We saw this one coming; the annual stampede at the “stoning of Satan” ritual in Saudi Arabia has racked up one of the largest death counts ever: 244 Muslim Pilgrims Die in Hajj Stampede.

MINA, Saudi Arabia - Nearly 250 Muslim worshipers died in a hajj stampede Sunday during the annual stoning of Satan ritual in one of the deadliest tragedies at the notoriously perilous ceremony.

The stampede, during a peak event of the annual Muslim pilgrimage, or hajj, lasted about a half-hour, Saudi officials said. There were 244 dead and hundreds of other worshippers injured, some critically, Hajj Minister Iyad Madani said.

“All precautions were taken to prevent such an incident, but this is God’s will. Caution isn’t stronger than fate,” Madani said.

This traditional stampede takes place year after year, and seems to kill more Muslims each time. Saudi officials invariably respond with a shrug and a hat tip to Allah. They know it’s going to happen, set up the conditions for it to happen, and make no effective attempt to stop it.

What we’re seeing is a form of human sacrifice.

But who are we to judge the traditions of other cultures? Just last Christmas, Betty Jo Biolovsky tore a fingernail while battling for the last scrap of potato salad at a church social in Peoria. Isn’t that really the same thing?

UPDATE: LGF reader Manan has a summary of hajj death tolls.

”