History Demolished in Taiz [Archives:2000/20/Reportage]

Yemen Times Staff
Taiz Office
Talking about Taiz one could not but be impressed by all its historical and religious monuments that make it distinguished from other cities of the Republic. It has a strategic location being embraced by a huge, magnificent mountain labeled as Saber Mountain.
The History of Bab Al-Khabir
One of the most outstanding historical monuments is Bab Al-Khabir, a large gate leading to traditional old buildings. They are an embodiment of our traditional architectural pattern and aesthetic beauty that beggars description. The gate is said to date back to the reign of Al-Rasoolin who built the two mosques of Al-Modafar and Al-Ashrafiah. Others say that the gate dates back to the reign of Imam Yahya Hamid Al-Din who built it so as to protect the old city of Taiz from any danger.
Conflicts over the Building
There is an ancient building located inside the “gate”. The first time the old city of Taiz was mentioned was during the reign of Al-Rasoolin. Some say that the building was built during the reign of Al-Taherieh. Other reports suggest that it was built during the reign of Ahmad Motaher Sharaf Al-Din for he was the one who built the Taiz boundary. This building has been the center of dispute among different authorities including the Ministry of Religious Endowments, Lands and Real Estate Authority, Ministry of Interior and Archeology Authority in Taiz. Each authority claims to have jurisdiction over the building. After the revolution the building was occupied by the Interior Ministry. It was used by the Investigation Office until 1983.
The Endowment Authority claims that the Investigation Office rented the building from the authority. There is a standing ruling by the Taiz Eastern Court giving ownership of the building to the Endowment Authority. However, the Lands and Real Estate Authority has challenged the verdict. It also filed a case in the Supreme Court of the Republic.
Destruction Started
On November 21, 1999, Ali Saleh Al-Wakedi, a contractor, came to demolish old buildings located around the door so as to build a police station there. He possessed an official document that licensed the destruction of the building by the Ministry of Interior. The local people were agitated by this outrageous act. However, the contractor went on demolishing the buildings, not minding the people’s protests. The Security Chief had also given orders to the Al-Madinah Police Station to notify shop keepers to leave their shops so as to carry on the demolition of the buildings.
This demolition operation went on until the Minster of Endowment Authority went to the site, and asked the contractor to stop. But, after he left the site, the demolition work continued as before.
Then the shop keepers wrote a complaint to the President of Republic and the Prime Minster requesting them to interfere. They appealed to them to designate a high power committee to investigate the matter. The President responded positively and issued on December 20, 1999 a notification asking the governor of Taiz to interfere and settle the dispute. Eventually, demolition work at the site came to a stop. Ever since this incident, all the four parties claiming the ownership of the building have been in the court.
Yemen Times in a comprehensive survey, discussed this issue with the officials concerned and came up with the following:
Mr. Sharaf Taha, a shop keeper in the building, said “We have been hiring these shops for more than 50 years. Some of us pay the rent to the Endowment Authority while others pay the same to the Lands and Real Estate Authority. We used to pay YR 500 per year. To our dismay and anguish, we received notices in November 1999 to vacate our shops. There are altogether 33 shops in this building.
We in a memorandum appealed to the President to save us and stop destruction of this historical site. He, then, gave orders to stop the demolition campaign. However, so far we are between two evils, the Ministry of interior and that of the Religious Endowment Authority. We do not know what will happen to us. If we are forced to leave our shops we will find ourselves in streets.”
We met with Mr. Abdullah Abdul Al-Jalil Al-Meghlafi, chairman of the Endowment Authority, who said “The building belongs to the Endowment Authority and the Ministry of Interior rented it from us. There was a dispute between our office and the Lands and Real estate Authority. However, we went to the court and the verdict was in our favor.
Then, Ministry of Interior started destroying the building claiming that the building belonged to them. We stopped work and now the case is still pending in the court. If the building is restored to us, we have plans to use it as a trade center. Shop keepers will have the priority to rent. However, they have to pay according to the present provisions. The building is not at all an archeological monument and if it was and it was true that there were some archeological objects, the contractor would be made answerable for his act.s.”
YT tried to meet with the Security Chief. But, he refused to comment in this matter saying that the building is not at all an archeological site and that the Security Office wants to use it as a police station.
Mr. Al-Izi Abdo Mosleh, General Manager of Archeology Authority in Taiz, said “The law clearly envisages that if any building is 100 years old, it is then an archeological site that should be preserved and not destroyed. The building is very old. It dates back to the reign of Al-Rasoolin or Altaherin.
The Investigation Office abandoned the building early in 1980s. In the 1990s, we were informed that it is going to be used by the Women’s Society which would renovate and use it as a traditional handicrafts center. We were appreciative of this step. However, we were taken aback by the Ministry of Interior destroying the building with no legal warrant.
Other institutions are geared by some self-directed motives. They are narrow minded people; they think that a building is an archeological only if it contains archeological objects. However, this is not at all true and they have to understand this.
If the Endowment Authority wants to invest in anything, why not in any of its extensive lands that spread everywhere. What about their revenues. Have they become too poor to meet their financial needs so that they are desperately changing this precious archeological site to a trade center?!
I can definitely say that if our officials who are supposed to preserve this monument are themselves instrumental in its destruction, then there is no law and order worth its name. A state that allows destruction of its historic and archeological sites, is destroying its past, present and future. It is actually destroying itself. Nations are struggling in the present time to preserve their past heritage, but these short sighted people are trying to destroy it.
This is not the only place that is exposed to such aggressive acts. Some of the old historical mosques are being totally ignored. If at all the Ministry of Religious Endowment conducts any renovations, it only distorts the features of these monuments.
We finally hope that they come back to their senses and the building goes back to the Archeology Authority which will try to retrieve what has been destroyed and renovate the building for the sake of preserving our heritage. We will try to use it as a handicrafts center.
We also cherish the hope that our top officials will rectify the wrongs done and preserve this important building for the sake of the future generations.”
Mrs. Sooad Al-Absi, chairperson of Women’s Union, said “What we planned to do in this building is not investment in the sense what many materialistic people think. It is rather an investment in our traditional folklore and handicrafts, a way to renovate and prevent this archeological building from destruction. This will obviously enhance and promote the tourism prospects in the country.
We have already made a careful study to use the building for making traditional costumes, and promoting folklore. We want to harness women’s latent talents and keep these handicrafts alive.
In this sense the destruction of the building in Bab Al-Kabir was a crime against our people, civilization and history. Taiz is famous for its Bab Al-Kabir, Bab Mosa, Al-Ashrafiah Mosque and Al-Qahera Castle. Therefore, if these places are destroyed, there will be nothing worth seeing for the tourists.
We do call upon the government to interfere to stop the deliberate destruction of our heritage and hold those accountable for their irresponsible actions.
I believe that there are three measures to be taken by the people of Taiz so as to stop these acts of sabotage. These three steps are as follows:
First, the people of Taiz should form a strong pressure group to protect what has remained of these monuments. Second they have to file a case against those who perpetrate such acts. Thirdly, the private sector has to play a role in preserving these sites.
We do hope that the governor of Taiz will swing to action to stop these acts of sabotage and preserve other historical and archeological sites as well.”
Destruction of our heritage and the civilization is not the right of anyone. So the destruction of this building should be stopped. This is a historical and an archeological site which is to be renovated and preserved, not destroyed. Please, armchair philosophers, do understand the implications of such gross acts and prevent their recurrence in future.

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