Indonesian Minister Expresses Concern Over Armed Conflict in Yemen

Senin, 6 April 2015 18:08 WIB

Menteri Agama Lukman Hakim Saifuddin

"The Indonesian nation, with the largest Muslim population in the world, is concerned and sad over the ongoing conflict in Yemen," Minister Saifuddin stated here, Monday.

Several lives have been sacrificed in the war, which has disturbed the routine life of Yemeni people and brought misery to the people, he pointed out.

He urged the Indonesian people to pray for the war to stop, following the involvement of Saudi Arabia that has launched airstrikes against the Al Houthi rebel group.

"Indonesia, of course, wants the conflict in Yemen to end, so that it would not affect the implementation of the annual Hajj pilgrimage," he emphasized.

Two Islamic holy cities - Mecca and Medina, are located in Saudi Arabia, which is a neighbor of Yemen.

"All of us pray for the war to end, so that it would not affect the preparations for the better implementation of Hajj pilgrimage," he remarked.

On Sunday, (April 5), some 110 Indonesians who had been evacuated from Yemen, arrived at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tengerang, near Jakarta.

They were part of the group of 262 Indonesians who were taken to Jizan, Saudi Arabia, from Yemen.

An Indonesian Air Force's aircraft will fly them to Oman from where they will proceed to Jakarta by commercial flights.