Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called on the Muslim world to unite and “punish” the Saudi government for its actions in the region.
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Custodian of Islam’s most revered places in Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia stakes its reputation on organising haj, one of the five pillars of Islam which every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to is obliged to undertake at least once.
The incident marked the worst ever tragedy during Hajj. “They murdered them”, he wrote on his website Monday.
But the fact remains that for the first time in 25 years, Iranians will not be able to participate in the Hajj and the Grand Mufti has also offended many Muslims across the world by saying that Iranians are not Muslims. The term “Magi” refers to Zoroastrianism – a monotheistic religion older than Islam that was once dominant in Persian lands before the Arab conquest.
“Saudi rulers. are disgraced and misguided people who think their survival on the throne of oppression is dependent on defending the arrogant powers of the world, on alliances with Zionism and the USA and on fulfilling their demands”, he said, adding that the Saudi family were “small and puny Satans who tremble for fear of jeopardising the interests of the Great Satan [United States]”.
“Indeed, no resemblance between Islam of Iranians and most Muslims, and bigoted extremism that Wahhabi top cleric and Saudi terror masters preach”, Zarif tweeted.
Khamenei published an extensive article Tuesday accusing Saudi Arabia of the “murder” of pilgrims in last year’s hajj, where a stampede resulted in the deaths of thousands.
“The Saudi crown prince, who places such emphasis on the importance of ensuring the security of the Hajj [pilgrims], must remember his government’s failure to guarantee security during last year’s Hajj [rituals] and stand accountable to the bereaved nations of the painful Mina incident”, Bahram Qassemi said on Tuesday.
The two countries severed diplomatic relations in January after Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Saudi Shiite cleric and angry Iranian crowds overran Saudi diplomatic missions.
Pilgrims from Iran will be unable to attend haj, which starts on September 11, this year after talks between the two countries on arrangements broke down in May.
His claims could not be independently verified.
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Riyadh said Teheran had made “unacceptable” demands, including the right to organise demonstrations “that would cause chaos”.
