Measures Taken to Ensure Safety of Hajj Pilgrims

Measures have been taken to prevent the reoccurrence of the deadly stampede during the hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, said the representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei at the pilgrimage Seyyed Ali Ghazi Asgar, Mizan News Agency reported.

There will be no heavy construction cranes in and around the areas pilgrims have to pass through; moreover, the tracks leading to City of Mina have been widened to make it easier for the large numbers of pilgrims to move along.

During the annual ritual in 2015, a stampede occurred claiming the lives 464 Iranians pilgrims in Mina, 3 km from Mecca. In the incident in which more than 3,000 pilgrims form several countries were killed, two groups of pilgrims on their way to perform the stoning of satan ritual converged at an intersection.

Earlier in September 2015, in a separate incident, a massive construction crane collapsed on Mecca’s Grand Mosque, killing more than 100 pilgrims, including 11 Iranians and injuring 200 others.

Last year, Iran decided not to send any pilgrims to hajj over security concerns after the two deadly incidents and deep differences with the Saudi government over regional issues. The two countries do not have diplomatic ties.