The head of Irans Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization says Iranians will not attend this years Hajj, blaming Saudi Arabia for creating obstacles in the way of Iranians seeking to perform the ritual.
In an interview with the Iranian media on Monday, Saeed Ohadi explained reasons why Iran has finally decided not to send its Hajj pilgrims to Mecca this year.
He noted that after lengthy negotiations between the two sides, the government in Riyadh added 11 articles to a memorandum of understanding signed between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which were not there in last years Hajj agreements between the two countries.
Ohadi noted that the new articles added by the Saudi government, which tried to impose new restrictions on Iranian Hajj pilgrims, made it impossible for the Islamic Republic to accept the whole agreement as a result of which Iran will not be sending Hajj pilgrims to the holy city of Mecca this year.
Explaining Riyadh's new restrictions and conditions for Iranian pilgrims, Ohadi enumerated them as follows:
Saudi's firm resolve not to accept Iranian pilgrims
The Iranian officialsaid, we had gone to Saudi Arabia to sign an agreement, but the Saudi officials were apparently bent on not accepting Iranian pilgrims and were just trying to buy time through negotiations.
Ban on raising Irans flag
Ohadi noted that among major reasons behind the cancellation of this years Hajj by Iran was Saudis ban on raising the Islamic Republics flag over buildings housing Iranian pilgrims as well as certain crowded routes aimed at guiding Iranians.
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Muslim pilgrims and first responders gather around bodies of people crushed in Mina, Saudi Arabia, on September, 2015 during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. (AP photo)[/caption]Restrictions on number of Iranian clinics
The Iranian officialsaid another negative condition set by Saudis was to impose restrictions on the number of Iranian clinics in Saudi Arabia during the Hajj season, and limiting use of various medicines by Iranian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabias request for Iranians to wear electronic wristbands
The Iranian official stated that Saudi Arabia had ordered Iranian pilgrims to wear electronic wristbands.
Of course, we had designed a similar wristband to facilitate identification of pilgrims, but Saudi Arabia clearly noted that it would design the wristbands itself and would not allow the Iranian side to use its own wristbands.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"]
Muslim pilgrims walk around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca on September 14, 2015. AFP[/caption]The Saudi officials, Ohadi noted, had also banned certain ceremonies and prayer gatherings by Iranian pilgrims, which was another reason why Iran could not give in to Saudi Arabias conditions.
Lack of political courtesy
Ohadi said Saudi Arabias disregard for political courtesy was also to blame for canceling the ritual, saying Saudi officials failed to adhere to the good manners even during the negotiations with the Iranian side aimed atdiscussing arrangements for this years Hajj pilgrimage.
Saudis showing disrespect for holy Qur'an
The Iranian official further stated that Saudi officials show disrespect for those versions of the holy Qur'an that are printed in Iran and while snatching them from Iranian pilgrims throw them aside in a disrespectful manner.
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Muslims on the annual Hajj pilgrimage, near the holy city of Mecca in September 2015 (AP photo)[/caption]An Iranian delegation recently traveled to Saudi Arabia at the official invitation of new Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten to discuss arrangements for this years Hajj pilgrimage months after a deadly crush in Mina which killed hundreds of pilgrims last September.
Saudi Arabia's Hajj Ministry said on Saturdayit had met a number of Iran's concernsbutOhadi saidRiyadh wasrefusing to accept conditions to guarantee the safety and dignity of Iranian pilgrims.
Hundreds of people lost their lives in the deadly incident in Mina which took place on September 24, 2015 when two large masses of pilgrims converged at a crossroads during the symbolic ceremony of the stoning of Satan in Jamarat.
Saudi Arabia claims nearly 770 people were killed in the incident, but officials at Irans Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization say about 4,700 people, including more than 460 Iranian pilgrims, lost their lives.
The AP record says more than 2,400 pilgrims died in the incident.
By Press TV
