Sanaa:The National Human Rights Commission has strongly refuted allegations that the Yemeni Armed Forces targeted the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, labeling such claims as fabricated and misleading. These allegations, reportedly circulated by media outlets linked to Saudi adversaries, are seen as an attempt to manipulate local, Islamic, and global public opinion.
According to Yemen News Agency, the Commission emphasized that the allegations are a strategic move to exploit the sanctity of the Two Holy Mosques for political and military purposes, potentially to justify future aggressive actions. The Commission highlighted the sanctity of worship places as a core tenet of Islamic and international humanitarian law, citing Article 53 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions and Article 8 of the Rome Statute, which categorize attacks on holy sites as war crimes. The Yemeni forces, the Commission stated, remain committed to these principles and have not targeted holy sites throughout the conflict.
The Commission further warned against involving religious sanctities in political and military disputes and urged the Saudi adversaries to stop distorting perceptions and misusing religious symbols. Such actions, it argued, offend the sanctity of the Two Holy Mosques and the sentiments of Muslims worldwide.
In its statement, the Commission called on international bodies, including the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, to address the risks posed by this inflammatory rhetoric, which it believes incites Islamic public opinion and exacerbates conflicts rather than promoting peace and de-escalation.
