Iranian Minister Asks Riyadh to Investigate Main Causes of Deadly Stampede
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, called on the Saudi government to launch a detailed investigation into a stampede in Mina, near Mecca, which led to the deaths of hundreds of Hajj pilgrims, including over 130 Iranians.
In a letter to his Saudi counterpart Mohammed bin Nayef on Friday, the Iranian minister said unfortunately, the Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice), which is one of the biggest religious festivals of Muslims, turned into a somber occasion by the tragic incident in this year’s Hajj season.
The recent incidents, which killed and injured hundreds of Hajj pilgrims, including Iranian nationals, has raised serious worries in the Islamic community, he said, adding that it is necessary to investigate precisely the causes of such tragic incidents and prevent their recurrence.
“As interior minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I ask you to order the concerned Saudi Hajj officials to fully cooperate with the relief workers of the Islamic Republic of Iran stationed in the holy city of Mecca and Mina in a bid to organize the affairs of the Iranian pilgrims as quickly as possible,” Rahmani Fazli said in his letter.
Saudi disaster officials has said the stampede occurred in Mina, near Mecca, at 9 am local time (0600 GMT) on Thursday after two large masses of pilgrims fused together.
According to media reports, at least 1300 pilgrims were killed in the stampede, which was the worst disaster to strike the annual Hajj pilgrimage in 25 years.
The Hajj, the world’s largest annual gathering of people, has been the scene of numerous deadly stampedes, fires and riots in the past.
