Following the stampede tragedy in Mina, near Mecca, on Thursday in which at least 1200 Hajj pilgrims were killed and more than 1500 were injured, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei issued a significant message calling on Saudis to shoulder responsibility of the catastrophe.
Here is the full text of the message:
In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
Indeed we belong to Allah, and to Him do we indeed return
The catastrophic tragedy which happened today in Mina which claimed lives of large number of God’s gusts and the God-seeking faithful from different countries, caused a great agony for the world of Islam and turned the Eid into sorrow. In our dear country also tens of families enthusiastically waiting their beloveds paying pilgrimage in Hajj, are now mournful for their losses. With a painful heart and commiserating with the bereaved, I offer my condolences on this tragic incident to the pure soul of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and to Imam of the Time who is the main mournful and to all suffering losses and all the mournful in the whole world of Islam, particularly in Iran, and pray for Special Mercy from the Merciful, Forgiving and Grateful God for his respectful guests and pray to His Compassion for quick recovery of the injured and the wounded, and shall remind that:
1- Authorities representing me in Hajj and officials in Hajj Organization must continue their indefatigable efforts for identifying the victims and treating the injured and sending them back to the country and continue with quick broadcast of information as they have been doing the whole today and anyone who can shall help them.
2- Any possible sort of aid must be offered to pilgrims from other countries as well, so that the duty of Islamic brotherhood is fulfilled.
3- Saudi government must shoulder the heavy responsibility of 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.
4- The victims of this incident will, God willing, be included in the holy verse of Quran saying that: “And whoever leaves his home migrating toward Allah and His Apostle, and is then overtaken by death, his reward shall certainly fall on Allah;” (4:100) this would be a great solace for the bereaved. They lost their lives after performing Tavaf and Sa’i and following bountiful hours in Arafat, Masha’ar and while performing Hajj rituals, and God willingly they will be granted special Mercy and Compassion of God. Expressing once more my condolences to the mournful, I declare three days of national mourning in the country.
Wassalam Ala Ebad Allah Al-Salehin
Seyyed Ali Khamenei
24 September 2015