Lebanese Cleric: Muslims Should Not Remain Silent over Mismanagement of Hajj
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Lebanon’s prominent cleric Sheikh Afif Nabulsi censured the Saudi regime for failing to provide security for Hajj pilgrims, saying that Muslim nations should not remain silent on the Saudis’ mismanagement of the religious rites.
Speaking in a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammad Fathali, Sheikh Nabulsi offered deep condolences to the Islamic Republic over the deadly crush in Mina, Saudi Arabia, in which hundreds of Hajj pilgrims, including at least 239 Iranian nationals, were killed.
“The silence of Muslim nations over Saudi Arabia’s performance in managing the Hajj rites is not acceptable at all,” the cleric stressed.
The Lebanese figure further called for a major probe into the disaster and release of its results in the media.
According to Iranian officials, about 4,700 pilgrims were killed in the Thursday crush in Mina when performing religious rites. So far, at least 239 Iranian pilgrims are confirmed to have died in the tragic event.
The incident came nearly two weeks after tens of Hajj pilgrims were killed in another tragic incident in Mecca.
On September 11, a massive construction crane crashed into Mecca’s Grand Mosque in stormy weather, killing at least 107 people, including 11 Iranians, and injuring 201 others.
Hajj, the world’s largest annual gathering of people, has already witnessed numerous deadly crushes, fires and other incidents in the past.
Saudi authorities have come under fire for their inability to ensure the safety of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who converge on Mecca every year.