Tehran – Iran Not Backing Down: Saudi Arabia Should Apologize For 769 Haj Deaths

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     Iranians gather during a protest against Saudi Arabia over the hajj stampede in front of the Saudi embassy in Tehran, Iran, 27 September 2015. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on 27 September demanded Saudi Arabia apologize for this week's haj stampede in which 769 pilgrims died, including 144 Iranians. Iran has in the past few days been scathingly critical of its regional rival, Saudi Arabia, accusing it of mishandling the haj. Saudi media has accused Iran of trying to make political gains from the catastrophe.  EPA/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREHTehran – Iran’s supreme leader has said Saudi Arabia should apologize for a crush outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca that killed 769 worshipers performing the annual haj pilgrimage, Khamenei’s website said on Sunday.

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    “This issue will not be forgotten and the nations will pursue it seriously. Instead of accusing this and that, the Saudis should accept the responsibility and apologize to the Muslims and the victims’ families,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was quoted as saying.

    “The Islamic World has a lot of questions,” he said. Iranian officials have said they believe more than 1,000 pilgrims were killed in the disaster.  

    On Saturday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani used a major United Nations speech to demand an investigation into the deadly crush.  

    The fact that Rouhani used a UN summit meeting on global development goals to reiterate Iran’s outrage over the haj tragedy was a sign that Tehran does not intend to tone down criticism of its regional rival Saudi Arabia. Both Iran and the Saudis see themselves as leaders in the Muslim world.

    In his speech to the 193-nation UN General Assembly, Rouhani emphasized the need for an investigation into “the causes of this incident and other similar incidents in this year’s haj.” He described the crush as “heart-rending.”

    Saudi Arabia suggested on Friday pilgrims who ignored crowd control rules bore some blame for the incident. Saudi King Salman ordered a review of haj plans, and Health Minister Khalid al-Falih said an investigation would be conducted.

    Iran has repeatedly voiced outrage at the deaths of 131 of its nationals at the world’s largest annual gathering of people.

    Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir accused Iran of playing politics with the tragedy.


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    2 Comments
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    golani
    golani
    8 years ago

    with money comes power.lets thank obama and all the worthless senators that have enabled these murderers who now think they are truly in control

    8 years ago

    Saudi Arabia should say to these murderers go ……. yourself