Saudi religious leader denounces 'lies' after Haj tragedy
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RIYADH: A senior Saudi religious leader on Friday denounced “lies” being spread about the kingdom after more than 1,350 people died in tragedies that struck this year's pilgrimage.
In his first major remarks touching on the September 24 Haj stampede, Sheikh Abdulrahman al-Sudais urged people to remember the efforts Saudi Arabia has made to take care of Muslim pilgrims.
“The efforts of the kingdom will not be undermined by the talk of the slanderers that only know to spread lies,” Sudais said during weekly prayers at the Grand Mosque.
Also read: 'Saudi carelessness' in Mina stampede criticised in Senate
The mosque was the scene of a construction crane collapse on September 11 which killed at least 108 people, many of them foreign pilgrims, just before Haj.
Less than two weeks later, the stampede occurred during a Haj stoning ritual at Mina, near Makkah.
Data from 29 countries, mostly from official sources, give a total of 1,358 dead in the stampede, far in excess of the Saudi figure of 769 killed.
“It is not the right of anyone or any entity to use these events to blame or spread rumours against the great efforts exerted by the kingdom”, Sudais said, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.
Know more: Mina stampede deadliest disaster ever to strike Haj, says report
Iran, Saudi Arabia's regional rival and the country which reported the highest stampede death toll, has been the most critical.
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed “improper measures” and “mismanagement” for the disaster, the worst in 25 years at the Haj.
Iran said 464 of its citizens were killed.
The pilgrimage — which this year drew about two million faithful — had been largely incident-free for nine years after safety improvements and billions of dollars spent on infrastructure investment.
A formal Saudi inquiry is under way into the stampede.
After the collapse of the crane, which was working on an expansion of the Grand Mosque, King Salman ordered prosecutors to prepare an indictment.
The king, whose official title is “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques” in Makkah and Medina, also took immediate steps including suspending the developer from new public contracts.
Between 1975 and 2006, at least 2,972 people died in fires and stampedes related to the Haj.
In the worst single incident, 1,426 pilgrims were killed during a stampede at Mina in 1990.
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Comments (69) Closed
Oct 10, 2015 12:08am
Its amazing that stampedes are so common during the Hajj yet the Saudis, in their infinite intelligence, havent figured out a way to manage things properly.
An international, Muslim organization should be given control of Makkah and all the management/organization associated with the Hajj.
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Oct 10, 2015 12:14am
Saudi leaders want to paper over their incompetence.
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Oct 10, 2015 12:18am
Its not the matter of denouncing lies rather truth is bitter for Saudis. Ask those who have lost their loved ones. Some still looking for those who are lost.
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Oct 10, 2015 12:23am
Are Saudis above scrutiny? They should give assurance and present a fool proof plan for next year.
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Oct 10, 2015 12:25am
@Fakhir .... They don't care.
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Oct 10, 2015 12:26am
Ignorance, mismangement Really I was the part of this year hajj. Unfortunately instead of Musllims spirit, business is being done and there is no mangment.
One example was coming back after througing stome it is like 4 KM and no proper mangment ... there were 100 Riyal for 1 km distance .. there were nothing for sick or disable. ... I love makkah and not complaining but feel hopefully saudia can understand .. Shame on over govt even india has taken there voice..
There was no water in Mina ... no vendor to even sell the water ..
I cant believe why they are doing such a extereme ignorance.. I saw lot of pakistani volunteers this year and that is great example .. they were in their true patient some one help us and I offered few tips ... but he totally rejected ..
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Oct 10, 2015 12:27am
@just_someone I guess you meant "their infinite stupidity and arrogance". Its a complete hypocrite society where even 127 thousand messengers from God couldn't change anything of these peoples. They are illogical, arrogant, and egotistic people completely devoid of any common sense or respect for other individuals. Instead of owning up their mistakes and taking corrective measures, they are politicking on this unfortunate incident. Shameful...
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Oct 10, 2015 12:29am
Sheikh Abdulrahman al-Sudais - you don't take care of the pilgrims for free, pilgrims pay your country and mainly the kingdom hefty money for your services.
