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{{Multiple issues|disputed=September 2008|POV=September 2008}}
{{Multiple issues|disputed=September 2008|POV=September 2008}}
The '''1987 Mecca Riot'''
The '''1987 Mecca massacre''' occurred on [[July 31]], [[1987]]. It arose from escalating tensions between [[Shia]] [[Iran]] on one hand and [[Wahabbi]] [[Saudi Arabia]].
<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/05/world/behind-mecca-riot-an-iran-trying-to-bolster-its-power-and-intimidate-us.html Behind Mecca Riot: An Iran Trying to Bolster Its Power and Intimidate U.S.], The New York Times</ref><ref>[http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19901022&slug=1099648 "...in the Mecca riots of 1987 (402 dead)..."] The Seattle Times</ref><ref>[http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Issue/straitstimes19870802.aspx "Pilgrims killed in Mecca riots"]The Straits Times, 2 August 1987</ref><ref>[http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-08-09/news/8702280610_1_saudi-arabia-iranian-pilgrims-mecca/2 "Experts say the Mecca riots are..."] Chicago Tribune, August 09, 1987</ref><ref>[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1338333.html "Iran Says Saudis Used Guns at Mecca Riots; Saudis Accused of Withholding 90 Bodies"] The Washington Post, August 17, 1987</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=V_-MKu4k6QAC&pg=PA128&lpg=PA128&dq=%22Mecca+Riots%22&source=bl&ots=C8Br7DTkgn&sig=wunHxSdGFaPwsWnypalq4o06DF0&hl=en&ei=-XLPTcHcD87RrQeuvs3CCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CEAQ6AEwBTge#v=onepage&q=%22Mecca%20Riots%22&f=false "The Mecca riots were..."] The Iran-Iraq War: chaos in a vacuum</ref><ref>[http://www.foia.cia.gov/docs/DOC_0000178017/DOC_0000178017.pdf "Aftermath of Mecca Riots"]</ref><ref>[http://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/program.pl?ID=111106 "Mecca riot, believed begun by Iranian pilgrims, reviewed."] ABC Evening News for Monday, Aug 03, 1987</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=CKNrjrfWJ90C&pg=PA589&lpg=PA589&dq=%22Mecca+Riots%22&source=bl&ots=TGGt75bzrR&sig=dCbDkPGNe4n0sWtST_X0HrMQj5E&hl=en&ei=52vPTfXTF43KrAe0sMnCCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CEcQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=%22Mecca%20Riots%22&f=false "The Mecca Riots"] Middle East contemporary survey, Volume 11</ref><ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=0UkwX-3mEuEC&pg=PA138&lpg=PA138&dq=%221987+Mecca+Riots%22&source=bl&ots=e6h3SKWOJ6&sig=0vFvSYSbEoEdgewAQCaTiFbiLAE&hl=en&ei=SmvPTbTGPIHMrQfwxanCCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CEUQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=%221987%20Mecca%20Riots%22&f=false "The 1987 Mecca Riots"] Saudi Arabia: government, society, and the Gulf crisis</ref> occurred on [[July 31]], [[1987]]. The riots started as demonstrations by Iranian pilgrims, but escalated to a violent confrontation between the Iranian pilgrims and Saudi guards, resulting in a deadly stampede. The total death toll was reported to be 402 people: 275 Iranian pilgrims, 85 Saudi guards and 42 pilgrims from other countries.<ref>[http://www.martinkramer.org/sandbox/reader/archives/khomeinis-messengers-in-mecca "According to official Saudi figures, 402 people died in the clash, including 275 Iranian pilgrims, 85 Saudi police, and 42 pilgrims from other countries."] Khomeini’s Messengers in Mecca</ref>


==History==
==History==
For years, Iranian pilgrims had tried to stage peaceful [[Demonstration (people)|demonstrations]] so called "Distancing Ourselves from [[Shirk (polytheism)|Mushrikīn]]" ( برائت از مشرکين) in the [[Muslim]] holy city of [[Mecca]] during the ''[[hajj]]''.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/story/2007/01/070110_a_az_iran_saudi.shtml]</ref>
For years, Iranian pilgrims had tried to stage [[Demonstration (people)|demonstrations]] so called "Distancing Ourselves from [[Shirk (polytheism)|Mushrikīn]]" ( برائت از مشرکين) in the [[Muslim]] holy city of [[Mecca]] during the ''[[hajj]]''.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/story/2007/01/070110_a_az_iran_saudi.shtml]</ref>


