Top Saudi Cleric Will Not Deliver Hajj Sermon

“Saudi organisers have spent billions of dollars expanding the Grand Mosque itself and have built several bridges and tunnels to accommodate the ever increasing numbers of pilgrims performing rites at sites outside Mecca, like Mina, where a number of tragedies have occurred over the years”, he said.

Also for the first time, pilgrims will be given electronic bracelets storing personal and medical information that will help authorities provide care and identify people.

Tens of thousands of Iranians are absent because of long-running tensions between their Shiite nation and Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia, friction exaggerated by the stampede.

“If they are claiming that they are not guilty in the incident, they should let an Islamic worldwide fact-finding delegation review and probe the case closely”, Khamenei said, adding that Saudi Arabia “should not shut people’s mouth with money”.

The gathering of millions of Muslims from the different parts of the world at one place of Mecca to perform Hajj had been started today on September 9.

Hajj is an annual pilgrimage to Mecca which must be carried out at least once in the life of each Muslim.

Ohadi said that during this year’s negotiations the Saudis simply fell back on verses of the Koran stating that anyone who enters Saudi Arabia has “full security”.

On the anniversary of Mina catastrophe, Lebanese newspaper of al-Akhbar posted a report in which it cited a database leaked from the Saudi ministry of public health, documenting the death of over 90 thousand multinational pilgrims in Mecca in 14 years. Women forgo makeup and perfume and wear loose-fitting clothing and a head covering, while men dress in seamless, white terry cloth garments.

“How are you going to invite 1.5 million pilgrims and not even allow yourself to think about the security measures?” asked Said Ohadi.

AFP reported seeing many pilgrims wearing such bracelets near the Great Mosque of Mecca. A Nigerian visitor, Lawan Nasir, 45, said the loss of a cousin in last year’s stampede did not stop him from coming. It took place as pilgrims – many of them Iranians – were going to the Jamarat Bridge for a stoning ritual.

It is worth noting that those projects are set to serve the political interests of the Saudi at the expense of Islamic legacy and the pilgrims’ safety in Mecca.

Iranian citizens won’t take part in this year’s pilgrimage, after Saudi Arabia and Iran failed to agree on travel arrangements for Iranian pilgrims.

He said the “organizational measures” would only affect Hezbollah members and not their families or the group’s supporters.