In North America they charge you minimum $10K for Hajj packages. I don't want to live in a 5 star by choice, Hajj and Islam teaches simplicity and you deprive me of my right forcing me to get a $10K package just because I am a citizen of an affluent country. Isn't this sheer monopoly? and you claim that kingdom takes care of pilgrims, you get paid for your services and mostly your prices are outrageous.
You will be blamed for all the mishaps happenings and casualties in Mina are YOUR fault, admit it.
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Oct 10, 2015 12:41am
Efforts? Do you mind telling what you charge people to perform Hajj? You can buy 5 Caribbean trips. It's your job to protect people. However, treatment you give to non-Arabs is simply abhorring.
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Oct 10, 2015 12:44am
3 million hajis pay a hefty amount. If you consider even $1000 per hajji, can anyone in the Kingdom of Saudais calculate how much money do these people bring to your economy for listening to your rants and mis behaviour? Did you ever raise any concern how muslim workers are treated in your country if they are from your 'brotherly' nations?? and how do you bow down to people having western passports?? where is your Islam at that time??? Do you even understand the last Khutba of Prophet Muhammad - Peace be upon him ?
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Oct 10, 2015 12:49am
It fact is over 1400 Hajis died during the Hajj and many are still unaccounted for. Their loved ones need confirmation about their being dead or their where about which is no forthcoming. The need to know if they should say Fateha for them or pray for their safety. Suspense is killing for them.
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Oct 10, 2015 12:53am
He is right.
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Oct 10, 2015 12:55am
Were their any Americans who died in the stampede ?
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Oct 10, 2015 12:56am
I don't understand why the word "stampede" is used when in reality these are results of crowd crushes. Stampede implies people are running somewhere when in reality people die because there is nowhere for people to release the pressure of massed bodies. A recent Guardian article clearly points out the reasons why something like this happens and why its so difficult to avoid considering the crowds involved:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/03/hajj-crush-how-crowd-disasters-happen-and-how-they-can-be-avoided
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Oct 10, 2015 12:58am
Who is lying? The individual Shaikh Sudais, or the several thousand who were dreadfully affected by this tragedy, mismanagement or what ever?
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Oct 10, 2015 01:00am
@just_someone That is the crux of the idea you want to spread, that other organizations from other (envious) countries should be allowed into Saudi Arabia and take charge. No country is such fool.
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Oct 10, 2015 01:12am
@Zia no peace be upon him, the is a lot of violence in the world because of his "messages "
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Oct 10, 2015 01:12am
I am not her to defend anyone but some people are spreading lying, Saudis do charge any tax and offer free Hajj visa. The money we pay is for the airline tickets, food and hotel stay. Yes some of us choose $10000, $20000 or even $30000 package, it not Saudis fault someone picks up VIP package. I have seen people performing hajj with just $800.
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Oct 10, 2015 01:17am
Its seems mind boggling that an event that has been held over 1500 times by people that have so much money they don't know what to do with it and that the rest of the world is capable of handling but they are incapable. Thats the problem they are incapable. Now they expect sympathy and leniency?
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Oct 10, 2015 01:18am
@Hamaad ................. you give us a security and fool proof plan that there will be accidents in our country / I will give a 3 miles of piece of road of your choice in your city of choice BUT you guarantee there will not even be a single accident on that particular road for 22 days ....
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Oct 10, 2015 01:20am
@just_someone .............. its even more amazing to see people will still pour in from all corners of the world for the Hajj....
in all other Muslim countries give us one example where any of the countries can accommodate 2 million Pilgrims in one place at the same time without any accident...
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Oct 10, 2015 01:22am
September 11, reminds me 911. And what follows was also a shame. Handling some 3 million people to pass through some rituals in a stipulated time and conditions is not an easy task, not even for US government or any organization. What ever efforts the Saudi Government has done are by any standards sufficient. The fate is never known in advance. The unfortunate incident can not be avoided by saying this or that.
