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Exploring the Types and Causes of Stampede-Related Injuries in Religious Mass Gatherings in Asia: A Systematic Review[1]

Shafiei-Moghaddam P, Jahangiri K, Moradi V, Ghomian Z · 2026 · J Relig Health

Summary

PRISMA systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42024529095; eight databases including Persian-language sources; 22 of 842 studies included) of the types and causes of stampede injuries at Asian religious mass gatherings, from the Iranian Red Crescent's mass-gathering research center. Thematic analysis yields three principal cause categories — human, physical, and environmental factors — subdivided into eight subcategories spanning population characteristics, pilgrim movement, individual attributes, natural and man-made factors, and social/cultural/political factors. Recommends a GLOBAL STAMPEDE DATABASE to document events and causes, pre-journey pilgrim education, and leveraging religious teachings on self-preservation and aiding others.

So what

The religious-event-specific causal taxonomy the crowd-crush cluster lacked, notable for three things: Persian-language sources bring the Arbaeen/Iranian literature into English-accessible synthesis; the cultural/political factor categories extend the Moitinho systemic-failure frame beyond engineering into governance; and its headline recommendation — a global stampede registry — is now the third independent call (after Hsieh 2009 and Moitinho 2019) for exactly the registry infrastructure MGMI is building. The religious-teachings-as-intervention idea is a genuinely novel prevention channel for pilgrimage events.

Key findings

  • 22-study PRISMA review of religious-gathering stampede injuries, incl. Persian-language sources
  • Causal taxonomy: human / physical / environmental, in eight subcategories
  • Cultural and political factors formalized as stampede causes - beyond engineering
  • Third independent call for a global stampede database (after Hsieh, Moitinho)
  • Proposes pre-journey pilgrim education and religious-teaching-based prevention

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