The Associated Press reported today on a deadly stampede in Saudi Arabia during part of the Hajj, an annual pilgrimage and one of the pillars of Islam.
MINA, Saudi Arabia — Thousands of Muslim pilgrims rushing to complete a symbolic stoning ritual during the hajj tripped over luggage Thursday, causing a crush in which at least 345 people were killed, the Interior Ministry said.
The stampede occurred as tens of thousands of pilgrims headed toward al-Jamarat, a series of three pillars representing the devil that the faithful pelt with stones to purge themselves of sin. Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki said 345 people were killed. Dr. Abbasi, a Red Crecent doctor at the scene, put the number of injured at 1,000.
Blogger Revdrron (http://revdrron.blogspot.com/) offers some background on how such a tragedy could happen. Notice his editorial comment at the end of the piece. Today he writes:
Iranian Pilgrims in Mecca Shout "Death to America, the Great Satan" in an Anti-American Rally…
Following are excerpts from a rally of Iranian pilgrims in Mecca, aired on Channel 1, Iranian TV, and on Al-'Alam TV, on January 9, 2006.
Crowd: Israel is the enemy of Allah.
Man: May the hands of the infidels be chopped off.
Crowd: May the hands of the infidels be chopped off.
Man: May the hands of the infidels be chopped off.
Crowd: May the hands of the infidels be chopped off.
Man: (Chopped off) from the land of the believers.
Crowd: From the land of the believers.
Man: The Audience will now split into two groups: One group will settle the score with America, and the other will settle the score with Israel.
This group now: Death to America!
Crowd: Death to America!
Man: Death to Israel!
Crowd: Death to Israel! Death to America!
Man: Death to America!
Crowd: Death to America!
Man: Death to America!
Crowd: Death to Israel! Death to America! Death to Israel!
Man: All together now: Death to America! Death to Israel!
Crowd: Death to America! Death to Israel! Death to America! Death to Israel! Death to America! Death to Israel! Death to America! Death to Israel!Etc, etc, etc....
The mind of sinful (mind set on the flesh) man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace... (Romans 8:6)
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