Yemen Reports Destruction of More Than 1,400 Religious Sites Over Seven Years

Yemen: Over 1,400 Mosques, Quranic Schools and Shrines Reportedly Destroyed in Seven Years

According to official figures and an investigative report by Al-Masirah Network, more than 1,400 mosques, Quranic schools and shrines in Yemen have reportedly been destroyed over the past seven years in attacks attributed to the US-Saudi-led aggression and their allied forces.

The campaign against mosques reportedly began on April 9, 2015, with an airstrike on the historic Imam al-Hadi Mosque in Saada, a day after 14 airstrikes targeted the shrine of a martyred leader on Mount Maran. Yemen’s Grand Mufti, Allama Shams al-Din Sharaf al-Din, said that targeting mosques demonstrates the attackers’ failure and lack of faith.

The attacks were not limited to airstrikes. On January 12, 2016, Jurf Mosque in Bilad al-Rus district of Sana’a Governorate was reportedly attacked while worshippers were inside, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries. In addition, the shrine of scholar Muhammad al-Fadh in Al Hudaydah Governorate was reportedly destroyed with landmines by allied forces. According to an eyewitness, 17 members of one family were killed in a single house. Scholar Fuad Naji said the aggression had revealed a disturbing disregard for the sanctity of places of worship.

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Despite these reported attacks and the destruction of mosques, the campaign has failed to sever Yemenis’ religious connection with God, according to the report. Even today, calls to prayer reportedly continue to be heard from the rubble of destroyed mosques, without minarets or loudspeakers, while millions of Yemenis continue to invoke the name of God and demonstrate resilience.