“Saudi Arabia, which manages the hajj, investigated how that could have happened, but it’s not released results, which has infuriated Iran, which lost hundreds of citizens”.
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Iran has boycotted this year’s pilgrimage., instead endorsing an alternative event on Saturday at the holy city of Karbala in Iraq.
At Muzdalifah, half way between Arafat and Mina, pilgrims gather 49 pebbles for Monday’s symbolic stoning of the devil, the last major rite of hajj.
They include 1.3 Muslims from 164 countries and the rest are domestic pilgrims.
He said Saudi rulers have no right to claim full control over Ka’aba and the Grand Mosque in Mecca and block the access of pilgrims to the places, adding that there is no justification for the kingdom’s move to prevent Muslims from performing the religious duty of Hajj. Prior to departing Mount Arafat back to Mina, they joined top Saudi officials in prayer at Namira Mosque, site of the last sermon by Prophet Mohammad 14 centuries ago.
Saudi officials report that almost 800 pilgrims were crushed to death, but bodies returned to their home countries following the tragedy numbered more than 2,000, including more than 400 from Iran.
Numerous roughly 2 million pilgrims taking part in this year’s hajj will climb a hill called Jabal al-Rahma, or mountain of mercy, in Arafat and spend time there in supplication.
Abdul Alim Musa warned against the politicization of the Hajj by authorities in Riyadh, saying Saudi officials are letting their political views to govern every aspect of the Muslim pilgrimage.
Saudi Arabia increased security this year after a 2015 stampede during the hajj killed hundreds of devotees, with as many as 400 from from Iran. In response, Saudi Arabia’s mufti said Iran’s leaders were not Muslims.
For the stoning ritual, pilgrims will be filing in to crowds through a multi-level structure housing three pillars symbolizing the devil.
Although Riyadh stuck with a stampede death toll of 769, data from foreign officials in more than 30 countries gave a tally nearly three times higher – at least 2,297.
Last September 24, Mina was the scene of the deadliest disaster in Hajj history, when the stampede broke out as pilgrims made their way to the Jamarat Bridge for a stoning ritual. Indian pilgrim Mohammed Arafan, 40, said he feels “chosen by God” for being able to perform the hajj.
The security upgrades coincide with $100 billion in investments that aim to expand accommodate Saudi Arabia’s growing religious tourism and diversify the economy beyond oil.
From there, believers head to the Jamarat area to complete the next stage of the pilgrimage.
Officials have been issuing pilgrims with bracelets that digitally store their personal data, after some foreign officials expressed concern about difficulties in identifying the stampede dead.
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The pilgrims are setting off to the ritual in groups according to schedules to avoid a repeat of last year’s tragedy, other media reported.
