Senior Cleric Blames Saudi Regime's Mismanagement as Cause of Mina Incident

Tehran's provisional Friday prayers leader slammed the Saudi regime for the recent deadly incidents in this year’s Hajj season, including a stampede in Mina, saying that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should manage the Hajj pilgrimage.

Addressing worshippers here in Tehran, Ayatollah Mohammad Emami Kashani expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of hundreds of Hajj pilgrims, including more than 130 Iranian nationals, in the stampede in Mina, near Mecca, and said the tragic incident was indicative of the Saudi regime’s "incompetence."

The cleric further emphasized that "a firm decision" should be taken by Muslim countries over the management of Hajj pilgrimage.

“The (responsibility to) manage the Hajj pilgrimage should be given to the OIC,” he said, adding that all Islamic countries should have a sayd in the management of the religious event and even deploy security forces to Saudi Arabia.

Over 1300 pilgrims were killed in the crush at Mina, where some two million Muslims are performing the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

It came nearly two weeks after tens of Hajj pilgrims were killed in another tragic incident in Mecca.

On September 11, a massive construction crane crashed into Mecca’s Grand Mosque in stormy weather, killing at least 107 people, including 11 Iranians, and injuring 201 others.

Saudi authorities have been blasted for their failure to ensure the safety of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who converge on Mecca for Hajj every year.



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