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Saudi authorities deport 34 illegal Indonesian pilgrims
Saudi Arabia has released 34 Indonesians who had entered the country without the proper haj visa, while the group's three coordinators remain in Medina to face legal proceedings.
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Indonesian pilgrims arrive on May 20, 2024 at the Grand Millennium Al Wahda hotel in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. (Antara/ Sigid Kurniawan)
S
audi Arabian authorities have released 34 Indonesian pilgrims, who were detained for attempting to perform the haj without proper visas, for immediate deportation.
The Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah provided active assistance to members of the group throughout the process.
"Since yesterday [Monday], the Indonesian Consulate General-Jeddah’s congregation protection team has continued to accompany the examination of the 37 individuals in question,” Consul General Yusron B. Ambary told a Zoom meeting with the Haj Media Center on Monday, as quoted by Detik.com.
The pilgrims were repatriated to Indonesia immediately.
“Alhamdulillah [Praise be to God], 34 pilgrims were [released] and departed this morning for Indonesia on a Qatar Airways flight, which will arrive in Jakarta at 9:30 p.m.," Yusron said on Monday in a statement from the Religious Affairs Ministry.
The consul general said that three individuals with the initials SJ, SY and MA, who coordinated the trip, remained in Saudi custody for legal proceedings at the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Medina.
He added that the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah would continue in its efforts to protect the rights of the detained Indonesians.
