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26 August 2015 Iran has occupied itself with criticism of Saudi Arabia as Pope Francis, speaking
at New York's St Patrick's Cathedral, has joined the world leaders by
expressing "closeness" with the world's Muslims after more than 700 pilgrims
were killed in a stampede outside the Islamic holy city of Mecca. Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of an
Iranian parliamentary committee for national security, called on other
Islamic countries to lodge protests with the Saudis.
The incident may worsen relations between the two countries, already strained
by opposing stances on the conflicts in Syria and Yemen.
World leaders send messages of condolences
United States The White
House on Thursday offered condolences after a ''heartbreaking'' stampede in
Saudi Arabia that left more than 700 Muslim pilgrims dead.
''The United States expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the
hundreds of Hajj pilgrims killed and hundreds more injured in the
heartbreaking stampede in Mina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,'' said National
Security Council spokesman Ned Price. ''As Muslims around the world continue to celebrate Eid al-Adha, we join you
in mourning the tragic loss of these faithful pilgrims.''
British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Philip
Hammond expressed condolence for the victims of the stampede incident which
occurred in Mina on Thursday. In his personal account on Twitter, he said ''A sad accident occurred in
Makkah. I offer my condolence to all those affected of what has happened.''
Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition, wrote
on his Facebook page hours after the stampede: "I am shocked and saddened to
hear of today''s events in Saudi Arabia. My thoughts are with the friends and
families of all those affected as well as Muslims in Britain and around the
world. Custodian
of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman received a cable of condolence from
German Chancellor Angela Merkel following the stampede in Mina.
In her cable, Merkel also condoled with the families of the dead,
wishing the injured quick recovery. Custodian
of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman received a cable of condolence today from
Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani, premier and minister of
interior of Qatar following the stampede in Mina.
The Qatari premier and minister of interior also prayed to Allah
Almighty to bestow mercy on the dead and give quick recovery to the injured. Custodian
of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman received a cable of condolence from King
Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco following the stampede incident which
occurred in Mina. Custodian
of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman received a cable of condolence from
Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, during which he
expressed profound sadness on the death of some pilgrims at a stampede in
Mina.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman received a telephone call from
Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussein who congratulated him on the blessed Eid
Al-Adha and expressed condolence on the death of several pilgrims in Mina.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques thanked him for his noble feelings. Custodian
of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman received a cable of condolence from
Tunisian President Al-Baji Gaed Al-Sibsi following the stampede incident
which occurred in Mina. The Tunisian president expressed sincere condolence
to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Saudi people and families of
the deceased, vowing solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in this sad
circumstances. He prayed to Allah Almighty to preserve the Kingdom's
leadership and people from any harm and bestow mercy on the dead and quick
recovery on the injured. South Africa
The office of South Africa's Acting President Cyril Ramaphosa
released a statement, carried by Times Live: While
the South African government awaits information about the status of South
African pilgrims‚ acting president Ramaphosa has expressed South Africa's
shared grief at this substantial loss of life.
''He also wished injured survivors a speedy recovery‚'' a statement by
the Department on International Relations and Cooperation said.
''Acting president Ramaphosa said that for South Africans‚ the stampede
was particularly tragic given its coincidence with Heritage Day‚ an occasion
dedicated to celebrating the diversity of the nation and humanity at large.''
United Nations' Ban Ki-Moon
The U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said in a statement
that he ''was deeply saddened to learn of the death of more than 700 Hajj
pilgrims and of injuries to many others as a result of a deadly incident in
the Mina Valley in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This tragic incident is all
the more distressing as it took place on the first day of the Holy Eid Al-Adha
marking the end of the annual Hajj season.'' He
extended his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and expresses
his sympathies to all the Governments concerned. |
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