Iran’s Top Hajj Official to Pursue Mina Tragedy in S. Arabia
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization Saeed Ohadi will leave the country for Saudi Arabia on Sunday to follow up on the fate of Iranian pilgrims still missing after the recent crush in Mina, outside the holy city of Mecca, which killed thousands of pilgrims.
At least 464 Iranians were among the thousands of pilgrims who died in the September 24 crush in Mina during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. 36 Iranian nationals are still unaccounted for since the worst ever Hajj-related tragedy.
Ohadi will pursue the fate of the missing Iranian pilgrims in his Sunday visit to the Arab country, which came under fire for its inability to ensure the safety of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who converge on Mecca every year.
A couple of weeks ago, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani made assurances that his administration is resolved to pursue the issue of the Mina tragedy.
“The duty of the (Iranian) administration to the victims has not been discharged completely,” he noted.
“Our follow-up efforts in diplomatic, political and even legal areas will continue until all aspects of the Mina disaster are clarified,” the president said, adding that his administration is duty-bound to make the efforts.
Earlier on September 30, Ayatollah Khamenei sent a clear message to the Saudi government after the September 24 crush of people in Mina.
The Leader criticized Riyadh for failing to fulfill its duties to repatriate the bodies of the victims to Iran.
Imam Khamenei also called for the formation of a “fact-finding committee” with the participation of the Muslim countries, including Iran, to make an inquiry about the incident.
