Iran's Khamenei demands Saudi apology for Haj deaths
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TEHRAN: Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei demanded Saudi Arabia apologise on Sunday for a stampede that killed nearly 770 pilgrims during Haj, at least 144 of them Iranians.
"Instead of passing the buck and playing a blame game, the Saudis should accept their responsibility and apologise to the world's Muslims and the bereaved families," Khamenei said in comments reported by the official IRNA news agency.
Iranian leaders have been fiercely critical of Saudi authorities' handling of safety at Haj and questioned whether Riyadh was fit to continue organising the annual pilgrimage.
Khamenei's comments came just hours after Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir hit back at the criticism from its regional rival, saying it "shouldn't play politics with a tragedy".
Culture Minister Ali Janati is to head a delegation to Saudi Arabia to follow up on 323 Iranians Tehran says are missing, but IRNA said his team still has not received visas.
On Saturday, Tehran summoned Saudi Arabia's charge d'affaires for the third time since the stampede, to press the kingdom for greater cooperation.
President Hassan Rouhani appealed for United Nations (UN) mediation with the Saudis in a meeting with UN chief Ban Ki-moon in New York, state television reported.
"Sadly, Riyadh isn't offering enough cooperation on the missing pilgrims and the transfer of the dead and injured," it quoted Rouhani as saying.
"It is crucial that the UN remind Riyadh of its legal and humanitarian obligations."
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Comments (96) Closed
Sep 27, 2015 01:18pm
... and the battle of words continue. How is this rambling going to help the grieving families?
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Sep 27, 2015 01:18pm
It is strange to demand such apology, we cannot guarantee life when death is destined.
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Sep 27, 2015 01:25pm
We should work together to eradicate failures and maturing processes.
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Sep 27, 2015 01:34pm
Apology for What ?
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Sep 27, 2015 01:35pm
Don't do politics.
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Sep 27, 2015 01:37pm
Even a single person in such a huge and emotionally charged crowd can initiate commotion that can trigger such a stampede by raising distress shouts. The best alternate after all such elaborate arrangements at huge costs is, to make the stone-throwing Jamrat ritual spread over a longer time with limited people at a time.
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Sep 27, 2015 01:38pm
I stand with Tehran!
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Sep 27, 2015 01:41pm
@M.M.Sherazi If everything is destiny, then we should sit at home and do nothing as we wait for destiny to decide the course of our lives. Things will never get better if we leave everything to destiny. Remember, God only helps those who work hard and help themselves. We can leave things to destiny only after we have put in our 100% efforts.
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Sep 27, 2015 01:45pm
@M.M.Sherazi 10000 lives has lost in last 15 years ... need to look into committee and organizers .. people coming to worship their holy place and cannot take their life as granted ...every year so many life lost during HAJ ...they need to rework to avoid any more tragedy in future ...
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Sep 27, 2015 01:54pm
Iran is fully justified to asking for an apology from Saudi Arabia.
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Sep 27, 2015 01:55pm
@pervaiz for their total incompetence
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Sep 27, 2015 02:14pm
A sincere apology, what a morally competent head of state would and should have already delivered. They should start treating Non Saudis as human beings and not a commodity. The procession in question was on AUTO control with no responsible intervention at any stage. Saudis only come to be seen at their job and they hardly work at all. That is exactly what they were doing and I have had the first hand experience. I have no right to question where they are spending the trillions of dollars of oil money but I have every right to demand where my 3000 Riyals have gone which I deposited with them to perform Hajj. If they failed to provide me safety and the services I deserve, they MUST APOLOGIES.
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Sep 27, 2015 02:19pm
I think it is unfair to demand an apology from S. A. Let's not use political cards on these tragic events.
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Sep 27, 2015 02:19pm
Saudis must apologize. We should also call meeting of OIC to work out a framework for hajj safety. OIC should devise a framework to appoint custodian to the holy site turn by turn among the muslim countries every year. Also the territory in which the two holy sites located should be allowed visa free entry to all Muslims. But Saudis will oppose every move calling these measure. They won't let go so easily huge revenues generate from hajj every year.
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Sep 27, 2015 02:47pm
Only the leader with bold stance.
Our Foreign Ministry put death figure at just 13 as against 236 by world media.
What a shame!
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Sep 27, 2015 02:54pm
Iran strongly feels Saudi Arabia is involved in Killing of Iranian pilgrims, for justice it has requested UN to intervene.
