News- Yemen: The Office of the General Authority for Endowments in Taiz Governorate has condemned the burning of the historic Al-Arif Billah Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Hadhrami Mosque in the village of Al-Armah, Jabal Habshi district, by the Islah Party militia.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Endowments Office in Taiz stated that Islah-affiliated criminal members committed this act after citizens gathered at the mosque to observe the night of the 15th of Sha'ban, a symbol of cultural and religious heritage.

The statement emphasized that the burning of the historic mosque is not merely an attack on a building but a criminal act aimed at destroying places of worship, inciting division, and spreading fear and hatred within the community.

The Office called on human rights and religious organizations, as well as citizens, to take a firm stand against this heinous crime, work towards rebuilding what has been destroyed, and hold the perpetrators and their supporters accountable. It described these groups as terrorists seeking to erase civilization and spread chaos.

Similarly, the General Authority for Antiquities and Museums strongly condemned the burning of the Mosque by the Islah Party militia and its affiliated gangs.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Authority denounced the destruction of the mosque, which is over 600 years old, considering it an attack on Yemen’s cultural and religious heritage.

The Authority affirmed that this crime, committed by extremist and terrorist groups, violates religious and moral values that uphold the sanctity of sacred sites. It stressed the importance of confronting such crimes, which target Yemen’s historical and human heritage.

It urged the local community and security forces in Jabal Habshi district to take the necessary measures to arrest those responsible and refer them to the relevant authorities for investigation. It further stated that such acts are alien to Yemeni society.

Additionally, the Authority underscored the need for intensified international efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms, emphasizing the protection of cultural and religious heritage as an essential element in preserving shared human identity.

These actions in the occupied provinces constitute war crimes and blatant violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. However, human rights organizations have largely remained silent on these atrocities.