Hostility of Saudi Arabia toward Iranians has a long history. [[Khalid of Saudi Arabia|King Khalid of Saudi Arabia]] for example wrote to [[Saddam Hussein]] to "crush these stupid Iranians" as Saddam pushed on with the [[Iran–Iraq War|invasion of Iranian territory]].<ref>[http://www.azargoshnasp.net/recent_history/panarabism/miraspan-arabism.pdf]</ref> It has often been claimed that Iraq recruited non-Iraqi [[Arab people|Arabs]] during the war to balance the far superior number of Iranian forces on the ground.<ref>See the article میراث پان عربیسم in the journal مجله سیاسی-اقتصادی No. 209-210, p.12</ref>
Hostility of Saudi Arabia toward Iranians has a long history. [[Khalid of Saudi Arabia|King Khalid of Saudi Arabia]] for example wrote to [[Saddam Hussein]] to "crush these stupid Iranians" as Saddam pushed on with the [[Iran–Iraq War|invasion of Iranian territory]].<ref>[http://www.azargoshnasp.net/recent_history/panarabism/miraspan-arabism.pdf]</ref> It has often been claimed that Iraq recruited non-Iraqi [[Arab people|Arabs]] during the war to balance the far superior number of Iranian forces on the ground.<ref>See the article میراث پان عربیسم in the journal مجله سیاسی-اقتصادی No. 209-210, p.12</ref>


The history of hostility between Wahhabis and Shiites dates several decades. In 1943, a Saudi [[Qadi|religious judge]] ordered an Iranian pilgrim beheaded for allegedly defiling the [[Masjid al-Haram]] (Great Mosque) with excrement supposedly carried into the mosque in his pilgrim's garment.<ref name="geocities.com">[http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.martinkramer.org%2Fsandbox%2Freader%2Farchives%2Fkhomeinis-messengers-in-mecca%2F&date=2010-12-26 Khomeini’s Messengers in Mecca], political rivalries behind the 1987 bloodshed, by [[Martin Kramer]]</ref> There was also a clash in 1981 in Mecca and [[Medina]] between Iranian pilgrims and Saudi police. Khalid compiled a revealing letter of protest to [[Ruhollah Khomeini]], asking that Khomeini urge his followers to show restraint but strongly hinting that the Great Mosque had been defiled by [[Blasphemy|blasphemous]] Iranian pilgrims. According to Khalid, Iranian pilgrims in the Great Mosque had performed their ritual [[circumambulation]]s while chanting "[[Takbir|God is Great]], Khomeini is great", and "[[God in Islam|God]] is One, Khomeini is one." There was no need for Khalid to elaborate on this charge. It was obvious (as far as Saudi Islam was concerned) that the Iranians' slogans constituted an excessive veneration of their [[Imam]], regarded by Wahhabis as a form of [[polytheism]]. All this had aroused the "dissatisfaction and disgust" of other pilgrims, wrote Khalid to Khomeini. In fact, Khalid's letter distorted well-known [[Iranian Revolution|Iranian revolutionary]] slogans. Iranian pilgrims had actually chanted "God is Great, Khomeini is leader." The Saudis had confused the [[Persian language|Persian wor]]d for "leader" (rahbar) with the rhyming Arabic for "great" (akbar). The pilgrims' Arabic chant declared that "God is One, Khomeini is leader." Here, the Saudis had confused the Arabic for "one" (wāhid) with the rhyming Arabic for "leader" (qā'id). It was this familiar but disguised charge of Shiite defilement which the Saudis sought to level at Iran's pilgrims. The accusation gained credibility from the formerly widespread [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] conviction that the Shiites are bound to pollute the Great Mosque.<ref name="geocities.com"/>
The history of hostility between Wahhabis and Shiites dates several decades. There was a clash in 1981 in Mecca and [[Medina]] between Iranian pilgrims and Saudi police. Khalid compiled a revealing letter of protest to [[Ruhollah Khomeini]], asking that Khomeini urge his followers to show restraint but strongly hinting that the Great Mosque had been defiled by [[Blasphemy|blasphemous]] Iranian pilgrims. According to Khalid, Iranian pilgrims in the Great Mosque had performed their ritual [[circumambulation]]s while chanting "[[Takbir|God is Great]], Khomeini is great", and "[[God in Islam|God]] is One, Khomeini is one." There was no need for Khalid to elaborate on this charge. It was obvious (as far as Saudi Islam was concerned) that the Iranians' slogans constituted an excessive veneration of their [[Imam]], regarded by Wahhabis as a form of [[polytheism]]. All this had aroused the "dissatisfaction and disgust" of other pilgrims, wrote Khalid to Khomeini. The Iranian pilgrims had actually chanted "God is Great, Khomeini is leader." The Saudis had confused the [[Persian language|Persian wor]]d for "leader" (rahbar) with the rhyming Arabic for "great" (akbar). The pilgrims' Arabic chant declared that "God is One, Khomeini is leader." Here, the Saudis had confused the Arabic for "one" (wāhid) with the rhyming Arabic for "leader" (qā'id). The accusation gained credibility from the formerly widespread [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] conviction that the Shiites are bound to pollute the Great Mosque.<ref>http://www.martinkramer.org/sandbox/reader/archives/khomeinis-messengers-in-mecca/</ref>


In 1990s and 2000s Iranian pilgrims have continued their peaceful annual demonstration. They confined their rally to within the confines of their compound in Mecca.
In 1990s and 2000s Iranian pilgrims have continued their annual demonstration. They confined their rally to within the confines of their compound in Mecca.


