Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 5
By Temkin Jafarov – Trend:
Iran’s intelligence minister, Mahmoud Alavi says the government instructed his ministry to investigate the stampede tragedy, which occurred in the Mina valley outside the Saudi city of Mecca while Muslims were performing the Hajj pilgrimage there.
According to Saudi Arabia, the stampede that occurred in Mina on Sept. 24 killed over 750 and injured about 1000 pilgrims. Reportedly, 465 Iranian pilgrims were killed in the stampede.
Alavi, in his speech in the city of Shiraz, added that his ministry was also instructed to collect documents proving whether the tragedy was a result of a coincidence or intentional acts, Fars reported Oct. 5.
He said the incident in the Mina valley is a tragedy not only for Iran, but also for the entire Islamic world.
“Twenty-two Islamic countries have suffered victims of this tragedy and declared mourning,” said the minister.
He added that a complaint will be sent to international courts against Saudi Arabia on behalf of the Iranian government, as well as the families of the victims.
“The tragedy in the Mina valley occurred due to the inability and incompetence of the Saudi officials, and their attitude to this even more aggravated and turned it into a crime,” said Alavi.
He noted also that the speech of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in connection with the Mina valley incident, forced the Saudi officials to withdraw from their stance and express condolences to the Iranian people.
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