Saudi, Iran agree to repatriate dead pilgrims: state media

Over 1,400 pilgrims died in a stampede inside a tunnel in 1990 after a ventilation system broke down.

Iran and Saudi Arabia sought to tone down a war of words over last week’s haj disaster, with Riyadh offering condolences to its regional rival over what Tehran said on Thursday were 464 Iranians killed in the crush near Mecca.

The Islamic Republic has the highest confirmed death toll among foreign nationalities by far, accounting for more than half of the 769 people Saudi Arabia says were killed, followed by Egypt with 124. However, Iran, Nigeria and India have disputed this toll. Worse, it is rather racist for the Central Hajj Committee head, Khaled al-Faisal, to blame the disaster on “pilgrims from Africa”.

Saudi Arabia’s top cleric, Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh, said at the weekend the stampede was beyond human control and that the authorities are not responsible for what had happened.

“The Saudi government is not carrying out its obligation to repatriate and in a few cases shows slyness”, Khamenei told military commanders in northern Iran in comments broadcast on state TV.

“If (Iran) wants to react to disturbing and sinister elements, their situation will not be good”, Khamenei added.

Also, Iran’s government spokesman Mohammad Baqer Nobakht said on Tuesday that Iran would file a complaint against Saudi Arabia for its “shortcomings” which led to the death of Iranian pilgrims during the Hajj ceremony.

But there is also anger and anxiety elsewhere throughout the Muslim world.

“The two parties have concurred on the repatriation of the bodies of identified dead Iranians when you possibly can”, Saudi’s SPA state news agency reported early Thursday following discussions between the competitors in Jeddah. Fourteen others are still receiving treatment in Saudi hospitals, it said.

Pakistan´s media regulator, PEMRA, ordered television channels to tone down criticism of Saudi Arabia in order to avoid offending one of Islamabad’s closest allies.

The adequacy of measures put in place by Saudi authorities was questioned to ensure the safety of the roughly 2 million Muslims taking part in the pilgrimage especially since this was the second major disaster during this year’s hajj season. Muslims are expected to undertake the journey at least once in their lifetimes if they have the financial means to do so.