==Demonstrations==
==Demonstrations==
On Friday July 31, 1987, a demonstration by Iranian pilgrims against the "enemies of Islam" (including the [[United States|U.S.]] and [[Israel]]), escalated to fights between demonstrators and Saudi security forces. The police opened fire against the demonstrators and that led to a stampede of the pilgrims. Saudi authorities reported 402 dead (275 Iranians, 85 Saudis including policemen, and 42 pilgrims from other countries) and 649 wounded (303 Iranians, 145 Saudis and 201 other nationals).<ref>K. McLachlan, Iran and the Continuing Crisis in the Persian Gulf. ''[[GeoJournal]]'', Vol.28, Issue 3, Nov. 1992, p.359; also, "400 Die as Iranian Marchers Battle Saudi Police in Mecca; Embassies Smashed in Tehran," New York Times, 8/2/87</ref>
On Friday July 31, 1987, a demonstration by Iranian pilgrims against the "enemies of Islam" (including the [[United States|U.S.]] and [[Israel]]), escalated to fights between demonstrators and Saudi security forces. The police opened fire against the demonstrators and that led to a stampede of the pilgrims. Saudi authorities reported 402 dead (275 Iranians, 85 Saudis including policemen, and 42 pilgrims from other countries) and 649 wounded (303 Iranians, 145 Saudis and 201 other nationals).<ref>K. McLachlan, Iran and the Continuing Crisis in the Persian Gulf. ''[[GeoJournal]]'', Vol.28, Issue 3, Nov. 1992, p.359; also, "400 Die as Iranian Marchers Battle Saudi Police in Mecca; Embassies Smashed in Tehran," New York Times, 8/2/87</ref>


Prior to the demonstration, Khomeini sent a message to the pilgrims and included the customary plea that they avoid clashes, insults and disputes, and warned against those intent on disruption who might embark on spontaneous moves.<ref name="geocities.com"/>
Prior to the demonstration, Khomeini sent a message to the pilgrims and included the customary plea that they avoid clashes, insults and disputes, and warned against those intent on disruption who might embark on spontaneous moves.<ref>http://www.martinkramer.org/sandbox/reader/archives/khomeinis-messengers-in-mecca/</ref>


Immediately following the demonstrations, Iranian leader [[Ayatollah]] Ruhollah Khomeini called for Muslims to avenge the pilgrims' deaths by overthrowing the [[House of Saud|Saudi royal family]]. The Saudi government blamed the [[riot]] on the Iranian pilgrims and claimed that the Iranian pilgrim riot had been part of a plot to destabilize their rule.
Immediately following the demonstrations, Iranian leader [[Ayatollah]] Ruhollah Khomeini called for Muslims to avenge the pilgrims' deaths by overthrowing the [[House of Saud|Saudi royal family]]. The Saudi government blamed the [[riot]] on the Iranian pilgrims and claimed that the Iranian pilgrim riot had been part of a plot to destabilize their rule.
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[[ar:أحداث مكة 1987]]
[[ar:أحداث مكة 1987]]
[[fa:کشتار حاجیان در مکه ۱۳۶۶]]
[[fa:کشتار حاجیان در مکه (۱۳۶۶)]]

Revision as of 10:42, 15 May 2011

The 1987 Mecca Riot [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] occurred on July 31, 1987. The riots started as demonstrations by Iranian pilgrims, but escalated to a violent confrontation between the Iranian pilgrims and Saudi guards, resulting in a deadly stampede. The total death toll was reported to be 402 people: 275 Iranian pilgrims, 85 Saudi guards and 42 pilgrims from other countries.[11]

History

For years, Iranian pilgrims had tried to stage demonstrations so called "Distancing Ourselves from Mushrikīn" ( برائت از مشرکين) in the Muslim holy city of Mecca during the hajj.[12]

Hostility of Saudi Arabia toward Iranians has a long history. King Khalid of Saudi Arabia for example wrote to Saddam Hussein to "crush these stupid Iranians" as Saddam pushed on with the invasion of Iranian territory.[13] It has often been claimed that Iraq recruited non-Iraqi Arabs during the war to balance the far superior number of Iranian forces on the ground.[14]

