https://www.worldreligionnews.com/religi...holy-sites
EXCERPT: . . . Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, has attacked Saudi Arabian control over Mecca and Medina, the two holiest sites in Islam. He sharply criticized the Saudi government’s management of important mosques in the two cities. The Ayatollah specifically pointed out the Mina Stampede. The 2015 catastrophic incident resulted in the death of almost 800 Muslims.
The Mina Stampede happened in Jamarat, approximately two miles distant from Mecca. The stampede led to the death of pilgrims of multiple nationalities, including Iran, Pakistan, Philippines, Netherlands, Somalia, Nigeria, Indonesia, and Turkey.
The Government of Saudi Arabia responded by executing a cleric belonging to the Shi’ite branch of Islam. Iran is a Shi’ite country, while Saudi Arabia is Sunni. The execution led to massive Iranian protests. A few Iranians even stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed in 2015. Riyadh barred Iranians from Hajj, the holy pilgrimage Muslims take to Mecca. Khamenei protested, pointing out that Mecca and Medina belong to all Muslims....
MORE: https://www.worldreligionnews.com/religi...holy-sites
EXCERPT: . . . Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, has attacked Saudi Arabian control over Mecca and Medina, the two holiest sites in Islam. He sharply criticized the Saudi government’s management of important mosques in the two cities. The Ayatollah specifically pointed out the Mina Stampede. The 2015 catastrophic incident resulted in the death of almost 800 Muslims.
The Mina Stampede happened in Jamarat, approximately two miles distant from Mecca. The stampede led to the death of pilgrims of multiple nationalities, including Iran, Pakistan, Philippines, Netherlands, Somalia, Nigeria, Indonesia, and Turkey.
The Government of Saudi Arabia responded by executing a cleric belonging to the Shi’ite branch of Islam. Iran is a Shi’ite country, while Saudi Arabia is Sunni. The execution led to massive Iranian protests. A few Iranians even stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed in 2015. Riyadh barred Iranians from Hajj, the holy pilgrimage Muslims take to Mecca. Khamenei protested, pointing out that Mecca and Medina belong to all Muslims....
MORE: https://www.worldreligionnews.com/religi...holy-sites