Iran's Khamenei slams Saudi Arabia over holy sites managementSeptember 6, 2016 - 15:21 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has criticized Saudi Arabia and called on the Muslim world to challenge the country's control of Muslim pilgrimage sites. Iranian citizens have been prohibited from attending this year's hajj, Deutsche Welle reports. "Saudi rulers... who have blocked the proud and faithful Iranian pilgrims' path to the Beloved's House are disgraced and misguided people who think their survival on the throne of oppression is dependent on defending the arrogant powers of the world, on alliances with Zionism and the US," Khamenei said. He also accused Saudi Arabia's ruling Saud family - the custodians of Mecca and Medina - of politicizing the traditional Muslim pilgrimage or hajj, which will start at the end of this week. "Because of Saudi rulers' oppressive behavior towards God's guests, the world of Islam must fundamentally reconsider the management of the two holy places and hajj," Khamenei said. He also addressed the death of 2,300 pilgrims, including 464 Iranians in last year's haj stampede, accusing Saudi leaders of refusing to allow an international fact-finding committee to look into the matter. "The hesitation and failure to rescue the half-dead and injured people... is also obvious and incontrovertible... They murdered them," the leader wrote on his website. Iranians have been barred from participating in this year's hajj after talks on logistics and security were unsuccessful. Riyadh said Teheran made "unacceptable" demands, including the right to organize demonstrations that could get unruly. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef said Iran wanted to "politicize hajj and convert it into an occasion to violate the teachings of Islam, through shouting slogans and distributing the security of pilgrims," Saudi Press Agency reported. Iran is opposed to the Saudi monarchy's closeness with the United States and Israel. Tensions between the two countries peaked this year in January, when Riyadh executed a prominent Shiite cleric. In the protests that followed, Iranian demonstrators torched the Saudi embassy and a consulate. Riyadh broke ties with Teheran following the incident. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |