Reporting by Faris Al Rifai; Translation by Yusra Ahmed
HOMS (Zaman Alwasl)- A photo has been published, showing religious figures, both Muslims and Christians loyal to Syrian regime, in Khalid Bin al-Walid Mosque in Homs, has provoked many Syrian, especially because they entered the mosque with their shoes, and there was many ladies without “Hijab” besides many Shabiha. The photo was taken at an intact part of the mosque, just few meters away from the tomb of Khalid Bin al-Walid, the glorified hero that has turned into complete ruins by shelling.
An activist from Homs told Zaman Alwasl: “the goal of that visit of Christian religious figures to Khalid Bin al-Walid Mosque especially at that particular time, as Homs has been under siege for 3 years, is to show others the National Unity among Syrian people, which contradict with news about turning a Mosque into a Church in al-Hosn Castle, and the Cross was raise on al-Hosn Castle by Wadi Alnasara’s Shabiha, besides denying access of residents to their town”.
The activist who talked on condition of anonymity for security reason carried on saying: “many famous figures visited Khalid bin al-Walid mosque, like jawaharlal Nehru, Gamal Abdel Naser and Tito, however, no one of them entered the mosque wearing shoes, as a sign of respect to the Mosque as a house of God and to the figure the Mosque belongs to. But, now religious figure do not show any respect to all of that, or to people who respect and glorify Khalid Bin al-Walid, because he was the one who liberate Homs and distribute Islam in it, and his Mosque was the centre for liberating movement s against French occupation. This Mosque is as holy and historically important as Omayyad Mosque in Damascus or Azhar Mosque in Cairo”.
Bassam Awil, a Media figure, commented on the picture saying: “no doubt that visit of Christian religious figures to the Mosque is a promising sign on National Unity, however they have spoiled it when they entered the holy place with their shoes, if we supposed that Sheikh accompany them gave them the permission, it is not acceptable for unveiled women to enter the Mosque, they should have acted in more modest and respectful way to their people and partners in the country”
Khalli Bin al-Walid Mosque, which is very well known monument in Homs, has witnessed for more than two years many violations from the Syrian regime forces, and the marks of bullets and mortar shells are a proof of the Syrian regime disrespect to the Mosque’s value historically and architecturally.
The Mosque was built in the 13th century and the recent Building was established in the 19th century in Ottoman Era.
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