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Sep 27, 2015 02:58pm
Complete responsibility with no accountability for the Sauds
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Sep 27, 2015 03:24pm
It is clear that the Saudi government has failed in its obligations to ensure safe and secure spiritual experience for the pilgrims. Also, this is not the first time that pilgrims have been killed at the places of worship because of incompetence of the Saudi government. Iranian government has the right to at least demand an apology and more. The Pakistan government should stand up and demand the same because as per the international press, 236 Pakistanis have been killed at Mina in Saudi Arabia which is almost double the number of Iranians killed.
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Sep 27, 2015 03:33pm
There is nothing political about the deaths of 717 people. Iran and all Muslim nations should join hands in demanding stricter control and better crowd management by Saudi authorities.
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Sep 27, 2015 03:36pm
Fully agree with Iran. KSA is a sore on governance. There is no king or kingdom in Islam. Highly irresponsible family running that area.
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Sep 27, 2015 03:45pm
Will Saudi apology bring back the dead? Stop with this politics.
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Sep 27, 2015 03:51pm
This is not the first tragedy occurred during Haj. Myriad such incidents have also taken place before; causing thousands of deaths. Saudi authorities should look into their system of handling Haj ceremony and must ensure safety and security of Hajis by information dissemination and awareness-building.
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Sep 27, 2015 04:01pm
for starters the Saudi's need to apologise to the african hujjaj for blaming the stampede on them.
then they should launch an investigation into what happened. this commitee should have members of major OIC countires with participation of those who lost most citizens.
And if it turns out that the Saudis were responsible they have to then compensate the bereaved ones, and punish those responsible for these incidents.
It is just bizarre that Saudi Mufti without an investigation has absolved Prince Mohammad of all responsibility.
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Sep 27, 2015 04:20pm
Iran going to UN against Saudia why don't they go to UN against Bashar ul asad alawati for the killings of milions in syria and forcing millions to flee
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Sep 27, 2015 04:36pm
This tagedy shows that the SA authorities are just incomptent to organise such a vast gathering. To solve this problem, one has to set up an independant system of security with all the on-line means of management.
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Sep 27, 2015 04:52pm
@pervaiz , i wish you was there or visit in future for hajj.
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Sep 27, 2015 04:52pm
@Afzal this is western media who tells u its Assad responsible for this. Why do they not says Yemeni president is responsible for Yemenis massacre by Saudis. sir you are forced to believe what they inculcate.....
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Sep 27, 2015 04:52pm
@Karachi They are in cohoots with the mullah to safe guard their interests.You will never get Justice in KSA. Justice is for Saudi 's only.Rest are Muskeen the sub humans.
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Sep 27, 2015 04:54pm
@M.M.Sherazi Yes may be none of your family member was there for the hajj.....
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Sep 27, 2015 04:56pm
@sialkoti , i was at Hajj with my father, it took me 8 hrs to get our tent, no one speak English, urdu, hindi, and they police is not even from the area. They can't look our wrest bond and consult their seniors and could have guided us. Yes, many Saudi are great people, but their police is a total failure.
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Sep 27, 2015 04:57pm
@Syed Ganga Din Apology means they recognize their mistake and will do corrective actions.
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Sep 27, 2015 05:03pm
@Afzal , there is a difference and obvious difference. Haji and a nation who took arms from US TO fight their own government. Look what happened to other Muslim countries. If Pakistan Armed forces not helped mother land it was not out of reach from Taliban to bring Syrian tragedy. Saudi and others gave arms to IS, India and US provided arms to Talibans. Having said it, loss of a single innocent life is unforgettable and it is the responsibility of Assad to protect his citizens. He is in violation and he must be tried at Hague.
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Sep 27, 2015 05:10pm
Saudis are probably not liking this. They are not used to have people demanding answers and apologies. After all the Al Saud royal family is running Mecca and Medina as their personal fiefdom. They have been able to get away with dead hajjos in the past previously so they are not sure as to why not now.
Kudos to Iran for forcing the Saudis to start taking some responsibility.
are operating Mecca and Medina as their personal fiefdom.
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Sep 27, 2015 05:14pm
This is the least Saudis must do, at least accept the responsibility and make corrections. Nothing happens without a cause!!
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Sep 27, 2015 05:23pm
Loss of almost a 1000 lives and similar number of injured cannot be dismissed as a mere accident and fate. The cause of this terrible accident should be thoroughly investigated ,responsibilities fixed and accepted and those who failed to manage and protect should be cited. Instead of simply putting the blame on Hajjis , Saudis should have been more empathetic feeling the pain of those who lost their relatives. Saudis have a moral responsibility to ensure full information of the dead and the missing and extend help in the transfer of dead and injured to their countries.
