Mecca: The Destruction of Islam’s Historic Sites
Category: Past Events Published Date
Title: Mecca: The Destruction of Islam’s Historic Sites
Speaker: Jerome Taylor
Date: 16 Dec 2011 at 18:45
Venue: Abrar House, 45 Crawford Place, W1H 4LP
Event details:
Towering over the Holy Haram in Mecca is a monstrous skyscraper housing a modern mall, 5 star hotels and the world’s biggest clock. This massive development sits on what you used be a hill that was home to Ajyad fortress, which was built during the Ottoman era. The new extension of the Haram will put at risk a number of other historic landmarks. In Madinah, many historic sites have already disappeared and only jewish landmarks are preserved as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Those in charge justify the changes by the need to accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims. The decisions are backed by the religious view that giving any such monuments undeserved sanctity is against the purity of islamic monotheism. Many Saudi activists, especially Meccans, challenge the current policy and are fighting to preserve this heritage.
In this talk, the speaker will discuss the changes taking place as uncovered in his research for the article published in the Independent (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/mecca-for-the-rich-islams-holiest-site-turning-into-vegas-2360114.html)
The speaker:
Jerome Taylor first came to The Independent in 2005 and joined the Foreign Desk. He is now a news reporter and the paper's Religious Affairs Correspondent.
Free entrance. All welcome.
For more information please contact Sid ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 07786212486)