JEDDAH, 5 February 2004 — Interior Minister Prince Naif yesterday emphasized Saudi Arabia’s efforts to ensure the security of pilgrims and said Sunday’s Jamrat stampede could have been avoided if pilgrims had behaved calmly.
“I saw people jump over those who fell while others stood on top of them to throw stones. We had hoped that our pilgrims would behave calmly and respect those who fell down or fainted, rather than step on them,” he said.
Prince Naif, who is chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, called upon Haj officials in Islamic countries to instruct their pilgrims in what is necessary in order to prevent harm to themselves and others. “What happened was the will of God and we do not want to blame pilgrims,” he said referring to Sunday’s stampede in which 251 pilgrims were crushed to death and nearly 240 injured.
Authorities had tried to prevent tragedy by urging the pilgrims to stone the devil in Mina at different times.
Addressing top officers at the end of the Haj on Tuesday, Prince Naif commended their attempts to prevent moves to undermine the security of the Kingdom and pilgrims. “There were no security breaches or sabotage operations,” he pointed out.
The minister said the security, safety and traffic plans were carried out according to the highest standards and “those who say otherwise are ungrateful or hate this country.”
Prince Naif said he believed that the pilgrims who died in the stampede would enter Paradise. “We hope that their place in paradise with the faithful is assured because they have fulfilled their pilgrimage duties.”
He said the stampede, while lamentable, was not any different from what might occur in a crowded place elsewhere in the world and should be kept in perspective.
