Inp.polri.go.id - Mecca. Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar has publicly apologized to pilgrims for various issues encountered during the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage, from departure to the key stages of Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina.
“As the Hajj pilgrimage leader and Minister of Religious Affairs, I sincerely apologize,” he said on Wednesday (11/6/2025), as quoted by antaranews.com.
While the peak of the Hajj rituals proceeded generally well, the Minister acknowledged areas for improvement. Some pilgrims were separated from their companions in hotel placements, and others experienced delays in tent allocation in Arafah. In Muzdalifah, evacuation delays due to congestion extended beyond the time frame target.
He clarified that the delays affected not only Indonesian pilgrims but also others using the same bus route.
Despite these challenges, Minister Nasaruddin agreed with Saudi officials that this year’s Hajj was better organized, citing improvements in infrastructure, water supply, and health facilities. He also noted a lower mortality rate compared to previous years.
The return of Indonesian hajj pilgrims from Saudi Arabia began on Wednesday and will continue through 25 June 2025.
(mg/inp/pr/rs)