Open more Routes to the Holy Land

No one can blame prospective Indonesian haj pilgrims who tried to reach Mecca via the Philippines. There may have been fraud, and for those responsible, the law must take its course. But these operators were simply trying to make use of an opportunity unavailable in their own country. Rather than wait for years to make the haj, they found a way in a neighboring country.

There is no choice but to join the lengthening waiting list because the number of people wanting to make the pilgrimage increases every year. Their chance of actually leaving is limited by the capacity of the Holy Land to take in pilgrims. Every year, only around two million people can undertake this great act of worship. Saudi Arabia, which is responsible for managing the haj to the Holy Land, gives Indonesia an allocation of 200,000 pilgrims.