Hajj stampede: 244 pilgrims dead

[NcDeuce]

Hajj stampede: 244 pilgrims dead

MECCA, Saudi Arabia (CNN) -- A stampede Sunday morning killed 244 Muslim pilgrims and injured another 244 at a stone-throwing ritual which has been the source of deadly tramplings in the past, according to Saudi's health minister.

The incident happened around 9 a.m. (0600 GMT) during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The health minister said the stampede lasted for about 27 minutes before the crowd was brought under control. The stoning ritual has since resumed.

Seven of those hurt were seriously injured.

The pilgrims traveled from the Muslim holy city of Mecca to Mina to cast small pebbles at three columns of stone that symbolize the devil.

An estimated 2 million pilgrims are attending this year's Hajj.

Last year, 36 pilgrims were trampled to death, most of them en route to the devil stoning ritual.

In 2001, a stampede at the same ritual killed 35.

Muslims across the globe make the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, where they worship at Islam's holiest sites. The five-day journey -- which every adult Muslim must take at least once if possible -- began Jan. 31.

The gathering of millions is often the scene of deadly stampedes and other violence.

The most deadly Hajj-related incident was a 1990 stampede in which 1,426 pilgrims were killed.

Here is a breakdown of other violent incidents at the annual Muslim pilgrimage:

1998 - 180 people died in a stampede near Mecca at the end of the Hajj;

1997 - A fire in Mina tore through the sprawling, overcrowded tent city , trapping and killing more than 340 pilgrims and injuring 1,500;

1994 - a stampede kills 270 pilgrims;

1991 - a chartered airliner carrying pilgrims home to Nigeria crashed, killing 261;

1991 - a plane crash in northern Saudi Arabia killed 91 Senegalese soldiers returning from a trip to Mecca which had been a reward for their service in the U.S.-led coalition that drove Iraqi forces from Kuwait in the Gulf War a month earlier;

1989 - bombs exploded near the Grand Mosque in Mecca, killing one pilgrim and wounding 16 others;

1987 - some 400 people, mainly Iranian Shi'ite pilgrims, were killed in clashes with Saudi security forces during anti-Western protests in Mecca.

:cantbeli: Ay

[[AFSOC]]

Too bad...

Gets crazy over there during this time of the year.

[Javehn]

First of all , happy Id El-Adha to every Muslims here (and there is only one , so ... Spread the word ) .
And second , don't do trouble , guys . Don't drink and drive ;) (I had a car accident today , insurance is gonna make party over this :( ) .
And third , watch where you step . It can be your neighbour ...

[ibstolidude]

Very unfortunate

Sounds like a WHO concert.

[George W. Bush]

DAMN YOU DEVIL! :bash:

RIP.

[aFgHaNibOi]

First of all , happy Id El-Adha to every Muslims here (and there is only one , so ... Spread the word ) .
And second , don't do trouble , guys . Don't drink and drive ;) (I had a car accident today , insurance is gonna make party over this :( ) .
And third , watch where you step . It can be your neighbour ...
Happy Eid to you too bro :hug: . You're Muslim too? :|

[mustamato]

This seems to happen every year. Why
can´t they just throw the stones in turns?

[George W. Bush]

I guess when you throw stones at the devil, he throws something back :lol:

[Merik]

Can you say "Ooops."

[aFgHaNibOi]

I haven't been there yet, but I'm gonna throw stones from a distance when I do...dang that sucks though. Especially considering the fact that you're not supposed to even hurt an ant in that site...

[One?]

First of all , happy Id El-Adha to every Muslims here (and there is only one , so ... Spread the word ) .
And second , don't do trouble , guys . Don't drink and drive ;) (I had a car accident today , insurance is gonna make party over this :( ) .
And third , watch where you step . It can be your neighbour ...
Happy Eid to you too bro :hug: . You're Muslim too? :|



Javehn is a Jew (a cuzin as idfm203 likes to put it :P )

these things happen alot. The place is too small and over crowded. So if you fall no one will pick you up. No matter how well you plan it some people will always want to cut in line and ruin everything for the rest.

[aFgHaNibOi]

First of all , happy Id El-Adha to every Muslims here (and there is only one , so ... Spread the word ) .
And second , don't do trouble , guys . Don't drink and drive ;) (I had a car accident today , insurance is gonna make party over this :( ) .
And third , watch where you step . It can be your neighbour ...
Happy Eid to you too bro :hug: . You're Muslim too? :|



Javehn is a Jew (a cuzin as idfm203 likes to put it :P )

these things happen alot. The place is too small and over crowded. So if you fall no one will pick you up. No matter how well you plan it some people will always want to cut in line and ruin everything for the rest.
Oh, well that's cool that he knows and wished it for us. ;) I know that Hanuka passed, but Happy Hanuka. ;)

Yes, that's true. And if more people fall, the ones at the bottom get crushed, it's like a really violent pig pile. :( God help us all...

[One?]

I haven't been there yet, but I'm gonna throw stones from a distance

and eventualy hit someone in the head ?

