25th September, 2015
World Council of Churches head, Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, has expressed his "shock and sorrow" over the reported deaths of more than 700 Muslim pilgrims and injuring of hundreds more, killed in a stampede near the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
Rev Dr Tveit, general secretary of the WCC, said his heart went out to the relatives of those who had died and to the wounded.
"I am saddened that people who are seeking to follow with loyalty and fidelity the tenets of their religion in this way should have suffered so grievously," he said. "I offer my prayers for the well-being of the remaining pilgrims during the rest of their time in and near Mecca and then safe travel to their homes."
More than 700 were killed and more than 800 injured after crowds converged at an intersection in Mina on the outskirts of Mecca on 24th September and began pushing and shoving. Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed bin Nayef has reportedly ordered an investigation into the stampede.
Iran – which reportedly had more than 130 citizens killed in the crush – has blamed the deaths on “improper measures” and “mismanagement” by Saudi authorities and said the government must accept responsibility for the incident.
The stampede comes just two weeks after more than 100 people were killed and hundreds more injured when a construction crane collapsed on Mecca’s Grand Mosque during preparations for the pilgrimage.
The pilgrimage known as the hajj is counted as one of the ‘Five Pillars of Islam’ and every able Muslim is expected to perform it at least once in their lifetime.
– DAVID ADAMS
