An Associated Press count has at least 1,551 killed. That made the September 24 disaster the deadliest accident ever at the annual pilgrimage.
Advertisement
The toll greatly exceeds the figure of 769 provided by Saudi Arabia.
The state-run Saudi Press Agency says Valls was greeted at the airport upon his arrival Monday by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The hesitancy to acknowledge a higher toll may reflect the leadership’s reflex to clamp down on information as it struggles with multiple pressures.
The crush happened in Mina, a large valley about five kilometers (three miles) from the holy city of Mecca that has been the site of hajj stampedes in years past. Indeed, Saudi rulers have not forgotten the Hajj of 1987 when Iranians holding an anti-America protest clashed with Saudi security forces, resulting in the death of more than 400 Iranians.
Saudi policemen carry an injured pilgrim outside an emergency hospital following a deadly stampede in Mina.
It said 42 Nigerian pilgrims were injured and 214 others missing after the stampede at Mina. But for developing countries, the remittances from these workers are a crucial – and often – the only source of livelihood.
Nigeria flew over 66,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj, the contingent was led by the Emir of Kano, Mohammed Lamido.
“Our Mission in Riyadh is actively pursuing the matter with the Saudi authorities”.
Odd behavior from the people who title themselves the “Custodians of the Two Holy Mosques” (Masjid-al-Haram in Mecca and Masjid-al-Nabwi in Medina), isn’t it?
Turki is the most senior Saudi royal to comment publicly on the Iranian criticism.
“As far as I know, no other country, except Iran, has been given that approval”.
Mohammad Hosseini, foreign minister’s consultant on African and Arab affairs and former ambassador to Riyadh, said Iran is the only country that has succeeded in taking the bodies of its nationals from the Saudi government.
New regulations aim to increase the number of Umrah pilgrims to 1.25 million a month, leading to 10 million Umrah visas a year, according to Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar, who said the new plan would be applied in 1437H.
Advertisement
British Muslim leaders have called for those going to the pilgrimage in the future to be given compulsory safety training.