[aFgHaNibOi]

I haven't been there yet, but I'm gonna throw stones from a distance

and eventualy hit someone in the head ?
Yeah, that's funny man. rofl I wouldn't wanna launch it and hit someone in the head. Damn...uh, then I'll just...I don't know man, I guess I could draw up a gameplan when I go there. ;)

[George W. Bush]

Cool, if you ever go there, throw some at the greatest Satan pillar (you know who that is)

[aFgHaNibOi]

Cool, if you ever go there, throw some at the greatest Satan pillar (you know who that is)
No, I don't man. Who? :|

[George W. Bush]

USA

[aFgHaNibOi]

USA
Oh. rofl I don't think they have those pillars there. It's just for Shaytan, no countries. ;)

[One?]

USA

you're getting Iran mixed up with Saudi Arabia....

[cbreedon]

244 down G-d knows how many more.

[martinexsquaddie]

that was a truly stupid remark. Cbreedon.
its unfortunate just because someones a muslim doe'snt make them a terrorist

[oldsoak]

Very true.

[cbreedon]

that was a truly stupid remark. Cbreedon.
its unfortunate just because someones a muslim doe'snt make them a terrorist

I am just sick and tired of our freedoms and lifestyles being turned up side down because of these people. Before September 11, life was pretty good, now I see freedom being eroded, airport lines are a nightmare, etc, etc. All because of Muslims. I was a fairly tolerant person, but I looked around the world and just about everywhere where Muslims and another group live in close proximity, there is conflict (Phillipines, Ethiopia, Sudan, Israel). Maybe you should think about that. I don't think everyone else is the the problem. They are!

I guess I will now be labeled a racist and stupid for having an opinion....

[EvanL]

that was a truly stupid remark. Cbreedon.
its unfortunate just because someones a muslim doe'snt make them a terrorist

I am just sick and tired of our freedoms and lifestyles being turned up side down because of these people. Before September 11, life was pretty good, now I see freedom being eroded, airport lines are a nightmare, etc, etc. All because of Muslims. I was a fairly tolerant person, but I looked around the world and just about everywhere where Muslims and another group live in close proximity, there is conflict (Phillipines, Ethiopia, Sudan, Israel). Maybe you should think about that. I don't think everyone else is the the problem. They are!

I guess I will now be labeled a racist and stupid for having an opinion....
STrange how you gain these feelings from the actions of one who is muslim. I wonder where the fundamentalists get there feelings from? There no different than yours. Grow up you little ****.

[One?]

that was a truly stupid remark. Cbreedon.
its unfortunate just because someones a muslim doe'snt make them a terrorist

I am just sick and tired of our freedoms and lifestyles being turned up side down because of these people. Before September 11, life was pretty good, now I see freedom being eroded, airport lines are a nightmare, etc, etc. All because of Muslims. I was a fairly tolerant person, but I looked around the world and just about everywhere where Muslims and another group live in close proximity, there is conflict (Phillipines, Ethiopia, Sudan, Israel). Maybe you should think about that. I don't think everyone else is the the problem. They are!

I guess I will now be labeled a racist and stupid for having an opinion....

remember what happened the jews were blamed for all the problems in the world?

And you're saying your lifestyle has been disturbed? What about the lifestyle of the people in asia, and africa. Hasn't their life been disturbed because of your government's foreign policy?

It sickens me to see people like you still around, people who never learn from history. Go wear your white hood and jump around a fire.

[EvanL]

that was a truly stupid remark. Cbreedon.
its unfortunate just because someones a muslim doe'snt make them a terrorist

I am just sick and tired of our freedoms and lifestyles being turned up side down because of these people. Before September 11, life was pretty good, now I see freedom being eroded, airport lines are a nightmare, etc, etc. All because of Muslims. I was a fairly tolerant person, but I looked around the world and just about everywhere where Muslims and another group live in close proximity, there is conflict (Phillipines, Ethiopia, Sudan, Israel). Maybe you should think about that. I don't think everyone else is the the problem. They are!

I guess I will now be labeled a racist and stupid for having an opinion....

remember what happened the jews were blamed for all the problems in the world?

And you're saying your lifestyle has been disturbed? What about the lifestyle of the people in asia, and africa. Hasn't their life been disturbed because of your government's foreign policy?

It sickens me to see people like you still around, people who never learn from history. Go wear your white hood and jump around a fire.
And set yourself on fire while your at it.

[oldsoak]

Its the fanatics who cause the problems - not the ordinary guy who just wants to make a decent living in peace and quiet. Yes the minority cause problems out of all proportion to their numbers, but we want to look after the good ones and stuff the bad ones, not stuff them all, good or bad.

[cbreedon]

Like I said I was a fairly tolerant person. I am jewish so I understand about the "being blamed for the world's problems" thing. I have dual US UK citizenship and have seen the world.

But after 9-11 and the stepping up of suicide bombers, my perpective slowly changed over the past 2 years.


PS EvanLloyd, I am probably old than you.

[Mr Gently Benevolent]

244 down G-d knows how many more.

