A violent clash between Shia pilgrims and demonstrators and the Saudi Arabian security forces during the Hajj pilgrimage, which led to the deaths of over 400 people, occurred in Mecca on 31 July 1987. Since 1981, Iranian pilgrims had held an annual demonstration against Israel and the United States. 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. These demonstrations had their origins in 1971, when Imam Khomeini instructed his Shiite followers to distribute political messages when performing their pilgrimage. Saudi security personnel reportedly opened fire on the demonstrators killing 402 pilgrims and 649 wounded. Iranian officials displayed the bullet wounds in the victims\' bodies, which proved that the Saudis had indeed used firearms. Show Less >>