The lawmakers urged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to coordinate with Saudi authorities to determine the actual number of affected Nigerians and to ensure adequate compensation.
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“Exactly at the time when thousands of Muslim countries’ Hajj pilgrims are becoming victim of their lack of prudence, hundreds of Yemeni civilians are killed in a wedding ceremony in an air raid in Yemen”, spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkha added. In the incident, over 200 other Iranian pilgrims are also missing.
The hajj pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all able-bodied Muslims are required to undertake it once in their lives.
“A plane is supposed to leave for Jeddah tonight (Tuesday) for the transfer of bodies”, said Ali Marashi, head of the Iranian Red Crescent’s medical centre in Tehran, which is organising the repatriation.
Ayatollah Khamenei blasted Saudi officials for failing to live up to their commitments regarding the crush in Mina, near the Saudi city of Mecca, on September 24.
Khamenei also lashed out Sunday at Saudi Arabia over the Mina deaths. Iran, however, claims the death toll is much higher.
“In our eyes, this incident is not something normal and it is far more important to be simply compensated financially”, Rouhani was quoted as saying by official IRNA news agency.
Prime Minister’s Focal Person Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said under the direction of the prime minister, the government functionaries were taking all possible measures to reach out to the injured and the bereaved family members of the martyred pilgrims.
Iran, Saudi Arabia’s regional Shiite rival, has criticized the Sunni kingdom over the deaths, with Hard-liners staging daily protests near the Saudi Embassy in Tehran.
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“Representatives from Iran and the Islamic world should go to Saudi Arabia and investigate the cause of the Hajj incident”, he said, according to Fars News Agency. At least 239 Iranian pilgrims were killed in the stampede, while 241 remain missing, state television reported.
