Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has called on Saudi Arabia to shoulder its responsibility over the recent deadly incident in Mina, declaring three days of national mourning following the deaths of several hundred Hajj pilgrims, including at least 131 Iranian nationals. “Offering condolences to the bereaved [families of killed pilgrims], I declare three days of national mourning in the country,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in a message on Thursday. “The Saudi government is obligated to shoulder its heavy responsibility in this bitter incident and meet its obligations in compliance with the rule of righteousness and fairness. Mismanagement and improper measures that were behind this tragedy should not be overlooked,” the Leader said. Meanwhile Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of playing politics with a tragedy. Politics is everywhere- and it was especially present when Saudi officials blamed African pilgrims for causing a panic that cause the stampede, thus upsetting a whole continent by playing the race card. Other reports suggest that the carnage was caused by roadblocks due to VIPs visiting the Saudi King. Two of the entrances were thus closed and people were not able to move causing panic. Saudi Twitter users have set up an Arabic hashtag complaining of an Iranian “conspiracy to light the fuse of sectarianism”. Interesting that Saudi culpability is being avoided by reframing foreign outrage as a sectarian issue. According to reports, 140 Iranians died during the stampede, and Iran has thus the largest number dead. Just this once, Iran can be excused for being vocally critical.The Foreign Office has confirmed that 18 Pakistani lives have been lost though there are conflicting reports from international media that over 200 Pakistanis had died. It is unclear why there is such a discrepancy in the reporting of numbers. It just makes the tragedy more disturbing.The deaths will affect the complex internal politics of the Saudi royal family. There are reports of unusual internal dissent since King Salman came to the throne in January. Politics of the Kingdom is unstable and international opinion is becoming increasingly critical of how the royal family has managed it affairs. This is to the extent that there is an international interest in taking away the ownership of the Hajj administration from the Saudis, in exchange for an international council. Times are changing and the Saudi monarchy is not seen as infallible now as it once used to be.
pk.shafaqna.com
