RNA – In an interview with Rasa News Agency, Hujjat al-Islam Dr. Sayyed Hamid Jazayeri, the director of the Department of Quranic Sciences at Qom’s al-Mulystafa International University, in reference to the stampede in Mina, said that the Holy Quran and the hadiths of the Prophet and the Imams describe the Hajj pilgrimage as a symbol of unity and of the greatness of the worldwide Islamic community and of Muslim identity and of the safety of the Middle East.
“A particular group should not have priority in managing such a ceremony over others,” he stressed.
The professor at al-Mustafa International University stated that the House of Saud is incompetent and responsible for the tragedy in Mina, adding that due to their incompetence in managing the Hajj, which should embody an atmosphere of security and divine unity, it has been turned into a centre of tension, anxiety and unrest.
Hujjat al-Islam Jazayeri explained that the incident in Mina was an “unusual event,” saying: “The event in Mina, plus the previous [crane] incident in the Sacred Mosque the loss of [thousands] of the ‘Guests of God’ is unusual and cause of great sorrow.”
His Eminence said that the ability of Hajj pilgrims who could have represented the lofty culture of Muslims and the solidarity of the Islamic world has been seriously damaged due to the incompetence of the Saudi government.
He stressed that intellectuals, scholars and representatives of the Muslim world should think in order to solve the problems and assume responsibility for the administration of Hajj and make use of the capabilities and various experiences of Islamic countries to manage the pilgrimage.
“Those incompetent and incapable [Saudi] officials who have laid the foundation for this bitter incident are busy blaming others instead of accepting responsibility and compensating the victims of this tragedy,” he stressed.
Hujjat al-Islam Jazayeri added that in their speeches since the incident, Saudi authorities have made racist remarks, blamed certain groups of Muslims, attributed the disaster to divine fate and destiny and have distorted facts.
His Eminence also referred to the remarks made by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, saying that his message indicates the magnitude of the disaster and said: “We hope that by this move, a source of change begins in the Islamic world and that competent and qualified persons are appointed to manage the Hajj.”
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