Stopped Shortly Before Boarding at Soetta Airport

Prominent Indonesian cleric KH Marzuki Mustamar failed to perform the umrah pilgrimage after his name was flagged on Saudi Arabia's blacklist. The incident took place at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang on Monday (10/5/2026), just as he was about to board.

Mustamar, the former chair of the East Java chapter of Nahdlatul Ulama (PWNU) and head of the Sabilurrosyad Islamic boarding school in Malang, recounted that he had flown from Surabaya to Jakarta without any problems that morning. His flight to Saudi Arabia, originally scheduled for 3:15 p.m. local time, was delayed until 6:50 p.m. "I didn't get to perform umrah. As I was about to board the plane, I was suddenly called and told I was not allowed to enter Saudi Arabia," Mustamar said in a clarification posted on the TikTok account @ngaosabah and his YouTube channel on Monday (10/12/2026).

He had been scheduled to guide a group of pilgrims from the Tombo Ati travel agency. His younger sibling who accompanied him chose to cancel the trip as well, while his wife and children continued onward without any issues.

Jakarta's Consulate Lobbying Fails in Riyadh

Mustamar said the Indonesian Consulate General in Riyadh had coordinated with and lobbied Saudi security authorities to let him in. The diplomatic effort, however, bore no fruit before his departure time.

He stated that his passport and Saudi visa were complete and valid, so the ban was not an administrative matter. As of Monday (10/12/2026), there had been no official explanation from Saudi authorities regarding the reason for the entry ban.

Following the incident, the cleric decided to return home to look after his students at the boarding school, while guiding his pilgrims through their umrah rituals remotely.

Mustamar's Suspicions About the Blacklist

While the exact reason remains unknown, Mustamar suspects the decision may be related to security considerations or a complaint about his presence submitted to Saudi authorities. He also alluded to possible differences in viewpoints behind the incident.

"It could be a security factor. Or perhaps, God knows best, there is someone who dislikes me and sent input to the authorities there so that I would be barred from entering," he said.

Despite the setback, Mustamar said he accepts the outcome with grace, adding that teaching students is no less meritorious.