Former Official Warns of Houthi Actions Threatening Sanaa's Historic Sites

A former official in the Houthi-controlled media ministry has raised alarms over alleged destructive actions and urban alterations by Houthi authorities surrounding the Great Mosque and the historic city of Sanaa, warning of a threat to the city's cultural heritage.

Mutahar Ahmed Taqi, formerly a deputy minister of information under the unrecognised Houthi administration, stated on Facebook that the endowments authority and Dar al-Ifta, both under Houthi control, are carrying out actions he described as "destruction" within the vicinity of the Great Mosque. He noted that the endowments authority had previously sold Al-Mashhad cemetery and leased part of Al-Basha Mosque, reportedly for commercial development. Taqi condemned these measures as an assault on endowments and historical legacy.

He emphasized that the Old City of Sanaa, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is bound by legal obligations to preserve its historical character. Taqi questioned the stance of relevant authorities, intellectuals, and legal professionals regarding the alleged vandalism of its architectural heritage and called for immediate legal intervention to halt these activities.

Taqi also referenced circulating reports among residents near the Great Mosque concerning a plan to demolish several historic residential buildings west and south of the mosque to construct a university and public squares. He cautioned against any encroachment on one of Yemen's oldest historic districts.

He held the Houthi endowments authority responsible for what he termed the distortion of Sanaa's cultural legacy and damage to endowed properties, urging concerned bodies to intervene promptly to cease these actions. Taqi concluded by asserting that protecting Yemeni heritage is a national responsibility and called for the preservation of the Old City of Sanaa, its archaeological landmarks, and prevention of any changes that compromise its historical identity.