Death of Hajis at Mina
Omar Khasru, On e-mail
It was a pleasant Eid, interspersed with extreme bouts of stress and tension because of the deaths of Hajis at Mina. I have a few relevant questions and observations about the seemingly routine, apparently varying only in degree and magnitude, deaths. The Saudi government, caretaker and custodian of the holy sites, has, in my opinion, failed to handle the situation with care and attention. Why is there not a system which would enable the Hajis to enter and exit the venue in an orderly fashion? There is a similar crowd gathering at the Vatican every Christmas and Easter but nobody ever dies from stampede. Isn't it a combination of intense religious fervour, frenzy and zeal on the part of Hajis and lack of efficient management on the part of the Saudi government? All the countries sending Hajis, especially those with casualties in the latest mishap, have a right to demand an explanation from the Saudi authorities.
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. PHOTO: AFP |
