00 Die in Stampede at Haj
09-24-2015, 12:55 PM
Don't take this the wrong way, but Osama Bin Laden may have had a point about the Saudi authorities not being worthy of custodianship of Islams holy sites.
Just like in almost any year you can think of there has been a stampede during this years haj, with an astonishing numbers dead. More than 700.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/2...RN20150924
The Reuters article further sates that the Saudis have spent $Billions on various crowd control features. But when massive loss of life continues you have to concede that either you haven't acted appropriately or, more likely, that the number of people involved makes it impossible to prevent stampedes and massive loss of life.
A solution may be to set the number of visa's/permits they grant much lower than at present. They are trying to marry a more than 1000 year old practice with contemporary population numbers. It's just impossible. Muslims will have to accept that not all of them will be able to meet their obligations to make this pilgrimage in their lifetime. Looking back on the history of stampedes, despite control methods, the numbers just don't work.
Just like in almost any year you can think of there has been a stampede during this years haj, with an astonishing numbers dead. More than 700.
Quote:Quote:
At least 717 pilgrims from around the world were killed on Thursday in a crush outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi authorities said, in the worst disaster to strike the annual haj pilgrimage for 25 years.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/2...RN20150924
The Reuters article further sates that the Saudis have spent $Billions on various crowd control features. But when massive loss of life continues you have to concede that either you haven't acted appropriately or, more likely, that the number of people involved makes it impossible to prevent stampedes and massive loss of life.
A solution may be to set the number of visa's/permits they grant much lower than at present. They are trying to marry a more than 1000 year old practice with contemporary population numbers. It's just impossible. Muslims will have to accept that not all of them will be able to meet their obligations to make this pilgrimage in their lifetime. Looking back on the history of stampedes, despite control methods, the numbers just don't work.