Iran Declares 3-day Nat’l Mourning over Mecca Deaths

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei declared three days of national mourning following the deaths of several hundred Hajj pilgrims, including Iranians, in the holy city of Mecca.

“Offering condolences to the bereaved families of the killed pilgrims, I declare three days of national mourning in the country,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in a message on Thursday.

"The Saudi government is obliged to accept its heavy responsibility in this bitter incident and meet its obligations in compliance with the rule of righteousness and fairness; mismanagement and improper measures that were behind this tragedy should not be undermined,” the Leader said.

Earlier today, Head of Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization Saeed Ohadi said that in Hajj stampede in Mena as many as 90 Iranian pilgrims have been confirmed dead with 150 others injured.

Speaking to IRNA, Ohadi said that according to statistics released by Saudi officials, 1,000 pilgrims have lost their lives and a similar number have been injured.

Following the deadly incident during Hajj rituals, 200 medical teams were dispatched to the scene to help those injured, Ohadi said.

He said that Saudi hospitals have difficulty for accepting the injured pilgrims and do not allow Iranian doctors to enter and help.

Noting that most of the victims are from Nigeria, India and Pakistan, Ohadi said that at present bodies of a large number of the victims and injured persons are still on the ground.


Source: IRNA	24-09-2015 - 21:29 Last updated 24-09-2015 - 22:11

Saudi Authorities: 717 Killed in a Deadly Stampede during Hajj in Mecca

At least 717 people taking part in the Hajj pilgrimage have been killed in a stampede near the Islamic holy city of Mecca in worst hajj disaster in 25 years.

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At least 805 others were injured in the crush at Mina, a few kilometers east of Mecca, caused by two large groups of pilgrims arriving together at a crossroads on their way to performing the "stoning the devil" ritual at Jamarat, Saudi civil defense said.

Thursday's disaster was the worst to befall the pilgrimage since July 1990, when 1,426 pilgrims were crushed to death in a tunnel near Mecca.
The incident at Mina occurred as two million pilgrims were taking part in the Hajj's last major rite while heading to participate in the symbolic stoning of Satan.

Over 220 ambulances and 4,000 rescue workers have reportedly been sent to the location.

“Work is underway to separate large groups of people and direct pilgrims to alternative routes,” the Saudi Civil Defense said.

Meanwhile, Sa’eed Ohadi, the head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, has said that at least 43 Iranians have been killed and 60 others wounded in the crush, according to ISNA.

Separately, an Iranian deputy foreign minister has announced that a special commission has been set up by the Islamic Republic to follow up on the case of the Iranian pilgrims in Mina.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs, held the Saudi authorities responsible for the deadly incident, and said they should promptly act to manage the crisis.

Preparations for the Hajj were marred when a crane collapsed at Mecca's Grand Mosque this month, killing 109 people.

The Hajj is the fifth and final pillar of Islam. It is the journey that every able-bodied adult Muslim must undertake at least once in their lives if they can afford it.