The men and women were reportedly illegal overstayers and were demanding immediate repatriation from the Kingdom.

Security officers were quick to intervene before the situation turned ugly.

Jeddah police spokesman Misfer Al-Juaid said the Indonesian nationals were coming from their shelter at the Haj Terminal and were heading toward their consulate in order to demand repatriation.

“Police and passport department officers stopped the protesters and escorted them out of the area. Officers explained to the overstayers that their actions would constitute breaking the law and could in effect hinder their repatriation,” he said.

In September a similar situation took place where a large number of Indonesian nationals staged a sit-in in front of their general consulate to demand repatriation.

In April this year, the Indonesian government sent a ship to Jeddah to take home more than 2,000 workers, mostly housemaids, who were stranded in the Kingdom.