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Sep 27, 2015 05:30pm
First avoid politics , Appology for what it happened because of accedients and it was not deliberate. We should stand to support grieving families and stop arguments
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Sep 27, 2015 05:41pm
@ afzal...well said
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Sep 27, 2015 06:06pm
Saudi Arabia blamed Iranian pilgrims for causing Stampede. Saudia and Iran should come closer to each other instead of fooling their people in the name of religion. One thing is common when the rulers are pro-religious then harmony and acceptance is lost. I didn't understand why Pakistani get so emotional for Saudia and Iran.
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Sep 27, 2015 06:12pm
Saudi needs to apologize and punish whoever was responsible. However I think Iran is going overboard and taking political advantage of the situation
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Sep 27, 2015 06:14pm
Iran has gone too far in doing politics on dead bodies
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Sep 27, 2015 06:15pm
@Best;
'How is this rambling going to help the grieving families?'
It won't, the issue is how to prevent future grief.
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Sep 27, 2015 06:20pm
@Justice;
Not really, Iran has not accused Saudi Arabia of any foul play, just incompetence.
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Sep 27, 2015 06:20pm
Iran is the only Muslim country who have guts to ask this !
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Sep 27, 2015 06:33pm
@M.M.Sherazi why apology looks strange , its their country , their responsibility to provide protection... they would no go small if they apologize .... passing the blame on the dead will infuriate the families... and how can 769 people be at fault ..its obviously a few people who caused it and others paid the prize ...while authorities were incapable to handle the situation...its all about taking ownership ...take the Saudi loving glasses off your eyes...
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Sep 27, 2015 06:35pm
@Mustafa prevention needs to start with accepting that you were at fault!!! if you cannot acknowledge that then in future and plans will not keep your accountable...... they cannot wash their hands that easy....did anyone from your family died?? i know they died from my family....so cannot accept your comments...
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Sep 27, 2015 06:37pm
@Syed Ganga Din ..its not politics. easy for you to say....its about accountability...stop with this rubbish their is nothing to gain politically.
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Sep 27, 2015 06:38pm
Iran politising a accident , it's before every body Saudi are doing every thing to facilitate pilgrimage ,apology for what??? Both should sit and devise methods how should be prevented in future .
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Sep 27, 2015 06:39pm
@Karachi I second that brother... unless we think about our brothers like that we will not mean anything..!!
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Sep 27, 2015 06:53pm
@M.M.Sherazi no destiny. It's failure
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Sep 27, 2015 06:56pm
Apology means recognition of mismanagement. Not recognizing it means there was no fault and everything was going good.
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Sep 27, 2015 06:57pm
I don't know why people say "it was destined"... instead of accepting their mistake..There is a Muslim gathering of 30 million in Iraq every year as well...without any happenings as such....the Saudis have become irresponsible and careless, some times a crane falls and kills people , and other stampede....Life is the most precious thing for an individual, and it is the duty of those over looking the proceedings to keep everyone safe!! The Saudis need to apologize to the world of Muslims, unless ofcourse everyone wants to go back to sleep again with deaf ears!
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Sep 27, 2015 07:02pm
We have seen on TV the Saudi's are bulldozing the dead bodies of Hajaj and Saudi concern are siting in the vehicle and throwing stones on evil, which created lots of hatred among Muslim Ummah. The TV channels shouldn't show because this is the time all Muslims should come on on track, wake up all Muslims.
We request that those dead bodies should be handed-over to whom they belong.
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Sep 27, 2015 07:05pm
Saudi mind set is to proclaim the amount of money they spent on Hajj arrangement, look at the statement of Saudi foreign minister, where he is bragging about the money. For an event this large, you need more BRAINS than money. The untrained and unprofessional security forces and planners of Hajj are not acceptable. Saudi should constitute council of muslim countries with best brains to arrange for Hajj.
They are not willing to share this with other muslims. After all, we all remain low caste for them. Saudis, please stop playing religious card and accept your responsibilities.
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Sep 27, 2015 07:06pm
I will not support Iran demand, because this is the time when we should come on one track and should blame on each other.
Yes I will request to Saudis they should immediately put more efforts to transport the dear bodies to their countries.
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Sep 27, 2015 07:33pm
A very just demand by Iran. There should be an independent inquiry in to the sad incident first and Suadis should pay to the families of the injured and dead as well as an apology and assurance that such an incident would never occur again in future.
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Sep 27, 2015 08:17pm
Being called The Custodians of the Holy Mosques, an apology should come naturally, they are the caretakers and planners of the whole event and the safety of all the pilgrims is their responsibility, apology is a mere tool of closure for the grieving families
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Sep 27, 2015 08:17pm
I stand with tehran. S.A. needs to apologize. You can't even blame sheep herds if they die from scared too much then how can you blame most humble muslims that they are resposible of their own deaths.
