Indonesia Negotiates with Saudi Arabia

Indonesia continues to negotiate so that pilgrims who have already arrived in the Holy Land can still worship. Pilgrims from the country that were unable to depart would be prioritized after the outbreak ends.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

Would-be umrah (minor haj) pilgrims from Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, fall asleep at the departure terminal of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, Banten, (27/2/2020).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Indonesian government respects the decision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to ban the arrival of pilgrims from a number of countries, including Indonesia, to that country amid fears of the COVID-19 outbreak due to a new type of coronavirus. Indonesia continues to negotiate so that pilgrims who have already arrived in the Holy Land can still worship. In addition, pilgrims from the country that were unable to depart would be prioritized after the outbreak ends.

Vice President Ma\'ruf Amin ensured that the government was continuing to negotiate for the benefit of the Indonesian umrah (minor haj) pilgrims, including via the Indonesian Embassy in Saudi Arabia. At least, Indonesian citizens who have arrived in Saudi Arabia are allowed to worship.