Dubai: Muslim nations expressed full support to Saudi Arabia on Friday for its handling of the Haj following a stampede on Thursday that claimed the lives of 719 pilgrims.
In Abu Dhabi, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, in a telephone call, expressed his heartfelt sympathies and condolences to Prince Mohammad Bin Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, over the stampede.
Shaikh Mohammad prayed to Allah Almighty to bless the souls of the dead with mercy and bestow solace and forbearance on their families, a WAM report said.
After a number of Iranian officials questioned the kingdom’s ability to manage the annual pilgrimage, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation said it supported Saudi Arabia’s efforts at keeping some two million pilgrims safe during Haj.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also came to Saudi Arabia’s defence, saying Saudi Arabia does its best to make the pilgrimage possible.
The imam of the Grand Mosque Dr Saleh Al Talib said that the kingdom is fully capable of handling the Haj, stressing the kingdom’s “undisputed sovereignty” over the holy sites.
He lashed out at those who “exploit” the tragedy “for political gains”.
Saudi authorities are investigating what sparked the disaster in Mina, about 5km from Makkah, and Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz said he had ordered a review of the kingdom’s plans for the pilgrimage.