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Oct 10, 2015 01:35am
Arab news one of the most reliable newspaper in saudia.Here Im sharing its page one headline"Iran hails KSA efforts;304 bodies sent".Moreover, I would like to share first paragraph of this news report oct,9:A senior Iranian official has praised the kingdom for its services provided to pilgrims during this year's Haj.Peer Hussain,advisor to the Iranian health minister and head of the medical office for Iranian pilgrims,said he appreciated the organization of the Saudi ministry of health.
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Oct 10, 2015 01:36am
@Asad i was also there this year and i think u must be in a different mina as i saw a lot of vendors there selling water and above else; people were distributing water and juices for free.
If you want to say something; atleast do not lie
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Oct 10, 2015 01:37am
@Meethi Mithayee the charges that you paid were brought for you by your usa agent. During haj; the prices are capped for services but agents charge whatever they want
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Oct 10, 2015 01:44am
Dissapointing statements coming from the religious leaders. Something went terribly wrong that day which led to the stampede. The authorities should acknowledge their mistakes and rectify the situation immediately. Saudi Arabia has had some really bad press over the last few months (including some members of their Royal family getting up to mischief in the west), but they themselves are to blame for this. Learn from your mistakes and become better people.
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Oct 10, 2015 01:44am
Suadis should accept their mistake and appropriately compensate the affected families and with a pledge that it would never be repeated again.
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Oct 10, 2015 01:48am
why Can't you Saudi's or the King himself say "We are sorry this happens during Hajj and we'll try to manage better next time IA. I can say for sure lots of people will have a Sabar and forget you, but if you insist, remember there is a day of judgement for all.
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Oct 10, 2015 02:03am
There is no doubt Saudi Arabia ia spending a lot on the improvement of hajj services. It is huge crowd of 3 million and difficult to Han let. I do agree some measure can be taken to further improve the situation. My condolences to the relatives of the victims.
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Oct 10, 2015 02:04am
for whatever reasons, I don't know why people are so influenced by some part of European / USA and Arab media who reported this incidence as deliberate act of Saudis with relentless bias and held KSA responsible for this unfortunate happening.
Pilgrims lost their lives, indeed was an accident... Iranians aired the flames on the back of USA + G5 as they intend to have their sanctions lifted sooner than later and we should not forget Iranians did attacked Ka'aba in 1979 with ambition to take control but what would have been the gains ? is beyond someone's apprehension.
In recent conflict between Saudia and Iran in Yemen is too evident to implore and assess the situation in more mild manner rather than lynching alone Saudi management.
other than Arab media none of the other Muslim countries showed such hatred and bias for Saudis whereas they accommodate about 2.4 million Pilgrims every year without fuss... so sad many Muslims are just flaming the situation with offering solution.
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Oct 10, 2015 02:09am
appropriate reply to all those who are condemning Saudi management and holding them responsible for such an unfortunate event thought.
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Oct 10, 2015 02:10am
He is ordering us to shut up as if these Saudis think the whole world is their slaves, our PM and other muslim rulers and some paid religious mullahs may be but we people are not
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Oct 10, 2015 02:12am
@Zia ... do you think Saudis make money out of Hajj and all the extensions are carried with our money ? the answer is NO. you are criticizing them for the sake of criticism as you are pushed with the flow of European/ USA and some anti Saudi but Arab / Iran media.... think twice about custodians of Ka'aba who are doing all these facilities out of their own pocket not from our monies.
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Oct 10, 2015 02:29am
Everything become rotten in Saudi Arabia.
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Oct 10, 2015 02:33am
There is no fool proof plan. Accident will happene , regardless, they have to show more responsibility and accountability.
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Oct 10, 2015 02:46am
Most of the people in such events die due to lack of oxygen. The organizers must have a big plant producing oxygen and then it should be coming out from the flooring.
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Oct 10, 2015 02:56am
@Hamaad can you guarantee you will waje up next morning alive
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Oct 10, 2015 03:14am
Blame game isn't going to do any side any good, the need of the hour is to make sure that such incident MUST never happen in future, whether near or distant. Muslims go there to perform hajj, there should be restriction on those Muslims who have performed hajj once and should give their other Muslim brothers/sisters to be absolved of their duty to perform it. only allow that number of muslims whom you can accommodate.
