Leader Urges Assertive Follow-up of ’Bitter’ Tragedy of Mina

Tuesday 20 October 2015

Leader Urges Assertive Follow-up of ’Bitter’ Tragedy of Mina

Local Editor

Iran: Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei receiving Hajj staff

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei stressed on Monday that the latest Mina tragedy during Hajj must be unforgotten, urging the Iranian staff to spare no effort in their investigations.

Addressing a meeting of Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization officials in Tehran, Ayatollah Khamenei criticized the western powers who claim to be defenders of human rights for their silence on Mina incident in favor of the Saudi interests..

"The bitter event of Mina incident was a test for our piety; however, we should not forget the event itself and the policy of silence by the hegemonic powers of the west claimants to the human rights on this great tragedy; as to our own responsibility," the Supreme Leader emphasized.

"The Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization and country’s diplomacy should address the issue strongly," his eminence said.

Ayatollah Khamenei further stressed that Saudi Arabia must shoulder the responsibility for the death of seven thousand Muslims during the Hajj, wondering about the silence of the Arab and Muslim world regarding the tragedy even though several other countries have lost hundreds of its citizens in Mina.

"The hosting Saudi Arabia is the first responsible body for the death of 7,000 Muslims; we expected to see a single voice of objection by the Islamic world; however, no other voice was heard than that of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and even governments whose citizens had died in the event, averted their heads to the issue," Ayatollah Khamenei lamented.

The Supreme leader noted that addressing the Mina issue in more responsible manner was a seriously required to prevent similar events in the future, especially after the lackluster performance by the host country.

"This is not a political issue, but the lives of thousands of Muslims while observing their Hajj rituals in the attire of ihram are at stake, and this should be addressed," his eminence demanded.

Ayatollah, moreover, called for raising the Mina issue before the international community and bodies to investigate the incident and punish the true perpetrators.

"Any campaign to keep the issue alive is to raise it in international community, which in turn should target human rights organizations and western governments as if they had been accomplice in the event,” concluded the Leader in reference to these bodies' silence.

The Islamic Republic of Iran announced that 464 of its citizens, including diplomatic personnel, were killed in Mina stampede when the Saudi authorities closed two main passages s for the passage of their VIPs.