The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) has condemned reported missile and drone attacks targeting the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, describing any assault on the city as unacceptable.
In a statement, SUPKEM said Mecca, which hosts Masjid al-Haram, one of Islam’s holiest sites, should be protected from the ongoing conflicts and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
SUPKEM National Chairman Al-Hajj Hassan Ole Naado said attacks on holy sites must not be allowed, regardless of the grievances driving conflicts in the region.
He said sacred sites in Mecca and Medina serve as a unifying force for Muslims around the world and should not be drawn into political disputes.
“Conflict among Muslim nations in the Middle East is not new; however, an attack on holy sites transcends all grievances and must not be tolerated by any faction. These sacred spaces serve as a unifying force for Muslims worldwide and should never be entangled in the political disputes that afflict the surrounding regions,” Naado said.
SUPKEM said it stands with the Saudi government in efforts to protect the holy sites from the impact of the ongoing conflict.
“As the national representative body advocating for the interests of Muslims in Kenya and serving as the custodians of the Kenya Hajj Mission, SUPKEM holds a divine responsibility towards the preservation of the holy sites in Mecca and Medina,” the council said.
The council also cited the Holy Quran, particularly Surah Al-Hajj (22:39-40), which it said emphasises the protection of places of worship and frames their preservation as a universal obligation.
SUPKEM called on all parties involved in the Middle East conflict to protect holy sites and places of worship from attacks.
The council further urged the warring factions to pursue dialogue and resolve their differences in accordance with Islamic teachings.
According to the BBC, on September 15, Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of the holy Islamic city of Mecca on Tuesday evening, according to the spokesman of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
Turki al-Maliki said the targeting of Mecca, which is the home of Islam's most sacred shrine and the focal point of the Hajj pilgrimage, was a "disgraceful act".
The 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation said attacks on Mecca and Medina province, where Islam's second holiest shrine is located, constituted an "unacceptable and intolerable transgression".
But the Houthis, an Iran-backed armed group that controls much of western Yemen, denied targeting Mecca and accused Saudi Arabia of "fabrications and lies".
"There is no threat whatsoever from Yemen to the holy sites. Our operations target their oil facilities and military bases and are far removed from the holy places," military spokesman Yahya Sarea said.
Sarea added that the Houthis had launched drones and missiles at Saudi Arabia in retaliation for more than 450 Saudi air strikes on their territory over the past week.