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Oct 10, 2015 03:28am
Saudi Government should understand that they dont pay the pilgims,the pilgrims pay them
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Oct 10, 2015 03:39am
I am sorry, who is slandering. More than a thousand people died due to mismanagement, it has nothing to do with the greatness of their kingdom. In the Western world, if a dozen people die in such incidents/accidents, leaders resign. They value the lives of people. Do 1400+ lives mean nothing to these Saudis?
This wasn't the first incident of its kind, people have died in same circumstances many times before, they would have learned by now.
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Oct 10, 2015 03:52am
If you are true then why not have a independed inquiry, also the death number is much muuch higher. You have CCTV footage camera, 100 of them. SHow what happened. I am shocked at clergy taking side with incompetent regime
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Oct 10, 2015 03:59am
Saudi Arabia should involve organization like Disney World who have millions of visitors, including disabled, children on daily basis without any stampede. Moreover availability of food, water and arrangements for disabled people including disabled ramps be part of plan. The security personnel be multi-lingual and be very courteous in helping people. Involvement of female security personnel and female organizers will be helpful as a vast population of female hajis who come for haj. They have to make sure no such massive tragedy with poor management happen again. Future investigations be done by independent organization like UN be helpful.
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Oct 10, 2015 04:02am
What a shame, protector of Holy places are sleeping or busy doing other businesses.
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Oct 10, 2015 04:06am
@just_someone No one in the world, including the most developed countries in the world, have figured out the cause of stampede and how to improve it. I guess you have not experienced the push that comes from the person behind you as he has no control on it, or the person behind him, or the person behind the one that is 100 people behind. That is such scene in Mina, each year, every year. No one has the control on it and no will ever be able to control it.
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Oct 10, 2015 04:10am
Sheikh Abdulrahman al-Sudais, we respect you, but you can not take this tragedy lightly by trying to pass on the blame to pilgrims. It is just a matter of controlling movement of pilgrims. Saudis have been conducting Haj ritual for hundreds of years by now they should be well versed with handling pilgrims if they can not handle such large number of pilgrims, if required they can reduce the number of pilgrims. But risking their lives is not correct.
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Oct 10, 2015 04:34am
It's a classic ploy from Saudi Arabia, to conceal their incompetency by using the cover of religion.
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Oct 10, 2015 04:38am
What lesson they have learnt from these disasters.They are in denial mode and justifying all deaths to save kingdom. Prospect Hajis beware this will happen again. They have earned billions of dollars and look at the emergency measures and state of rescuers.They look like general people hire during the Haj. They are not trained EMS(emergency medical service) providers. I dought they even can't perform CPR to save hundreds on the spot. Saudis don't know what is Health & Safety and crowd management techniques.Modern day science can control stampede issues to zero level and even near misses can be reduced to zero.
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Oct 10, 2015 04:41am
Press TV iran alsi said that more then 4000 people died at haj this year mostly in the stsmpede.
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Oct 10, 2015 04:41am
@Meethi Mithayee I am glad you brought up this point. This has definitely turned into a business and the reason you pay more is because these Shaikhs who control quota on Hajj Visa, increase their commission by 8-10% each year. This is pure greed and blood sucking out of these poor Haajis. Hajj revenue is the second largest for Saudis after the oil export. There should be a moratorium of 2-3 years on travel to Saudia, be it for Hajj or Umra. May be that way, Saudis will realize the plight of these Hajis.
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Oct 10, 2015 04:51am
A mullah on huge stipend from El Sauds, how can he criticize them .
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Oct 10, 2015 05:18am
@just_someone spread out the Hajj over a whole week. or even the whole month. Then more people can come, and be spread out over more days, and there is less risk of such problems.
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Oct 10, 2015 05:58am
@Abe Americans don't go there.
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Oct 10, 2015 06:08am
I think you will have modern system for the religious ritual . you can use monorail system with slow moving train for such ritual . this is being used in Disney world for transportation of million of tourist . think about it
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Oct 10, 2015 06:17am
@Oshkosh, London
Yes, Americans do go there- American Muslims.
