Nouri al-Maliki Urges Trial of Perpetrators of Mina Tragedy

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki insisted that those responsible for a deadly crush of Hajj pilgrims in Mina, Saudi Arabia, should be brought to justice.

Maliki said the Riyadh regime should be held accountable for the Mina catastrophe, and blamed “poor management” for the incident.

He also called for an inquiry to ascertain the cause of the crush, stressing that the whole countries whose nationals have died in the incident should oversee the process of investigation.

The Iraqi politician also hailed Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei’s stance towards Saudi Arabia after the Mina deaths.

Maliki said the Leader’s comments "well laid bare the threat of Takfiri Wahhabism originating from Saudi Arabia."

Imam Khamenei said on Wednesday that the slightest disrespect for the Iranian Hajj pilgrims or its failure to repatriate the bodies of those killed in the Mina crush will draw Iran’s “severe and tough reaction".

The Islamic Republic of Iran has had respect for fraternity in the Islamic world up to now, showing self-restraint and Islamic politeness, the Leader noted.

Iran has lost 464 pilgrims in the crush, which marked the worst ever Hajj disaster.



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