Jakarta, April 9 -- Indonesia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in coordination with the National Police (Polri), will establish a task force to prevent illegal Hajj practices and protect pilgrims from fraud and unauthorized travel schemes.

Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak said the initiative follows a directive from President Prabowo Subianto to strengthen protection for pilgrims.

"This year, we must prevent illegal Hajj practices, including through preventive measures at airports in coordination with the police and immigration authorities," he said in Jakarta on Thursday.

Simanjuntak said that in 2025, authorities blocked around 1,200 people from departing using non-Hajj visas. This year, the government aims to ...