Everybody Must Throw Stones !!! - Saudi fixes fatal Haj problem

[cbelt3]

CNN talks about the 5 story pedestrian bridge !

Most of us in the "Western World" don't understand the importance of the Haj to the Islamic faith. It's one of the goals of every Muslim to do the Haj once in their life. And this particular step, called "Stoning the Devil" has produced a number of fatalities in the crush to attend. A colleague of mine in Pakistan in the late 80's had his brother badly injured during this ceremony.

What's also difficult for most of us to understand is exactly how much the Kingdom of Saud spends in support of the annual Haj. It's in the multiple billions every year.

[binky]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.


bink.

[Spock]

Pilgrimages can be dangerous .....

Aug. 3, 1980: Pakistani airplane carrying hundreds of pilgrims catches fire soon after takeoff from Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, for Riyadh. The aircraft breaks apart during an emergency landing, killing 301 people. The fire apparently began after a passenger lit a kerosene stove to brew tea.

Didn't want to pay the beverage surcharge?

[Paul F.]

Great.. now they can practice stoning women-who-are-seen-with-men-not-their-husbands to death in perfect safety.

[IronMac]

Paul F. wrote:
Great.. now they can practice stoning women-who-are-seen-with-men-not-their-husbands to death in perfect safety.

Are they still teaching knots to boy scouts? You know, so real Americans can lynch people more efficiently. :villagers:


Way to go Paul, why don't you look up the story behind the stoning of the Devil before coming out with such comments?