AL-LEETH, 6 November 2005 — Al-Saadeya Mosque, known as Yalamlam Meeqat and located in the Saya area of Al-Leeth Province, has fallen into a state of disrepair.
The meeqat, where people from the south and Yemen change into their ihram clothes before going to Makkah, lacks proper services and staff. It’s now surrounded by sewage with garbage strewn inside and outside the mosque. Pilgrims are outraged by the place’s condition.
“The place isn’t maintained properly,” said Saeed Al-Zahrani, a Saudi pilgrim from Baha. “How could such an important place that serves the people in south of the Kingdom and Yemen be in this terrible condition? Where are the officials from the Ministry of Haj to come and see this place?”
“I couldn’t believe that I had to jump over sewage just to get to the mosque,” said Ahmad Asiri from Abha. “It stinks. People who come here could get sick before reaching Makkah.”
Inside, it’s bad, too. “The carpet is in terrible shape because it hasn’t been changed in a very long time,” said Naser Al-Qahtani. “There’s no air conditioning inside the mosque — only terrible, noisy fans.”
Al-Qahtani said that the sewage system is so bad that sewage leaks just outside the mosque rather than a remote area. He said that some of the bathrooms aren’t working because the pipes are blocked from the inside.
“What’s sad is that there isn’t a guard outside the women’s bathroom or even a sign. The walls that surround the women’s bathroom is low, and walkers are able to see the square inside,” Al-Qahtani said.
There was a first-aid station inside the mosque, but it has been closed for some time. Only a sign denotes its existence.
“The authorities in the area should do something about the parking area outside the mosque because it’s just dirt,” said Omar Abdullah. “When a car parks or leaves it creates a dust cloud that could endanger the health of visitors.”
Officials from the municipality said the cleaning contractor for the mosque is part of the problem.
One official said workers gather garbage inside the mosque and throw it just outside. He said the authorities have taken note of it, and measures will be taken to prevent the problem from happening again.
