Speaking to MNA on the occasion of the second anniversary of the Mina stampede, Allahyar Malekshahi stressed that the tragic event in which 464 Iranian pilgrims lost their lives will never be forgotten.
“A part of the issues related to the case has been so far pursued, but currently no new report about the latest investigation has been presented to us,” he added.
“If Saudi Arabia has not shouldered its legal responsibility toward this tragic incident, then it is up to Iran’s foreign ministry and vice-presidency for legal affairs to follow up on the case,” he said. “Otherwise, international courts of law are required to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for the incident.”
On September 24 in Mina, situated 5 kilometers to the east of the Holy city of Mecca, over 4,000 pilgrims were crushed to death in a stampede caused by a blocked avenue by Saudi guards. The death toll for Iranian pilgrims was the highest, reaching 464. Although Iran holds Saudi Arabia accountable for the incident, the kingdom has not paid any compensations to the families of victims and been dodging its responsibility for two years. Lack of diplomatic ties between the two countries have also contributed to the stalemate of the case.
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