Cairo: Tensions and the ongoing escalation in the Middle East have taken a serious turn after Saudi Arabia said that Yemen’s Houthi armed group had attempted to target the Two Holy Mosques.
Reuters, citing a Saudi spokesman, reported that Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca before it entered the prohibited airspace over the holy city.
The incident triggered reactions across the Muslim world, with several countries condemning it and describing it as a serious development that could have wider consequences for regional security and stability. In this context, Al-Azhar issued a statement condemning the reported attempt to target Mecca and stressing the importance of preserving the sanctity of the holy city.
In a statement published by Sawt Al-Azhar, Al-Azhar said that endangering Mecca — the direction of prayer and spiritual center for Muslims — constitutes a grave crime and a sinful assault on the sanctity of the Sacred City, whose holiness has been established by God. It also warned of the serious consequences of allowing the conflict to extend to Islamic holy sites.
Al-Azhar stressed that Mecca must never become an arena for conflict or threats, emphasizing that the sanctity of Mecca is a fundamental principle of Islamic belief and that any violation of its sanctity is unacceptable.
The institution further said that the security of the Two Holy Mosques is not merely a political or regional issue, but one that concerns the faith of the entire Muslim community. It said that targeting the holy city or putting it at risk would hurt the feelings of nearly two billion Muslims around the world.
Al-Azhar noted that Mecca is the direction toward which Muslims turn during their prayers and the sacred destination visited by Muslims from around the world to perform Hajj. Muslims of different countries, languages, cultures and backgrounds gather there.
Al-Azhar stressed that preserving the sanctity of the Sacred City, maintaining its security and ensuring the safety of pilgrims and visitors is a responsibility that must be respected by Muslims and non-Muslims alike and kept above political and regional calculations.
Reuters also reported that Houthi officials denied targeting Mecca or any religious sites, rejecting the allegation that the group had targeted the holy city.
source:nahda network+agencies
