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COVID-19: Indonesians in Saudi Arabia told to refrain from traveling to Mecca, Medina
Saudi’s new suspension took effect immediately on Thursday as part of the kingdom’s precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the two cities.
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Worshipers wearing protective face masks walk in the sahn (mosque courtyard) surrounding the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque complex in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Feb. 27, 2020. (AFP/ Haitham EL-TABEI)
T
he Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh has called on Indonesian citizens residing in Saudi Arabia to temporarily refrain from traveling to the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina as part of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) containment efforts.
The embassy issued the statement on Thursday, after the Saudi government announced a day earlier its latest suspension on umrah (minor haj) to Mecca and visits to the Nabawi Mosque in Medina.
The statement was also uploaded to the embassy’s official Twitter account, @riyadh_kbri.
Himbauan kepada WNI di Arab Saudi untuk sementara TIDAK melakukan perjalanan ke Mekkah dan Madinah, menindaklanjuti edaran yg dikeluarkan Kementerian Dalam Negeri Kerajaan Arab Saudi@Kemlu_RI @Kemenag_RI @KemensetnegRI #NegaraMelindungi pic.twitter.com/x5q1KcGhAd
— KBRI Riyadh (@riyadh_kbri) March 5, 2020
"In regard to the issue, the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh is calling on all Indonesian citizens in Saudi Arabia not to travel to Mecca and Medina," Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Agus Maftuh Abegebriel said in the statement.
Read also: Umrah pilgrims can reschedule at no extra costs, government promises
Saudi’s new suspension took effect immediately on Thursday as part of the kingdom’s precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the two cities.
The embassy also called on Indonesian citizens to be careful in sharing information on COVID-19 as Saudi Arabia could punish people found sharing false information with up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 3 million riyal (Rp 11 billion).
The Saudi government previously announced a temporary umrah suspension for foreigners, including Indonesian nationals, and a tourist visa suspension for residents of countries with confirmed COVID-19 cases.
The embassy at Riyadh has opened hotlines +966569173990 and +966569094526 for Indonesian nationals in Saudi Arabia experiencing emergency situations.
