Iranian Pilgrims killed in Hajj tragedy to be called 'Mina martyrs'

Director of the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs said here on Saturday that the Iranians who were killed in 2015 Hajj tragedy are now called 'Mina martyrs'.

Mohammad Ali Shahidi made the remarks on the sidelines of a ceremony held aimed at signing an agreement between Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization, Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs and Supreme Leader's Hajj Mission.

'Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs will present services to the families of people who were martyred in Hajj tragedy,' he added.

Pointing to the 11 and 461 Iranian people who were killed in crane crash incident in the holy city of Mecca and Mina stampede respectively, Shahidi said 472 Iranians have been registered as martyrs in Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs as of today.

He added the spouses and children of Hajj martyrs could benefit the cultural services of this foundation.

Meanwhile, Ali Ghazi Askar, the head of Iran's Hajj Mission, said Iran is legally perusing the Hajj tragedy.

Ghazi Askar also expressed hope that the results of the legal investigation could bring about fruitful results in near future.

Several months ago, Iran’s Intelligence Ministry said it was collecting hard evidence to determine whether or not the deadly crush in Mina near the holy Saudi city of Mecca occurred with malice aforethought.

“The Intelligence Ministry has begun its work in this regard,” said Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi.

The crush happened on September 24 after two large masses of Hajj pilgrims fused together. Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization puts the death toll from the tragedy at around 4,700 people, including 464 Iranians. Saudi Arabia says nearly 770 people were killed.

The minister further said the Mina incident is not an issue that only Iran is concerned with, but rather “a key issue facing the world of Islam and 22 mourning Islamic countries.”


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