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436 Indonesian Tablighi Jamaat members on trial in India for visa, quarantine violations
The 436 Indonesian citizens, who were stranded in India after attending an Islamic gathering, were accused of violating their visas as well as violating the Epidemic Disease Act and, therefore, contributing to the spread of COVID-19.
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A health official conducts a COVID-19 rapid test on a member of the Jamaah Tabligh congregation in Kedu, Temanggung, Central Java, on April 20. (Antara/Anis Efizudin)
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ore than 400 Indonesian members of Tablighi Jamaat, a worldwide Islamic missionary movement, have been on trial in India over past three days for allegedly violating immigration and quarantine policies in the South Asia country.
“On July 14, 150 Indonesians went on trial, followed by 197 people on July 15 and 89 people on July 16,” Foreign Ministry director for citizens protection Judha Nugraha said during a press briefing on Friday.
Judha said the 436 Indonesians, who were stranded in India after attending an Islamic gathering, were accused of violating their visas as well as violating the Epidemic Disease Act and, therefore, contributing to the spread of COVID-19.
At least 17 states in India have reported COVID-19 cases linked to the religious gathering in Delhi, local media reported.
Read also: COVID-19: 361 Indonesian Tablighi Jamaat members return home, others still stranded overseas
During the court hearing, most of the defendants admitted to the violations but said they never intended to break the law.
The judge has yet to hand down a sentence, but according to previous cases in which other Tablighi Jamaat members from other countries were found guilty, the fines ranged from 5,000 rupees (US$ 66.69) to 10,000 rupees.
Judha added that the Indonesian government had provided legal assistance to the accused individuals, including by temporarily releasing them on bail.
“On July 16, the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi managed to release 53 Indonesian members of Tablighi Jamaat from prison in Chennai, so they could have better shelter while awaiting trial,” he said.
Once the legal proceedings are completed, the Embassy and the Consulate General in Mumbai will facilitate the repatriation process of the Indonesian citizens, Judha added.
