"Punish thous who responsible for Hajj stampede" - says Iran president to Saudi authorities

Ahlul Bayt News Agency - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani underlined that Tehran seeks punishment of those Saudi authorities who are responsible for the recent stampede incident in Mina which killed over 4,000 pilgrims, including hundreds of Iranians.

Addressing a ceremony in Tehran on Saturday to pay tribute to the bodies of a number of Iranian pilgrims who died in Mina incident late in September, the President said it should be clarified if anyone is to blame for this incident or not, and Iran will then ask for justice and punishment of those responsible for the incident if it is proved that police or security forces have failed to comply with their duties.

465 Iranian pilgrims were killed in Mina incident and the bodies of 104 of them were returned home on Saturday.

Noting that Iran has, so far, used the language of sympathy, brotherhood, politeness and diplomacy vis a vis the Saudis to pursue the death of the Iranian nationals, Rouhani said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran will also speak in the language of might and power, if necessary."

He stressed that the reality of this catastrophe should come under light in full details, and said, "All Muslim nations should come to realize through a fact-finding committee the cause of this disaster and they should be assured that such catastrophes will not occur in coming years."

A stampede during one of the last rituals of the Hajj season on September 24 killed at least 4,173 people and left thousands wounded.

The stampede occurred during the ritual known as "stoning the devil" in the tent city of Mina, about two miles from Mecca.

At least 464 Iranians lost their lives in the incident, while 150 others were wounded. The latest reports said 14 Iranian pilgrims are still hospitalized in Saudi Arabia, while others have either died or been treated and left the hospital, preparing to come back to home.



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