The Muslim News

Mina, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - At least 244 Muslim pilgrims have been crushed to death and the same number injured in a human tide during a devil-stoning ritual at the climax of the annual haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

"There were 244 pilgrims who died in the incident in Jamarat and 244 who were injured," Pilgrimage Affairs and Endowments Minister Iyad bin Amin Madani told reporters on Sunday without giving a breakdown of nationalities.

The disaster happened as two million pilgrims, wrapped in white robes, flocked to Jamarat Bridge in Mena to throw stones at pillars representing the devil on the Muslim Eid al-Adha feast day of sacrifice.

Madani said a huge number of pilgrims had opted to perform the ritual at the same time although the kingdom had been encouraging them to stagger times to prevent a stampede.

"There was more than 400 metres of people pushing in the same direction (which) resulted in the collapse of those next to the stoning area...and those behind. That led to panic," he said.

Most of the victims were not part of organised haj trips and several had been carrying personal belongings which had caused obstructions, he said.

Madani said another 272 pilgrims had died of natural causes during the haj, which all able-bodied Muslims must perform once in a lifetime if they can afford it.

He said movement to Jamarat Bridge was well controlled between midnight and 8:30 am (5:30 a.m. British time) on Sunday before the crush. "I assure you that all the preparations are always made, but we don't always know God's intentions," he said.

In 1990, 1,426 pilgrims were crushed to death in a pedestrian tunnel at the holy city of Mecca. Last year 14 people were trampled to death. In 2001, 35 people died in a stampede at the bridge and 119 were killed in a similar incident in 1998.

The haj has also seen armed uprisings and bombings.

Mena is on the pilgrimage route from Mecca in western Saudi Arabia to nearby Mount Arafat.

Pilgrims descended on the main pillar from all directions on Sunday, shouting "God is greatest!". Onlookers chanted "Harder! Harder!" as the faithful stoned the devil.

Muslims believe the pillar marks the spot where the devil appeared to biblical patriarch Abraham.

MESSAGE OF TOLERANCE

There was massive security this year. Thousands of troops have been deployed in the kingdom, a U.S. ally, amid fears of a possible attack by Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.

In his Eid al-Adha sermon, the imam of the Grand Mosque, Sheikh Abdulrahman al-Sudeis, told pilgrims Islam was a tolerant faith and urged Muslims to reject terror and violence.

"Islam seeks moderation...Those who deviate from moderation and try to incite Muslims against their rulers are seeking discord and anarchy through destruction, terrorism, bombings and shedding the blood of Muslims and those under the protection of the state," he told worshippers in Mecca.

"The security of the land of the two holy mosques cannot be compromised... There is no room for violence or destruction."

Saudi security forces this week arrested seven suspects, who they said were planning a "terrorist act". The gunmen had killed seven people, mainly policemen, searching a house in Riyadh.

A recent statement said to be from al Qaeda, blamed for suicide bombings in the kingdom and for the September 11 attacks on U.S. cities, vowed to "rid the Arab peninsula of infidels".

The Eid marks Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail at God's command. Thousands of sheep, cows and camels are slaughtered.
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