When the hidden swords emerged from the Ihram garments to attack him, Imam Hussein [PBUH] abandoned his Hajj halfway through to preserve the sacredness of the House of God and proceeded to his ultimate altar in Karbala with his entire family. The Holy Kaaba is God’s abode and a safe sanctuary. Even insects sitting on the human body are regarded as protected in Masjid al-Haram, the Great Mosque of Mecca, indicating that everyone, from the most vulnerable creatures to the most exalted people, is safe when they visit this sacred place. Throughout history, however, many tyrants have defiled Mecca’s sanctity, perpetrating terrible atrocities against innocent pilgrims.

For almost eight decades, the Al-Saud dynasty has ruled Hijaz and has administered the Hajj. The outbreak of various contagious diseases among pilgrims and recurring flood disasters are just a few instances of the Saudi regime’s ineptitude in handling the Hajj ceremony.

According to Islamic tenets, Muslims worldwide are obliged to publicly profess in the Hajj ceremony their disapproval of unbelievers, that is, the United States and its allies. The horrific massacre of Iranian pilgrims on 31 July 1987 at this specific rite put an indelible stain on the hands of Saudi despots. The event resulted in the martyrdom and injury of thousands of Iranian pilgrims. The terrible incident is regarded as one of the blackest episodes in the Saudi regime’s criminal history. To calm the infuriated Islamic public opinion, Saudi Arabia falsely labelled the pilgrims as rioters and agent-provocateurs. But the remaining evidence suggests that the terrorist Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO), Iraq’s Baathist regime, and the Saudi government were deliberately attempting to spark the conflict between the Iranian pilgrims and Saudi security personnel.

Another tragic incident happened in 2015, this time involving pilgrims from all around the world, not only Iranians. In 11September, 2015, severe storms were battering the city of Mecca when high winds knocked down a crane that was part of a nearby building operations. Hundreds of pilgrims were killed or wounded.

A few days later, a stampede during one of the final rites of the Hajj season killed at least 4,173 people and left others injured. The pandemonium happened during a Hajj rite known as “stoning the devil” in the tent city of Mina, roughly two miles from Mecca. At least 465 Iranians lost their lives in the event, while hundreds more were wounded. Despite an endless number of fatal events during the Hajj, the Saudi government has not only failed to recognize its egregious mistakes but has actively attempted to discourage other Islamic countries from participating in the annual Hajj ritual. Riyadh should admit its shortcomings in conducting the Hajj ritual and take concrete measures to improve Hajj security.