Hajj Ministry Exposes Guidance Groups Violating 'Dam' Payment Rules

Indonesian Hajj organizers have uncovered violations related to 'dam' payments, a mandatory ritual sacrifice for pilgrims, involving several Hajj Guidance Groups (KBIHU). These KBIHU allegedly collaborated with local residents in Saudi Arabia to collect 'dam' fees from Indonesian pilgrims, failing to transfer the funds to Adahi, the official agency appointed by the Saudi Arabian government.

Ichsan Marsha, spokesperson for the Hajj and Umrah Ministry and head of the Media Center Haji (MCH) for the Hajj Organizing Committee in Saudi Arabia, stated that while some KBIHU have been cooperative and managed to retrieve and submit the collected 'dam' payments to Adahi, others have proven uncooperative. He cited KBIHU initialed AU from West Nusa Tenggara as an example, noting their refusal to return the collected 'dam' and their willingness to face the repercussions.

This crackdown on 'dam' payment procedures is based on a directive from the Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah Services. The Saudi Arabian government has designated Adahi as the sole official channel for pilgrims worldwide, including those from Indonesia, to pay their 'dam' while in the Holy Land. The ministry stressed that any 'dam Nusuk' payments made by Indonesian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia must be processed through Adahi. The practice of KBIHU working with local residents to bypass this official channel not only violates regulations but also allows for potential profiteering from pilgrim payments.

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KBIHU AU did not want to return (the collected dam) and was ready to accept the risks