Imam Khamenei: Saudi Leaders Must Apologize for Deadly Hajj Incident

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei addresses a group of clerics in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on September 27, 2015. (Photo by Leader.ir)

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei said Sunday the Saudi rulers must apologize for the recent deadly incident that killed hundreds of pilgrims during Hajj rituals.

Imam Khamenei

Addressing a group of clerics, Ayatollah Khamenei said: “The Muslim world has many questions in this regard and Saudi rulers, instead of shunning [their responsibility] must accept their responsibility in this grave incident by apologizing to the Muslim Ummah and bereft families.”

Referring to the bitter incident in Mina, which turned Eid al-Adha into a mourning occasion for the Muslim Ummah, the Leader added, “One cannot consider himself free from this sorrow [even] for a single moment and this sorrow has been weighing on the hearts of us and all Muslims during these past few days.”

The Leader described Saudi rulers’ effort to dodge their responsibility in this catastrophe as incorrect and an ineffective measure, saying, “The Muslim world has many questions and the death of more than 1,000 people in this incident is no small matter. Therefore, the world of Islam should find a solution for this problem.”

Emphasizing that this incident will not be forgotten and will be seriously followed by Muslim nations, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Instead of projection and incriminating this or that, Saudis must accept their responsibility and apologize to the Muslim Ummah and bereft families.”

On September 24, a fatal stampede broke out in Mina, outside the holy city of Mecca, as a large crowd of pilgrims were on their way to participate in the symbolic stoning of Satan, a Hajj ritual.

Saudi Arabia’s Health Ministry has put the death toll from the incident at nearly 770. However, Head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization Saeed Ohadi says the disaster has killed around 2,000 pilgrims.

Hamid Mohammadi, the deputy head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, said on Sunday that over 140 Iranian pilgrims have so far been confirmed dead. He added that some 85 Iranians have been wounded in the crush, while more than 320 others remain missing.