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Sep 27, 2015 08:21pm
Saudis owes apology to families of everyone who died in the stampede. Iran is the only country who is raising the important questions.
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Sep 27, 2015 08:23pm
@afzal, lol, iran the only supporting Palestinian cause openly, the only country with guts to speak against the west and yes they are supporting Al Asad against the ISIS and other terror elements(syria was a very peaceful country under him, plz read stats)
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Sep 27, 2015 08:26pm
@M.M.Sherazi - By your logic, I would argue that what is the need to repair a crumbling bridge or to enforce safety laws because if you are destined to die then all of this is unnecessary.
Iran has every right to be angry because 140+ of its citizens have died. Saudi Arabia, instead of making it easier for Iran to collect the dead and to inquire about the missing/injured, is not even issuing visas.
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Sep 27, 2015 08:27pm
@M.M.Sherazi Destined?. So go and jump from a building. This was negligence, apathy and I have heard that a prince was passing by which caused the mishap.
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Sep 27, 2015 08:29pm
Apology for being incompetent
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Sep 27, 2015 08:35pm
@Mustafa Agree with you sir,I am sorry, I didn't understand it properly. Iran has complained to UN for Riyadh isn't offering enough cooperation on the missing pilgrims.
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Sep 27, 2015 08:46pm
First of all Iran should apologize for siding with a butcher like Bashaar. Secondly they should apologize for remaining "neutral" when Armenian were butcher Azeris, right on the border of Iran. Then they should apologize for destablizing the whole Middle East, by interfering in Iraq and Yemen.
As far KSA is concerned. They are doing a lot of efforts to provide best facilities to pilgrims. But obviously there is a lot of room for improvement. They should also not make it an issue of ego and take input from other Muslim countries
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Sep 27, 2015 08:51pm
What about Iranian apology to the people of Syria who have been butchered by the brutal dictatorial regime of Assad which Iran actively supplies monies, weapons and troops to? Quit the hypocrisy. No politics on this tragic event please.
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Sep 27, 2015 09:01pm
the haj program have to run by OIC, not by Saudi Arabia
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Sep 27, 2015 09:02pm
@M.M.Sherazi: These people were trampled to death. Stop making idiotic statements.
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Sep 27, 2015 09:07pm
@Afzal
Sit down before you hurt yourself. If millions were to die and millions more to flee Syria, there wouldn't even be cockroaches left in that country. How much do you think is the population of Syria?
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Sep 27, 2015 09:23pm
@Abdul Malik
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Sep 27, 2015 09:32pm
Iran deserves all praise for speaking up and raising voice. Rulers of other Muslim countries will dare not say a word against SA simply because - unlike Iran - most of them are under influence of petro dollars power.
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Sep 27, 2015 09:55pm
@manoj for past 10 years haj was accident free pls pls stop exagerating. Anyone who has done haj knows that Saudi arrangements are the best which probably no other Muslim country can match.
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Sep 27, 2015 09:58pm
This is not the first time so many pilgrims have died. The Saudi government needs to be held responsible for this criminal negligence and incompetence
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Sep 27, 2015 10:51pm
Saudi Arabia blamed the pilgrims. I feel sick of them.
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Sep 27, 2015 10:57pm
2 incidents just in few days shows incompetence.
1) Why crane was not moved to a safe point.
2) Why Prince was moving from there in full protocol (Saudi Mufti verified Prince presence)
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Sep 27, 2015 10:59pm
Elite class show their superiority everywhere. Time passed when Mehmood and Ayaz used to pray in same line.
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Sep 27, 2015 11:19pm
@Muhammad
Really. Well i stand with all the muslim families who have lost their lives. And what should anyone apologise for, Accident! Huh
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Sep 27, 2015 11:37pm
Iran is not playing political cards infact it's demanding for apology from S.A for All Muslim countries infact for all the families who lost their loved ones in this tragedy... Muslim countries should have guts to make Saudi feel ashamed of themselves... More than 19 million people gather in Karbala at Arbaeen (4 times greater then Hajj) every year none tragedy happened there!
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Sep 28, 2015 12:30am
Death is predestined. More over it were 300 Iranian pilgrims who were in a hurry, and went out of turn, and furthermore went in the wrong direction, causing the stampede, Iran should apologise, because of thier pilgrims mistakes, the stampede occurred. for those who died, it was predestined.
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Sep 28, 2015 12:31am
...Sir, I think you've missed the call of compensation from the Saudi authorities.
