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==History==
==History==
For years, Iranian pilgrims had tried to stage [[Demonstration (people)|demonstrations]] 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]] 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> These demonstrations had their origins in 1971, when [[Ruhollah Khomeini]] instructed his Shiite followers to distribute political messages when performing their pilgrimage.<ref>[http://www.martinkramer.org/sandbox/reader/archives/khomeinis-messengers-in-mecca/ "In 1971, several Iranians were arrested in Mecca for distributing a message to Muslim pilgrims from one Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini"]</ref> Even though a few Iranians were arrested for this act, the Saudi officials were generally apathetic, as they did not view these political messages to be a threat to the Saudi royalty.<ref>[http://www.martinkramer.org/sandbox/reader/archives/khomeinis-messengers-in-mecca/ "After 1971, hardly a year passed during which some Iranians did not distribute a similar message from Khomeini to Muslim pilgrims. The effort usually met with Saudi apathy, for the Saudis did not regard this preaching as directed against themselves."]</ref> The practice of distributing political messages, which were mainly criticism of the United States and Israel, as well as pro-Western governments, continued up until the year 1981.


In 1981, this was escalated into openly chanting political slogans in the [[Masjid al-Haram]] and the [[Prophet's Mosque]], two of the holiest sites in Islam, resulting in violent clashes with Saudi security and one death.<ref>[http://www.martinkramer.org/sandbox/reader/archives/khomeinis-messengers-in-mecca "large demonstrations, resulting in violent clashes with Saudi police, first took place in 1981, when Iranian pilgrims began to chant political slogans in the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina and the Great Mosque in Mecca. Saudi security forces acted against the Iranians in both mosques, and a subsequent clash in the Prophet’s Mosque resulted in the death of an Iranian pilgrim"]</ref> In the following years, both sides tried to calm the situation: Khomeini urged his followers to maintain peace and order, not to distribute printed political material, and not to criticize Muslim governments. In return, Saudi officials reversed their earlier position and allowed two separate demonstrations to take place: One in Mecca, and the other in Medina.<ref>[http://www.martinkramer.org/sandbox/reader/archives/khomeinis-messengers-in-mecca "Khomeini’s pilgrimage representative was permitted to organize two pilgrims’ rallies, the first in Medina and the second in Mecca, in areas removed from the holy mosques in each city. A number of understandings restricted the form and content of these demonstrations. Iran’s pilgrims were not to import or display printed matter and posters of a political nature, and their slogans were to be directed only against the U.S., the Soviet Union, and Israel. Other Muslim governments and the host government were not to be criticized."]</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>


⚫
There is a long history of tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran. [[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>
⚫
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>

⚫
The history of hostility between Wahhabis and Shiites dates several decades. After the 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 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.

Revision as of 14:11, 15 May 2011

The 1987 Mecca Massacre, also known as 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 called "Distancing Ourselves from Mushrikīn" (برائت از مشرکين) in the Muslim holy city of Mecca during the hajj.[12] These demonstrations had their origins in 1971, when Ruhollah Khomeini instructed his Shiite followers to distribute political messages when performing their pilgrimage.[13] Even though a few Iranians were arrested for this act, the Saudi officials were generally apathetic, as they did not view these political messages to be a threat to the Saudi royalty.[14] The practice of distributing political messages, which were mainly criticism of the United States and Israel, as well as pro-Western governments, continued up until the year 1981.

In 1981, this was escalated into openly chanting political slogans in the Masjid al-Haram and the Prophet's Mosque, two of the holiest sites in Islam, resulting in violent clashes with Saudi security and one death.[15] In the following years, both sides tried to calm the situation: Khomeini urged his followers to maintain peace and order, not to distribute printed political material, and not to criticize Muslim governments. In return, Saudi officials reversed their earlier position and allowed two separate demonstrations to take place: One in Mecca, and the other in Medina.[16]

There is a long history of tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran. 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.[17]

The history of hostility between Wahhabis and Shiites dates several decades. After the 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.[18]

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).[19]

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.[20]

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. ^ "In 1971, several Iranians were arrested in Mecca for distributing a message to Muslim pilgrims from one Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini"
  14. ^ "After 1971, hardly a year passed during which some Iranians did not distribute a similar message from Khomeini to Muslim pilgrims. The effort usually met with Saudi apathy, for the Saudis did not regard this preaching as directed against themselves."
  15. ^ "large demonstrations, resulting in violent clashes with Saudi police, first took place in 1981, when Iranian pilgrims began to chant political slogans in the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina and the Great Mosque in Mecca. Saudi security forces acted against the Iranians in both mosques, and a subsequent clash in the Prophet’s Mosque resulted in the death of an Iranian pilgrim"
  16. ^ "Khomeini’s pilgrimage representative was permitted to organize two pilgrims’ rallies, the first in Medina and the second in Mecca, in areas removed from the holy mosques in each city. A number of understandings restricted the form and content of these demonstrations. Iran’s pilgrims were not to import or display printed matter and posters of a political nature, and their slogans were to be directed only against the U.S., the Soviet Union, and Israel. Other Muslim governments and the host government were not to be criticized."
  17. ^ [2]
  18. ^ http://www.martinkramer.org/sandbox/reader/archives/khomeinis-messengers-in-mecca/
  19. ^ 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
  20. ^ 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
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