Jakarta - Minister of Religious Affairs Suryadharma Ali said the pilgrims of old age (elderly) and one who use a wheelchair can perform the pilgrimage in 1434 hijriyah. This revised the previous plan that prohibits elderly pilgrims and the Government of Saudi Arabia has already provide facilities for their tawaf.
"The Saudi government has made a special tawaf route for the elderly (seniors) and wheelchair users.", Suryadharma said at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Jakarta, Thursday (27/06), according to report from Relligious Affairs website.
Ministry of Religious Affairs made a visit to Saudi since last Sunday to deliver a letter from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) related to an objection after there is a reduce about 20 percent of the quota of Haj 211.000/year.
On arrival at the airport, the Minister held a press conference immediately to explain the result of the meeting.
Before this decision, Indonesian government banned elderly pilgrims and wheelchair users to be dispatched to the holy land.
However, after receiving an explanation from the Ministry of Hajj of Saudi Arabia, Abdul Aziz Khoja, and Deputy Minister of Haj, Hatim Qadi, it believes that the elderly (seniors) with a wheelchair can be dispatched.
"The pilgrims elderly (seniors), including those using wheelchairs are pilgrims who have entered in the quota which will be flown in 2013. While the pilgrims who had performed the pilgrimage, can not be deployed ", said Suryadharma Ali.
Suryadharma Ali explains, the Masjidil haram is actually not being renovated. But it is more correct to say, dismantled and expanded. Before it was renovated the capacity for tawaf was 48.000/hour, but now only 22.000/hour. It is the result of the demolition and expansion that is expected to finish until 2016.
According to physical condition of the expansion project, it is estimated by Suryadharma that the project will be finished in 2016. So, it's not impossible that cutting the quota 20 percent will last for the next four years.
"The Saudi government has made a special tawaf route for the elderly (seniors) and wheelchair users.", Suryadharma said at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Jakarta, Thursday (27/06), according to report from Relligious Affairs website.
Ministry of Religious Affairs made a visit to Saudi since last Sunday to deliver a letter from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) related to an objection after there is a reduce about 20 percent of the quota of Haj 211.000/year.
On arrival at the airport, the Minister held a press conference immediately to explain the result of the meeting.
Before this decision, Indonesian government banned elderly pilgrims and wheelchair users to be dispatched to the holy land.
However, after receiving an explanation from the Ministry of Hajj of Saudi Arabia, Abdul Aziz Khoja, and Deputy Minister of Haj, Hatim Qadi, it believes that the elderly (seniors) with a wheelchair can be dispatched.
"The pilgrims elderly (seniors), including those using wheelchairs are pilgrims who have entered in the quota which will be flown in 2013. While the pilgrims who had performed the pilgrimage, can not be deployed ", said Suryadharma Ali.
Suryadharma Ali explains, the Masjidil haram is actually not being renovated. But it is more correct to say, dismantled and expanded. Before it was renovated the capacity for tawaf was 48.000/hour, but now only 22.000/hour. It is the result of the demolition and expansion that is expected to finish until 2016.
According to physical condition of the expansion project, it is estimated by Suryadharma that the project will be finished in 2016. So, it's not impossible that cutting the quota 20 percent will last for the next four years.
