Islam Times reports that according to official police records 1200 Muslim men, women and children attended a rare static demonstration outside the Saudi Embassy in London.
The demolition of holy sites within Saudi Arabia dates back to April 1925 when mausoleums in the Baqi Cemetery were demolished on the orders of the then King Abdul Aziz Al Saud. In the same year he also ordered for the desecration of the sites where the Prophet of Islam’s mother, wife, grandfather and other ancestors had been buried. Since then the Saudi government has systematically continued to wipe out historical relics of Islamic history in the name of preventing polytheism, even the birthplace of the Muhammad (pbuh) could not be preserved from the bulldozers.
Mr Mobashar Hassan, who was co-organiser of the demonstration along with his cousin Mr Razi ul Hassan, felt very strongly about the desecration of holy sites within Saudi Arabia. He stated that the destruction of Baqi and other holy monuments in Makkah and Medina effects Muslims throughout the world regardless of sect.
Mr Hassan went on to say “ We are proud British Muslims. Our soul aim was to take action against this unjust destruction, remind the Saudi government that we have not forgotten and in turn create awareness amongst the public.”
The organisers aim to make this demonstration a global event ‘anywhere and everywhere that there are Muslims and Non-Muslims.’ Mr Hassan pointed out that the destruction of these Islamic relics is not only a concern for the Muslim Ummah but it is also a worry for historians, archaeologists and enthusiasts the world over.
Contemplating on the success of the event Mr Hassan said beforehand their main concern had been how to encourage the wider Muslim community to participate in the demonstration but afterwards they were ‘content’ with the turn out and mentioned that a Ahlul Sunnah family travelled all the way from Denmark for no other reason but to partake in the demonstration.
