JEDDAH: The Land Dispute Committee of the Jeddah municipality has demolished a representative office of the Call and Guidance (Dawa) Department to the east of the Makkah-Madinah expressway despite the office having a deed in the name of Hussein Taher Al-Ajami, who gave it permission to construct the property.
The representative office was surprised by the action taken by the committee and said it was hasty and uncalled for.
“The property razed by the committee was a recreational spot for families from all districts to the east of the expressway. They used to go there for cultural contests, soccer competitions and other activities of interest to the families and the youth,” said Saleh Al-Salami, a member of the Dawa office.
He was flabbergasted by the action of the committee and said equipment, electric appliances and furniture were left in the open.
Muhammad Al-Ghamdi, head of the office, said about four years ago the committee tried to demolish the building but was prevented from doing so when the land deed and the permission from Al-Ajami to construct the building was shown to Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed.
He said things were quiet until three months ago when the committee came again and placed a notice for demolition on the door of the building. The committee later added three other notices.
“We tried to talk the committee out of its intention to demolish the building but it did not listen. It did not also heed the warning of Muhammad Sadiq, assistant mayor of Jeddah for lands and construction planning, who said the committee had no right to demolish the structure,” Al-Ghamdi said.