Stupid racist bigotted comment of the week get this guy his award. :(

[EvanL]

Like I said I was a fairly tolerant person. I am jewish so I understand about the "being blamed for the world's problems" thing. I have dual US UK citizenship and have seen the world.

But after 9-11 and the stepping up of suicide bombers, my perpective slowly changed over the past 2 years.


PS EvanLloyd, I am probably old than you.
Well i saw 911 with my eyes. And i hold no grudges against muslims, just terrorists and fanatics. So bugger off you old sod.

[Javehn]

AfganiBoy , Happy Korban Bayram to you , just remember how it's called in Tajic ...

cbreedon ,common , guy , you can't blame all the Muslims . Fundamentalists are bi-aches , and unfortunatly they control most of the muslim world today . But there are pretty much a big number of Muslim , that are good fellas , and they see the deads of Fundamental Muslims with pain . I know that , because i work with Muslims , i study with Muslims , i live near them . It's all about how people interprit the religion . Unfortunatly , Islam was given to many hot blooded nations , that lived life of tribes and violence , and it did get somewhere wrong interpritation . If you want , blame Usama Bladun , blame Arafak , but why to blame intire nation ?

[2Sheds_Jackson]

that was a truly stupid remark. Cbreedon.
its unfortunate just because someones a muslim doe'snt make them a terrorist

I am just sick and tired of our freedoms and lifestyles being turned up side down because of these people. Before September 11, life was pretty good, now I see freedom being eroded, airport lines are a nightmare, etc, etc. All because of Muslims. I was a fairly tolerant person, but I looked around the world and just about everywhere where Muslims and another group live in close proximity, there is conflict (Phillipines, Ethiopia, Sudan, Israel). Maybe you should think about that. I don't think everyone else is the the problem. They are!

I guess I will now be labeled a racist and stupid for having an opinion....

remember what happened the jews were blamed for all the problems in the world?

And you're saying your lifestyle has been disturbed? What about the lifestyle of the people in asia, and africa. Hasn't their life been disturbed because of your government's foreign policy?

It sickens me to see people like you still around, people who never learn from history. Go wear your white hood and jump around a fire.
And set yourself on fire while your at it.

Wow, check out the voices of tolerance. I guess they only tolerate people who agree with them.

Hey, how many times do you have to be bitten by a snake to know that you should avoid snakes? This is elemental & completely natural.

But we have to fight against that instinct, since intellectually we know that not all snakes will bite. It's not always easy though.

I just find it kind of interesting that the people who are supposedly all about inclusivness of all points of view, tolerance, multiculturalism etc, in reality have no room for all points of view.

[One?]

All you know about muslims is what you've been fed through the tv. If 5% of muslims support the acts of bin laden that doesn't mean we all do.

Its like saying all christians belong to the KKK or saying all jews belong to Kahane Chai. And neither one is true.

How many muslims are in the US armed forces, or government officials, or work for some government branch. Are they all terrorists and want to kill you? Oh wait we I forgot they want to take over the world.

[MolliG]

Am I right in thinking that, if one dies on Hajj, they are immediately entered into Paradise? :)

[Dijital_Majik]

Yes MolliG, Inshallah (God Willing) those who died at Hajj this year will go to Paradise.

It's nice to see some tolerance in the forums. For the last year or so I have been reading here, I kinda got the feeling most people were anti-Islamic.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

All you know about muslims is what you've been fed through the tv. If 5% of muslims support the acts of bin laden that doesn't mean we all do.

Its like saying all christians belong to the KKK or saying all jews belong to Kahane Chai. And neither one is true.

How many muslims are in the US armed forces, or government officials, or work for some government branch. Are they all terrorists and want to kill you? Oh wait we I forgot they want to take over the world.

Hey now - how do you know what others may know or not know about Muslims? See, it's that kind of blanket statement that gets both sides in trouble.

I'm gonna put the horns on & play devil's advocate for a minute here, because I think we're getting to the heart of why so many associate militant "terrorist" Muslims with more moderate ones.

No credible Christian church or organization has failed to condemn the KKK. They operate completely on their own & get no backing or support from any national church. They are pariahs, and universally and loudly condemned.

The same cannot be said of the militant Muslim movement. They receive financial and other logistical support from a range of mainstream Muslim sources. In the US many of these have been identified by the FBI and shut down. And yes, it does appear that many were not aware of where the money was going...but none the less it still happened & it quite understandably fuels people's suspicions.

I dunno, maybe the fact that more mainstream Islam organizations didn't voice more outrage over 9/11, or that they seemed more concerned with having their rights protected (which many saw as a form of separatism) that makes others suspicious.

I think that there's a lot more that both sides could do. I believe mainstream society would be far more tolerant & even embrace the Muslim community if they would put more effort into joining with us as a team, rather than isolating themselves & appearing to be subversive.

And of course condolences to the victims of the Hajj. It's terrible that a religious journey like that could end in tragedy. Why do they have these problems every year? Why don't the authorities do more to ensure the safety of the pilgrims? If 300 people died every year at the Vatican, somebody would be held responsible...