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MINA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — At least 244 people were trampled to death and
hundreds more hurt Sunday under the crush of worshippers in one of
the deadliest disasters during the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Saudi
Arabia.
The stampede occurred during the stoning of the devil, an emotional and
notoriously perilous hajj ritual. Pilgrims frantically throw rocks, shout
insults or hurl their shoes at three stone pillars — acts that are supposed
to demonstrate their deep disdain for Satan.
from the New York Times
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February 1st, 2004 at 7:55 pm
The Feb. issue of Outside Magazine (not available online yet) has an amazing article by Murad Kalam, who survived a stampede at a previous Haj. It’s a well known danger, but they neglect to fix it:
IF IT DOESN’T KILL YOU FIRST
During the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, two million Muslims brave desert heat, exhaustion, and the specter of death by trampling—all during a harrowing ritual of devotion. A survivor’s tale from the greatest trek on earth.