Jakarta. Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas praised Saudi Arabia for smoothly organizing the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage.

"I extend my gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman for their leadership, ensuring the smooth execution of all Hajj rituals," Yaqut said Tuesday.

"On behalf of the Indonesian Government and all Indonesian pilgrims, I thank the Saudi Arabian Government through the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for their services, especially to Indonesian pilgrims," he added.

Yaqut also lauded the Nusuk smart card innovation, which facilitated identifying authorized Hajj pilgrims.

"Throughout Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina, everything went smoothly because only authorized pilgrims were able to perform their rituals properly," he noted.

He also commended Saudi Arabia's fast-track facilities, including pre-clearance immigration checks in Indonesia. Upon arrival at Medina or Jeddah airports, pilgrims proceeded directly to hotels.

"Fast track facilities have been tremendously helpful. Alhamdulillah. On behalf of the Indonesian Government, once again we convey our gratitude," he said.

Yaqut highlighted cooperation in healthcare, security, and information transparency between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, hoping for continued success in future Hajj operations.

This year, around 234 Indonesian pilgrims died, a decrease from 750 last year. Among them, 40 passed away during peak rituals at Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina from June 15-16. At least 1,081 pilgrims from various countries died during the same phase, AFP reported, citing extreme heat as the main cause.

The Hajj saw 213,300 Indonesian pilgrims from 553 flight groups across the country.

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