IDNEWSNOW.COM, Jakarta – Indonesian Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said that the establishment of 2021 Hajj pilgrimage is pending on the decision from Saudi Arabia government.
“Saudi Arabia government has yet to decide if this year’s hajj will be opened or not,” the minister said in Solo, Friday, March 5.
The Indonesian government, according to Yaqut, will immediately conduct a technical perparation once it hears the verdict from Saudi, as Indonesia had set several scenarios for 2021 Hajj pilgrimage.
“But the scenario can only be applied if Saudi issues the decision to establish [the pilgrimage] or not,” he said, mentioning one of the scenarios, which is the limitation.
He expected the pilgrimage during the Covid-19 pandemic would be executed differently from the normal one, including the trip to the destination country.
“For example, the distancing seat in the plane and the pilgrims’ room that usually accommodates eight people, will only be filled with four people. We predict there will be limitation [of the number of] pilgrims [too], unlike the normal times,” said Yaqut.
Meanwhile, the religious affairs ministry can yet to ensure if the pilgrims in the senior ages will be allowed to join the hajj or not. “We’ll follow Saudi Arabia regulations,” the minister remarked.
Read: Hajj 2021; Indonesia Sets 3 Scenarios
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