NFT: Stampede kills more than 700 at Hajj pilgrimage near Mecca

But nothing new, unfortunately:

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July 2, 1990: A stampede inside a pedestrian tunnel (Al-Ma'aisim tunnel) leading out from Mecca towards Mina and the Plains of Arafat led to the deaths of 1,426 pilgrims, many of them of Malaysian, Indonesian and Pakistani origin.[2][3] May 23, 1994: A stampede killed at least 270 pilgrims at the stoning of the Devil ritual. April 9, 1998: at least 118 pilgrims were trampled to death and 180 injured in an incident on Jamarat Bridge.[4] March 5, 2001: 35 pilgrims were trampled to death in a stampede during the stoning of the Devil ritual.[5] February 11, 2003: The stoning of the Devil ritual claimed 14 pilgrims' lives.[6] February 1, 2004: 251 pilgrims were killed and another 244 injured in a stampede during the stoning ritual in Mina.[7] January 12, 2006: A stampede during the stoning of the Devil on the last day of the Hajj in Mina killed at least 346 pilgrims and injured at least 289 more. The incident occurred shortly after 13:00 local time, when a busload of travellers arrived together at the eastern access ramps to the Jamarat Bridge. This caused pilgrims to trip, rapidly resulting in a lethal stampede. An estimated two million people were performing the ritual at the time.

Link - ( New Window )

just thinking about that

They need to do better crowd control and forming a line

In comment 12504259 spike said:

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They need to do better crowd control and forming a line

Crowd control measures are haram.

Doing the same shit and getting people killed

It has happened so many times during this particular event, you'd think organizers would do something to attempt to keep it from happening again. Incredible. Is anything being done to try and fix this obvious problem?

With the popes visit

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In comment 12504232 Greg from LI said:

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But nothing new, unfortunately: Quote: July 2, 1990: A stampede inside a pedestrian tunnel (Al-Ma'aisim tunnel) leading out from Mecca towards Mina and the Plains of Arafat led to the deaths of 1,426 pilgrims, many of them of Malaysian, Indonesian and Pakistani origin.[2][3] May 23, 1994: A stampede killed at least 270 pilgrims at the stoning of the Devil ritual. April 9, 1998: at least 118 pilgrims were trampled to death and 180 injured in an incident on Jamarat Bridge.[4] March 5, 2001: 35 pilgrims were trampled to death in a stampede during the stoning of the Devil ritual.[5] February 11, 2003: The stoning of the Devil ritual claimed 14 pilgrims' lives.[6] February 1, 2004: 251 pilgrims were killed and another 244 injured in a stampede during the stoning ritual in Mina.[7] January 12, 2006: A stampede during the stoning of the Devil on the last day of the Hajj in Mina killed at least 346 pilgrims and injured at least 289 more. The incident occurred shortly after 13:00 local time, when a busload of travellers arrived together at the eastern access ramps to the Jamarat Bridge. This caused pilgrims to trip, rapidly resulting in a lethal stampede. An estimated two million people were performing the ritual at the time. Link - ( New Window )

It seems very common tragically. Prayers to the victims, and their families and friends. RIP. God bless.

In comment 12504314 Mike in Long Beach said:

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Deep stuff, man.

In comment 12504417 Moondawg said:

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In comment 12504314 Mike in Long Beach said: Quote: . Deep stuff, man.

Nuff said.

by any means. But consider this: if even non-extremist but devout Muslims are excited, year after year, to go on a pilgrimage where death is as big a risk as this, what does that say for the willingness of extremist Muslims to put themselves at risk in the name of their "faith?"

Scary shiite.

In comment 12504454 manh george said:

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by any means. But consider this: if even non-extremist but devout Muslims are excited, year after year, to go on a pilgrimage where death is as big a risk as this, what does that say for the willingness of extremist Muslims to put themselves at risk in the name of their "faith"?

No more than it did yesterday?

In comment 12504454 manh george said:

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by any means. But consider this: if even non-extremist but devout Muslims are excited, year after year, to go on a pilgrimage where death is as big a risk as this, what does that say for the willingness of extremist Muslims to put themselves at risk in the name of their "faith?" Scary shiite.

In the linked article it basically says its viewed as a gateway to heaven if you die during the pilgrimage. So maybe they don't consider it a "risk"?

like cheap electronics at Walmart on Black Friday

and death during battle is also a gateway to heaven certain parts of this belief system, only you get 72 virgins as a bonus.

Except in Richmond, where you only get 72 Virginians.

That's not lack of education. A few instinctual links must be missing upstairs.

the Hajj is one of those really interesting and impressive traditions that brings together people from all over the world in pursuit of faith. And piety and violent extremism are absolutely not one and the same; the insinuation here is unnecessary and a touch dickish. I guess when you're putting a few million people with different spoken languages and cultural norms together in a small place the risk for something like this is significant, but it is still very sad to see.

In comment 12504609 Dunedin81 said:

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the Hajj is one of those really interesting and impressive traditions that brings together people from all over the world in pursuit of faith. And piety and violent extremism are absolutely not one and the same; the insinuation here is unnecessary and a touch dickish. I guess when you're putting a few million people with different spoken languages and cultural norms together in a small place the risk for something like this is significant, but it is still very sad to see.

i agree. There's no violence here trying to force someone to believe what you believe. It's significant sacrifice (not talking about the loss of their lives) in an ritual on introspection and spiritual fulfillment. I don't think I can respect anything more than someone going all out for the beliefs (and no, I'm not putting terrorism or other violence in this category).

with people not used to huge events like this. Maybe a LOT of first timers who had no idea what could happen. No ideas of what to look out for, avoid, etc.

Sad this happened.

In comment 12504506 Giants2012 said:

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That's not lack of education. A few instinctual links must be missing upstairs.

Pot...kettle...you get it.