DNA Tests to Determine Fate of Missing Pilgrims in Mina Disaster: Iranian Diplomat
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Morteza Sarmadi said DNA testing will help ascertain the fate of the country’s nationals who went missing in a September 24 crush of Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, including Iran’s former ambassador to Lebanon.
Sarmadi told reporters in Tehran on Wednesday that investigations are underway on the tragedy and DNA testing will help identify the missing pilgrims.
He also noted that there are various speculations about the fate of Ghazanfar Roknabadi, the former diplomat who has been unaccounted for since the Mina tragedy.
On September 24, a crush of Hajj pilgrims in Mina, near Mecca, killed thousands of people, including 465 Iranians.
Bodies of most of the Iranian pilgrims who were killed in the disaster have been repatriated, but Saudi Arabia says it has buried a number of the victims.
Riyadh says that before their burial, samples have been taken from the victims for DNA tests.