He reaffirmed Iranian Hajj officials’ readiness to immediately help and cooperate with Saudi Arabia‘s Ministry of Hajj over the tragedy.
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Following conflicting reports on the number of Nigerians who died during the Mecca stampede, President Buhari has directed the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia to account for all Nigerian pilgrims.
“Instead of accusing this and that, the Saudis should accept the responsibility and apologize to the Muslims and the victims’ families”, he also said in comments reported by the official IRNA news agency. “The Islamic World has a lot of questions”, Reuters reported quoting his website.
Deputy Director of the Iranian Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization Hamid Mohammadi said a special committee was launched to transfer the dead bodies and the injured people to Iran. “Muslim countries should focus on this”, Khamenei said.
In addition to their regional rivalry, Iranians and Saudis are divided on religious issues: most people in Iran are Shi’ite Muslims, while a majority of Saudi citizens practice Sunni Islam.
The fatal stampede occurred on Thursday afternoon during the “stoning the devil” Hajj ritual in Mina Valley, almost two miles from Mecca, on the first day of Eid al-Adha festivities.
In addition, 10 Indonesians were being treated for their injuries in hospital while a further 82 remain missing, although a senior ministry official said it was not clear if they were caught up in the stampede.
Jahangiri reiterated it is “particular and clear” to Iran that “the Saudi authorities is chargeable for this catastrophe … and has to offer solutions”. They were watched by a large contingent of police. The deaths at Mina have heightened the acrimony between the two countries.
“Because those returning were moving in the opposite (direction) of the surging crowd, there was a stampede”, said Kabir, who became trapped under another man and had to disrobe to escape.
The death toll of Indian pilgrims in the horrific stampede during Haj rose to 22 today as Saudi Arabia grappled to come to terms with the horrific tragedy that has claimed 769 lives. In 1987 Saudi security forces suppressed an unauthorised protest by Iranian pilgrims.
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Iran has also demanded an apology from Saudi Arabia, prompting a strong backlash from the Kingdom, which accuses its rival of playing politics with the tragedy. While concluding he said that he hope Iranian leaders are more sensible and will wait until the enquiry is completed.
