Tug of War in Umrah Pilgrimage Permit

The government lobbied the Saudi Arabian government over wider permits for Umrah worship. Ministry of Religion's Director-General of Hajj and Umrah Hilman Latief said the approach was taken so that pilgrims who had received complete Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines could enter the Holy Land. Although already giving permission, Saudi Arabia still requires Umrah pilgrims from other countries to use the vaccines they allow: Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.

Meanwhile, the Director for Umrah and Hajj Nur Arifin said that he is coordinating with the Ministry of Health to access the PeduliLindungi app data of Umrah pilgrims. Later, the government will open the data to be read by the system implemented by the Saudi Arabian authority. According to Arifin, the Ministry of Health will prepare a special page for Umrah pilgrims so they can access vaccination certificates in the PeduliLindungi app. "It has been agreed," Arifin said on Wednesday.