Saudi Arabia frees Iranian Hajj pilgrim after 75 days jailing

Saudi Arabia Judiciary has issued a decree for freedom of Iranian Hajj pilgrim, Director of Ilam's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization said on Tuesday.

Gholam-Reza Momayez said that the Iranian pilgrim who was in Saudi custody was freed after 75 days being in the Saudi jail.

Hassan Rahimi was freed two days ago and will return Iran in the days to come, the official said.

He noted that Rahimi had been arrested after protesting Saudi police's behavior towards pilgrims during this year's Hajj pilgrimage stampede which resulted death of thousands of people.

The Mina tragedy took place during this year’s Hajj rituals when two large masses of pilgrims fused at a crossroads in Mina, a few kilometers east of the holy city of Mecca, on their way to participate in the symbolic stoning of Satan ritual in Jamarat.

Saudi Arabia claims nearly 770 people were killed in the incident, but officials with Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization say about 4,700 people, including 464 Iranians, lost their lives in the tragic event.

The number of the Iranian fatalities exceeds that of other countries.

Iran has criticized Saudi Arabia for failing to responsibly carry out its duties during Hajj, saying Riyadh’s incompetence in handling safety at the rituals caused the deadly incident.



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