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Oct 10, 2015 06:24am
I was lucky enough to perform Hajj this year. Well let me tell you that Saudi gov do an outstanding job in managing and taking care of Hajis. The government does not charge anything. Even the visas are free. If somebody in N. America is selling Hajj packages for 10 k then its not Saudis fault and if a taxi driver is charging 100 riyal for one km then it not their gov fault either. Its just the private sector. Look up at all the good things they do for the hajis instead of just blaming them. They also regret such incidents but we have to understand when millions of people are gather at a place at the same time, some mishaps can happen. Time we start appreciating our muslim brothers instead of just complaining.
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Oct 10, 2015 07:00am
The Saudis instead of consoling the people affected by the tragedy are trying to cover up their incompetency.
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Oct 10, 2015 07:38am
I think most of the commentators here are quite unfair to Saudi Arabia. They spend billions to improve and facilitate hajj. With improvements made in Mina over the years we saw that there were no such incidents during the past several years.
What happened this year is sad and need to be investigated so that the process can be improved further. But wild allegation and hatred is completely uncalled for.
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Oct 10, 2015 07:53am
@arafat aziz what nonsense. Saudis have made it into big business and make billions from the Haj. The least they can do is to avoid such incidents and accept blame for their incompetence.
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Oct 10, 2015 08:11am
simple example... if a house can only accommodate three people then the owner of the house should not allow 1000 people to live in that house. If he does then the tragedy will happen and nobody can stop it. Secondly, all of the planning or constructions should have been done months before what has happened.
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Oct 10, 2015 08:25am
@arafat aziz In the past there was choice of many economy lodgings.'any individual could apply for visa through respective consulates. However this all changed; economy hotels were replaced with 5 star hotels. you could no longer apply for visa on your own, licences were given to local Saudi firms and foreign travel agencies were compelled to work with Saudi firms. This inevitably caused the package prices to rise. The Saudis claimed that the pilgrims do not have to pay any fee but they were mot allowed to make their own arrangements. Most of these 5 star hotels around Makkah & Madina are owned by the Princes. The Saudis have turned Hak & Ummrah into a money making machines.
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Oct 10, 2015 08:34am
What efforts.. The Saudis are treating this as a business venture. Why was the traffic diverted because of the Prince visiting, who the hell is he, he should perform the ham just as the normal person would. I hold Saudis responsible for this and their own citizen said that Saudi's don't care about anyone.. Only about the money!!
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Oct 10, 2015 09:15am
@arafat aziz visas are free in theory,you are charged 200 dollars for umrah visa,you have to book your transportation in advance to get the visa ,the hotels also need to be booked prior to issuance of visa ,and this is all KSA official policy.the reason of this policy is to facilitate the Saudis so they can rip off more money from the pilgrims.for example the cab charges from Madinah Munawara airport to the city is 50 riyal ,but through the booking it 100$.
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Oct 10, 2015 09:17am
@M. Emad Then why don't you just stay out of it and mind your own affairs.
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Oct 10, 2015 09:20am
@Max Have you seen them do this? Do not judge every one to be like yourself.
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Oct 10, 2015 09:24am
@alihbilgrami@msn.com What would you know about Hajj? Even if your precious Iranians or Americans were managers, they would be incapable of doing anything.
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Oct 10, 2015 10:22am
@Tamza Either you are not Muslim or Know nothing about Hajj. Your suggestion shows your ignorance about Hajj.
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Oct 10, 2015 10:30am
@arafat aziz well said.
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Oct 10, 2015 10:34am
@abdul w qureshi I think one day conveyer belts will be used for people who cannot walk as already being used on many new and large airports to facilitate the travelers. I think this will be the best solution.
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Oct 10, 2015 01:34pm
@Azhar
Agreed, correct explanation, this situation cannot be controlled, the walking of pilgrims, no one is able to control them forever, the love and affection of each Muslim to perform his rites at the same times as early as possible, every one is endeavor to earn his points, so that this is to done hastily by each one, so that no one or or any Org can control all 3 millions or more pilgrims at one place each days. AND be remember it is an accident only NOT Stampede, the peoples using the unqualified MEDIA reporting words it is totally wronged, this is only are accident as happened on the busy roads, some time open and wider road, and no can controlled accident, COULD YOU????
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