Govt Working on the Release of 11 Saudi-detained Indonesians

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government is making all efforts to ensure the release of the 11 minor Hajj pilgrims who have been detained by the Saudi Arabian authorities on charges of religious deviation since July 18.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry's Director of Indonesian Citizens and Legal Entities Lalu Muhammad Iqbal stated here on Monday that they were arrested by the Saudi authorities after performing the Eid prayer on July 18, or a day after the official day, at the Masjidil Haram Grand Mosque complex in Mecca as they were wearing black "gamis," or long shirt-like dress.

Iqbal explained that further investigation is underway, and the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah continues to attend the process and to assist the eleven nationals.

Heavier charges were levied against the 11 minor Hajj pilgrims as the leader of the group admitted to being an "Imam Mahdi," or "savior of the apocalypse," which deviates from the teachings of Islam.

However, following confirmation, the leader and founder of the Association of Light Youth Syahid (Himpass) Zubir Amir Abdullah clarified that according to him, "Mahdi" refers to "teacher" and not "savior."

"So, it is a matter of diction that mahdi is not being referred to mahdi, which is mentioned in the Hadith," noted Iqbal.

Based on this, Iqbal affirmed that the government would urge the Saudi authorities to immediately release the 11 nationals.

Moreover, Zubir never called himself as an "Imam Mahdi" but his followers did.

The detainees comprise Zubir Amir Abdullah, Ismelda Harfianti Lubis, Kharmain Amir Abdullah, Rahmat Abdullah Makki Almalik, Rakhmat Syawal Lubisno, Rudi Aulia Usman Arif, Muhammad Zainullah Wahid, Muhammad Idris Ruslan, Muhammad Lubis, Joko Handoko Marore, and Jamsah Binti Jamin.

Eight members of the group were detained in the Mecca temporary Jail, and two women were held in the Mecca Women General Prison.

Meanwhile, Zubir was brought to a mental hospital for psychiatric examination.

Iqbal stated that the 11 nationals are in sound health, and during the last visit, they just requested the consulate generals staff to bring them some medicines and undergarments.

ANTARA