating regulations, such schemes can expose pilgrims to serious risks, including financial losses and threats to their safety while abroad.
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