"The Saudi government should immediately reveal the identity of all 717 dead victims of hajj pilgrims, their names, countries of origin and other relevant information," Fahri Hamzah said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Head of Hajj Supervisory team of the House of Representatives (DPR) Fahri Hamzah has urged the Saudi Arabian government to unveil identity of all dead victims and injured congregation due to the stampede tragedy in Mina on Thursday.

"The Saudi government should immediately reveal the identity of all 717 dead victims of hajj pilgrims, their names, countries of origin and other relevant information," he told journalists here on Friday.

In addition, the Saudi Arabian government also needs to record immediately 863 injured pilgrims and who are still in the hospitals or in other shelters, Hamzah stated.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR) Hidayat Nurwahid said that the Saudi government should join hands with the OIC to investigate the deadly incident in Mina.

"I support the Saudi authorities for establishing an investigation team to unveil the causes of the incident. I hope the investigation also involves several OIC member countries whose citizens became the victims of the tragedy," Hidayat stated here on Friday.

The incident occurred when millions of people jostled in a sudden rush during the symbolic "jumrah" stoning ritual in Mina.

Hidayat added that the involvement of OIC member countries in the investigation could create greater transparency in unearthing the causes of the incident.

He hoped the transparent investigation could improve future services during Hajj Pilgrimage in Mecca and other areas.

Organizer of Indonesian Hajj Pilgrims (PPIH) for Mecca Desk has formed a special team to continue seeking as many as 225 of the congregation after the stampede tragedy in Mina, Saudi Arabia on Thursday morning (Sept 24).

Unofficial death toll in Mina stampede incident showed that at least 717 pilgrims were killed and 863 injured in crush in Mina, on the outskirts of the Muslim holy city of Mecca, according to Al Arabiya News.

According to Al Arabiya News report, the Mina stampede incident occurred because the pilgrims who were going to perform the hurling ritual at Jamarah Aqabah at 07.40 local time, suddenly stopped in the Arab lane, causing pilgrims behind them to push those ahead. This led to the stampede.

Most of the victims who died were either elderly people or women.

Mina is where pilgrims carry out a symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing pebbles against three stone walls.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015