A hajj stampede kills 244 and wounds an equal number of pilgrims
during the ritual stoning of Satan. The stampede, during a peak event of
the annual Muslim pilgrimage, lasted about half an hour. Hajj Minister
Iyad Madani later said: "All precautions were taken to prevent such
an incident, but this is God's will. Caution isn't stronger
than fate". (The annual hajj, which began on Jan. 29, climaxed on
Jan. 31 as more than 2m Muslim pilgrims listened to Saudi Arabia's
top Wahhabi theologian, Grand Mufti Abdel Aziz Aal Al Shaikh denounce
terrorists, calling them an affront to Islam. But he defended
Wahhabism's strict interpretation of the faith. He said in his
sermon there were those who claimed to be holy warriors, but were
shedding Muslim blood and destabilising the nation. "Is it holy war
to shed Muslim blood? Is it holy war to shed the blood of non-Muslims
given sanctuary in Muslim lands? Is it holy war to destroy the
possession of Muslims?". He said their actions gave enemies an
excuse to criticise Muslim countries.
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