2006 Hajj stampede

2006 Hajj stampede
Date 12 January 2006 (2006-01-12)
Location Mina, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Coordinates 21°24′48″N 39°53′36″E / 21.41333°N 39.89333°E / 21.41333; 39.89333
Deaths 345+[1]
Non-fatal injuries 1000+[1]

The 2006 Hajj stampede resulted in the deaths of at least 364 pilgrims on 12 January 2006 during the Hajj in Mecca.[2]

Background

Main article: Hajj

The Hajj is an annual pilgrimage in Mecca undertaken by able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime. It consists of a series of rites including the Stoning of the Devil (Arabic: رمي الجمرات‎ ramī aj-jamarāt, lit. "stoning of the jamarāt [place of pebbles][3][4] which takes place in Mina, a district of Mecca. The stoning ritual is the last major ritual and is often regarded as the most dangerous part of the Hajj, with stampedes occurring in the past.[5]

With a history of fatal stampedes at The Hajj – including a stampede which killed 244 in 2004[1] – authorities in Mecca had taken steps in the hopes of reducing chances of another stampede, including the issuing of a fatwa extending the permitted hours of the ritual.

Incident

Mina camp sites, 2011.

The stampede occurred when pilgrims fell over luggage that had been discarded in the rush to take part in the stoning.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mark Oliver. "Hundreds killed in hajj stampede". the Guardian. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  2. ↑ "Hajj stampede: At least 310 killed in Saudi Arabia". BBC News. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  3. ↑ Burton, Richard Francis (1857). Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to El Medinah and Meccah. p. 226. The word jamrah is applied to the place of stoning, as well as to the stones.
  4. ↑ Abū Dāʼūd (1984). Sunan Abu Dawud: Chapters 519–1337. Sh. M. Ashraf. 1204. Jamrah originally means a pebble. It is applied to the heap of stones or a pillar.
  5. ↑ "Satan stoned – most dangerous hajj rite". News24. 6 November 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "Mecca crane collapse: Saudi king sanctions Binladin group". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. Agence France-Presse. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.


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