The history of hostility between Wahhabis and Shiites dates several decades. There was a clash in 1981 in Mecca and Medina between Iranian pilgrims and Saudi police. Khalid compiled a revealing letter of protest to Ruhollah Khomeini, asking that Khomeini urge his followers to show restraint but strongly hinting that the Great Mosque had been defiled by blasphemous Iranian pilgrims. According to Khalid, Iranian pilgrims in the Great Mosque had performed their ritual circumambulations while chanting "God is Great, Khomeini is great", and "God is One, Khomeini is one." There was no need for Khalid to elaborate on this charge. It was obvious (as far as Saudi Islam was concerned) that the Iranians' slogans constituted an excessive veneration of their Imam, regarded by Wahhabis as a form of polytheism. All this had aroused the "dissatisfaction and disgust" of other pilgrims, wrote Khalid to Khomeini. The Iranian pilgrims had actually chanted "God is Great, Khomeini is leader." The Saudis had confused the Persian word for "leader" (rahbar) with the rhyming Arabic for "great" (akbar). The pilgrims' Arabic chant declared that "God is One, Khomeini is leader." Here, the Saudis had confused the Arabic for "one" (wāhid) with the rhyming Arabic for "leader" (qā'id). The accusation gained credibility from the formerly widespread Sunni conviction that the Shiites are bound to pollute the Great Mosque.[15]

In 1990s and 2000s Iranian pilgrims have continued their annual demonstration. They confined their rally to within the confines of their compound in Mecca.

Demonstrations

On Friday July 31, 1987, a demonstration by Iranian pilgrims against the "enemies of Islam" (including the U.S. and Israel), escalated to fights between demonstrators and Saudi security forces. The police opened fire against the demonstrators and that led to a stampede of the pilgrims. Saudi authorities reported 402 dead (275 Iranians, 85 Saudis including policemen, and 42 pilgrims from other countries) and 649 wounded (303 Iranians, 145 Saudis and 201 other nationals).[16]

Prior to the demonstration, Khomeini sent a message to the pilgrims and included the customary plea that they avoid clashes, insults and disputes, and warned against those intent on disruption who might embark on spontaneous moves.[17]

Immediately following the demonstrations, Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini called for Muslims to avenge the pilgrims' deaths by overthrowing the Saudi royal family. The Saudi government blamed the riot on the Iranian pilgrims and claimed that the Iranian pilgrim riot had been part of a plot to destabilize their rule.

When news of the riot and the casualties reached Iran the following day, mobs attacked the Kuwaiti and Saudi embassies in Tehran, the two countries that were allied with Iraq in its war against Iran.[3] The following day, over a million Iranians gathered in Tehran calling for the overthrow of the regime in Saudi Arabia.

See also

References & notes

  1. ^ Behind Mecca Riot: An Iran Trying to Bolster Its Power and Intimidate U.S., The New York Times
  2. ^ "...in the Mecca riots of 1987 (402 dead)..." The Seattle Times
  3. ^ "Pilgrims killed in Mecca riots"The Straits Times, 2 August 1987
  4. ^ "Experts say the Mecca riots are..." Chicago Tribune, August 09, 1987
  5. ^ "Iran Says Saudis Used Guns at Mecca Riots; Saudis Accused of Withholding 90 Bodies" The Washington Post, August 17, 1987
  6. ^ "The Mecca riots were..." The Iran-Iraq War: chaos in a vacuum
  7. ^ "Aftermath of Mecca Riots"
  8. ^ "Mecca riot, believed begun by Iranian pilgrims, reviewed." ABC Evening News for Monday, Aug 03, 1987
  9. ^ "The Mecca Riots" Middle East contemporary survey, Volume 11
  10. ^ "The 1987 Mecca Riots" Saudi Arabia: government, society, and the Gulf crisis
  11. ^ "According to official Saudi figures, 402 people died in the clash, including 275 Iranian pilgrims, 85 Saudi police, and 42 pilgrims from other countries." Khomeini’s Messengers in Mecca
  12. ^ [1]
  13. ^ [2]
  14. ^ See the article میراث پان عربیسم in the journal مجله سیاسی-اقتصادی No. 209-210, p.12
  15. ^ http://www.martinkramer.org/sandbox/reader/archives/khomeinis-messengers-in-mecca/
  16. ^ K. McLachlan, Iran and the Continuing Crisis in the Persian Gulf. GeoJournal, Vol.28, Issue 3, Nov. 1992, p.359; also, "400 Die as Iranian Marchers Battle Saudi Police in Mecca; Embassies Smashed in Tehran," New York Times, 8/2/87
  17. ^ http://www.martinkramer.org/sandbox/reader/archives/khomeinis-messengers-in-mecca/
  1. ^ "Iranian Official Urge 'Uprooting' of Saudi Royalty", The New York Times, August 3, 1987
  2. ^ "Gulf Tensions Rise", The New York Times, August 2, 1987

External links

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