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Sep 28, 2015 12:38am
Iran is very justified in demanding this.. Muslim countries should join their voices with Iran else everytime this incompetence culture will carry on blame will be put to Gods wil and muslims will die in sale...
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Sep 28, 2015 01:19am
@M.M.Sherazi But surely we can put control measures in place to provide a safe and secure environment. During Umrah I personally saw the arrogance of many if not all Saudi Arabs. They think they are cut above the rest of us. The Muslim Nation need to collectively take up this issue to compel the Saudi government to ensure the safety of Pilgrims.
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Sep 28, 2015 01:20am
@sialkoti it's a justified demand.
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Sep 28, 2015 01:39am
@M.M.Sherazi but you can keep them safe by developing good strategies, it is totally ignorance
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Sep 28, 2015 01:59am
And now Iran is raising it all over the globe in front of UN, as though UN will get involved with this infighting between the Saudis and the Iranians. Wish there was some sense left in the Muslim leaders heads. Please pray for some sense of direction, we are seriously lost.
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Sep 28, 2015 02:32am
I am a Sunni but I fully support Iranian demand ,if not an apology by Saudi Arabia then at least acceptance of an Intenational Islamic commission to find the cause of this tragedy and management for the future Haj especially in Mina as over the years Saudis have repeatedly failed to manage in Mina.
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Sep 28, 2015 03:04am
@Syed Ganga Din Saudi's should take responsibility for two tragedies in this Haj event. Saudi's are responsible for safe conduct of all events at most holy place of Islam as they are custodians of the place. In case of any accident at road and air persons responsible is penalized. It is simple if Saudi's can not handle their job properly they should handover site to multinational Muslim committe. Iran's demand for accountability is valid.
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Sep 28, 2015 03:24am
@Mustafa how mant stampeds upto date?? Something really wrong with organisers.
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Sep 28, 2015 04:48am
The custodian of the holy places has not done his job. He should apologize but i don't think he will.
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Sep 28, 2015 04:51am
@pervaiz "Apology for What ?"
Is that really a sincere question??? Who manages the religious sites there? Don't they have any responsibility at all? I am shocked by the flippancy of your question!
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Sep 28, 2015 06:05am
How strange, there is nothing that any authority could do to prevent thousands of people ramming each other. In future though people who perform Haj once should not be allowed to do it again as it is only required once in life to perform it. This will certainly drop down a number of people who come back every year only because they can afford to do it and cause problems for most people who are doing it for the first and probably the last time.
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Sep 28, 2015 06:49am
This is not the first tragedy on the occasion of the Holy Hajj,so it is totally negligency and mismanagement of Saudi Arabia Govt.S.A getting billions and billions dollars in the name of Hajj but there are no facilities for the pilgrims at all Shame to SA.
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Sep 28, 2015 09:51am
I dont know, why Pakistani media is highlighting Iran instance, their are other countries whose Hajji were also effected even our country's hajjis were also effected but not other government officials or high ups stance were highlighted, this shows that many of our journalist have sympathy towards Iranians may be due to sect or any other reason
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Sep 28, 2015 12:39pm
Iran shouldn't play politics here, it is a matter of humanity .... I am at this hajj my self.. this is mostly due to carelessness of hajis themselves such as they go in groups of 600 people and they take shortcut routes without caring for consequences JAMRAT has one route for entry and other for exit as it is in a flow but people try to exit from where they came this creates collision.
The suadi authorities do need more training but they need to be more strict as people take undue advantage of leniency ... which can be seen in "HATIM " , "HAJRE ASWAD" and "Riaz ul jannah".
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Sep 28, 2015 03:55pm
Iran is absolutely right..our media is silent because of nawaz sharif's relations. All the medias including indian media is demanding apology from saudia...all the muslim states should take a strict action against saudia
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Sep 28, 2015 07:15pm
In another report in the news media...
Makkah Stampede: Iranians violated the rules which caused stampede.
Iranians who violated the rules started moving from Muzdalifa straight to Jamarat instead of waiting in their camps till their turn. Three hundred Iranian pilgrims, instead of going to their camps, started moving directly from Muzdalifa to Jamarat. Then they moved in the opposite direction on Street number 203 where the incident took place.
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Sep 28, 2015 08:47pm
@khalid lakhdawala.. Its beyond logic what you are claiming... as many a times in past these things happened will you blame all to iranians.. Have Iranians pull that crain down to fall on themselves.. If suppose iranian hajjis voilated the hajj route so what were saudi police officials doing there.. Why they haven't stopped it and above all foreign medias are also giving reports about saudi prince convoy lead to this.. are all of them dumb while reporting this..
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