The Message of Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi on Mina Stampede Anniversary

This disaster was a shame and disgrace upon all international human rights organizations, because none of them had any suitable reaction towards this unprecedented massacre of humans during the Hajj pilgrimage.

As we draw closer to the first anniversary of the disaster of Mina, the tragic memory of so many Hajj pilgrims who were martyred last year during the Hajj pilgrimage becomes ever more vivid. It was such a tragic incident that everyone keeps asking Allah the Almighty to send his curse upon those responsible for it.

Certainly, this tragedy was such a disgrace and shame for the Saudis, who are responsible for protecting the lives of the Hajj pilgrims, that they can never get rid of it.

This disaster was also a shame and disgrace upon all international human rights organizations, because none of them had any suitable reaction towards this unprecedented massacre of humans during the Hajj pilgrimage. These organizations did not even bother to investigate the incident and their related media also worked in accordance with them in censoring the news concerning this tragic incident.

This is while if just a few people die in Europe as a result of terrorist attacks the same organizations and countries would declare national mourning for them, and all European heads of states would gather up to tribute the dead, and come up with plans to prevent such incidents. However, when it was time for these so-called supporters of human rights to react to the loss of thousands of innocent lives during last year’s Hajj pilgrimage, they easily decided to turn a blind eye on the incident because this would help them continue to obtain illegitimate benefits from their relations with the Saudi government.

These pilgrims were the guests of Allah who had traveled to the most sacred of lands in order to perform of the greatest Islamic rituals. However, not only did the Saudi government neglect its responsibility in protecting the Hajj pilgrims, but as Iran’s supreme leader has put it, “the Saudis did not even apologize for this tragic incident”.

If there had been the slightest amount of wisdom in them, they would have invited the families of all of the martyrs of the last year’s tragic incidents to take part in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, and they would also have apologized to them for their loss. They should also have paid the necessary compensation to the affected families and told them that they would investigate the cause of the last year’s incidents and would punish those who were responsible for them.

However, it seems that there is not even a speck of wisdom and reason in the Saudi officials!
What was even more shameless than this was a series of fatwas issued by the Saudi Muftis, who are in effect the slaves of the Saudi government and only work in order to serve their political interests. These Muftis issued statements every now and then, stating that the Saudi government must not be blamed for this tragedy, that the people themselves are to be blamed for it, and that this had been due to the will of Allah and so no one could have stopped it, and other such unfounded and preposterous remarks.

However, the Saudis must know that the memory of this tragedy will not fade away by the passing of the time and the Muslim Ummah will not forget the terrible loss of its dear Muslim members in this tragic incident. The Muslims will continue to implore Allah (swt) to send his curse upon those responsible for this tragedy and they will avenge their martyrs one day.

ان ربك لبالمرصاد
For indeed your Lord waits as a guardian on a watch-tower

source:Makarem