Hajj Pilgrims Detained in Manila 'Victims of Organized Crime' Claims FM Retno
Jakarta. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has claimed the 177 hajj-bound Indonesian nationals detained at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport for carrying forged Philippine passports are victims of organized crime.
“Our brothers [hajj pilgrims] are victims of organized crime,” Retno said in Jakarta on Tuesday (23/08).
She said she has been in contact with the Philippine Foreign Ministry to provide special attention and care to the case.
“I have communicated with Philippine’s Under Secretary to deliver my request for special attention on the case,” Retno said.
“Again, I am reasserting that the 177 Indonesian hajj pilgrims are victims, once again, they are victims.”
According to the Foreign Minister, based on the information from Philippine government, the use of allegedly forged passports was to access the hajj quota in the country, as Indonesia is overwhelmed with high demand.
“Therefore, the violation of law has been addressed, but what we need to do now is to provide maximum protection to our 177 citizens that have become victims,” Retno explained.
The Foreign Ministry has also coordinated with the Justice Ministry, Religious Ministry and the National Police to repatriate the pilgrims.
“We have been verifying through the immigration in Manila, as accompanied by embassy staff. Foreign Ministry has deployed additional manpower to assist our brothers,” she said.
From the 177 pilgrims, 144 have matched the data from Indonesia’s Immigration Information Management System, or SIMKIM.
According to the police, many of the pilgrims were tempted to take the illegal trip to avoid the long wait to go to Mecca — sometimes up to 20 years — if they follow the government-set schedule.
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