Demolition of old mosque denied

JEDDAH: The Makkah Secretariat denied the removal a mosque in Al-Ma’aseem district in Makkah on Thursday after a local publication published an article saying that the residents of Al-Ma’aseem district had complained against the Makkah municipality for its removal and destruction of an old mosque on Wednesday morning that was used for prayers during Ramadan.
The article also said that the residents also complained that they not only demolished the mosque, but that they did it very disrespectfully.
The secretariat media spokesman, Osama Zaytoone, stated on social media and through a press statement that the facility that was removed and demolished in Al-Ma’aseem area was a car park, not a mosque, and was to be removed in favor of the fourth ring road project of Makkah's development.
Zaytoone said that the owner of the facility was notified in the month of Rajab to fully evacuate the place for the implementation of the ring road.
He also said the owner did not obey the orders of the municipality in spite of receiving full compensation. The spokesman said that the owner of the site brought copies of the Qur’an and put it inside a small mosque that did not exceed more in area than 4 by 4, while there is large mosque beside the facility which has not been removed.