By Suleiman Ibrahim -
Violation of the pilgrims’ grouping regulations by
some 300 Iranian pilgrims resulted in the stampede in Mina which killed 769
Hajis and injured 934, Asharq Al-Awsat daily reported on Saturday quoting an
official of the Tawafa Establishment for the Iranian Pilgrims.
The official, who
requested anonymity, said the violation of rules by this group of Iranian
pilgrims started from their very first movement from Muzdalifah on Thursday
morning to Jamarat to perform the first day’s stoning ritual.
They were clearly
instructed to go to their tents from Muzdalifah instead of moving to
Jamarat with their baggage.
Jamarat with their baggage.
They had been
instructed to take rest in their tents and wait for the time allotted for them
to perform their stoning ritual.
Moreover, these pilgrims moved back to their tents from Jamarat through Street
204 in the opposite direction of pilgrims’ movement, the official said.
The flow of pilgrims
from two opposite directions resulted in the overcrowding and the stampede
ensued, the official said.
According to
sources, there are cameras installed in the tunnels leading to Jamarat and it
will be obvious from the visuals that the Iranian pilgrims committed violations
with regard to their movement to Jamarat.
It was mandatory
for all tawafa establishments to abide by the pilgrims’ grouping regulations.
Source:
Saudi Gazette report
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