1000 year old mosques destroyed in the wake of the Nakba

from Palestine Remembered
from archnet.org

Photographer	K.A.C. Creswell
Copyright	© Creswell Archive, Ashmolean Museum

I read an interesting article in Ha'aretz, an Israeli newspaper, about the destruction of 3 ancient mosques after the nakba and the creation of the state of Israel. They were in Yibna (Yavneh), Isdood (Ashdod) and Majdal (Ashkelon).

History Erased

_{By Meron Rapoport}

In July 1950, Majdal - today Ashkelon - was still a mixed town. About 3,000 Palestinians lived there in a closed, fenced-off ghetto, next to the recently arrived Jewish residents. Before the 1948 war, Majdal had been a commercial and administrative center with a population of 12,000. It also had religious importance: nearby, amid the ruins of ancient Ashkelon, stood Mash'had Nabi Hussein, an 11th-century structure where, according to tradition, the head of Hussein Bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was interred; his death in Karbala, Iraq, marked the onset of the rift between Shi'ites and Sunnis. Muslim pilgrims, both Shi'ite and Sunni, would visit the site. But after July 1950, there was nothing left for them to visit: that's when the Israel Defense Forces blew up Mash'had Nabi Hussein.

This was not the only Muslim holy place destroyed after Israel's War of Independence. According to a book by Dr. Meron Benvenisti, of the 160 mosques in the Palestinian villages incorporated into Israel under the armistice agreements, fewer than 40 are still standing. What is unusual about the case of Mash'had Nabi Hussein is that the demolition is documented, and direct responsibility was taken by none other than the GOC Southern Command at the time, an officer named Moshe Dayan. The documentation shows that the holy site was blown up deliberately, as part of a broader operation that included at least two additional mosques, one in Yavneh and the other in Ashdod.

the rest of the article is here: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/878851.html

Yibna was said to be the site of Abu Hurierah's tomb (RA), but I have also read that his tomb is in Syria and Hussein Bin Ali's tomb is in Cairo, so Allahu 'alim.
The following list is from "Role of Palestinian Civil Society in the Protection of Holy Sites in Palestine" by Mr. Adnane Ibrahim Hassan Al Subah There is also a list of Christian sites that were destroyed, damaged or confiscated.

Mosques converted into facilities for other purposes

1- Al Bassa mosque - ‘Akka jurisdiction - (Shlomy) converted into a sheep enclosure.

2- Zaib mosque - ‘Akka jurisdiction - (Akhzif) converted into a storehouse for agricultural tools for the Aghzif Park.

3- Ain Zaitun mosque - Safad jurisdiction - converted into a cattle enclosure.

4- Al Ahmar mosque - Safad - converted into a meeting place for artists.

5- As-Souk mosque - Safad - converted into an exhibition hall for statutes and photographs.

6- Al Qal’a mosque - Safad - converted into the headquarters of the Safad municipality.

7- Al Khalissa mosque - (Kriat Shmona) - converted into a municipal museum.

8- Dar Al Baida mosque - East-north and south of the petrol station- converted into block of offices.

9- Al Burj mosque -‘Akka - converted into a university students’ affairs office.

10- Ain Hawd mosque - Jurisdiction of Haifa - converted into a restaurant and a bar.

11- The old mosque in Qissaria - Jurisdiction of Haifa - converted into an office for the architects of the Development Company

12- The new mosque in Qissaria - Jurisdiction of Haifa - converted into a restaurant and bar

13- Al Hamma mosque- the Golan - closed and used by the adjoining restaurant as a storage facility for alcohol and foodstuffs.

14- Siksek mosque - Yafa - the ground floor is used as a plastic plant and the first floor as a gambling joint.

15- Attabia mosque - closed down and used by a Christian as a house.

16- ‘Asqalan mosque - one side of it is a museum and the other is a bar restaurant.

17- Al Maliha mosque - Al Quds - part of the mosque is used as a house by a Jew and the terrace of the mosque is used to hold festivities for the neighbours.

18- The Great Mosque - Bir Sab’a - in a state of neglect but was previously used as a museum.

19- The Small Mosque - Bir Sab’a - converted into a shop run by a Jew.

Mosques and mausoleums converted into synagogues

1- Yaqub mosque and mausoleum - Safad - converted into a synagogue.

2- Yaquq mausoleum - jurisdiction of Tabariya - converted into a Jewish mausoleum called “Habquq.”

3- Sit Sukaina mausoleum - Tabariya - converted into a Jewish mausoleum called “Rachel.”

4- Sheikh Denial mausoleum - Dana, east of Tamra Azza’bia - Jurisdiction of Bissan- converted into a Jewish mausoleum called “Dan.”

5- Al ‘Afula Mosque - converted into a synagogue.

6- Kafrita mosque - Kafr Atta- converted into a synagogue.

7- Sheikh Chahada mausoleum - religious Jews visit this mausoleum with the intent of converting it into a Jewish mausoleum called “Zion Ibn Gideon.” Several violations have already been committed there.

8- Samaane mausoleum - northwest of Qulaiqila - converted into a Jewish mausoleum by the same name.

9- Benyamine mausoleum - north of Qulaiqila - converted into a Jewish mausoleum by the same name.

10- Ali Mausoleum - Alyazur - converted into a synagogue.

11- Mausoleum of Abu Huraira in Yibna - jurisdiction of Ramla - converted into a Jewish mausoleum for Rabbi Gimlael.

12- Mosque of Prophet Robin - South of Yafa - converted into a Jewish mausoleum called “Raobin Ibn Yaaqub.”

13- Mausoleum of Sheikh Gharbawi - west of Al Midia village - Modi’ine - converted into a Jewish mausoleum for Matatyahu.

Closed, Neglected and Demolished Mosques and Mausoleums

1- Umm Al Faraj mosque - jurisdiction of ‘Akka - (Ben Ammi) - demolished on 4/12/1997.

2- Wadi Al Hawarith mosque - jurisdiction of Tulkarem - (near Al Khudaira) - demolished by some Jews on 03/02/2000.

3- Sheikh Ni’ma mosque - Safad - demolished, but the minaret is still standing.

4- Al Khudar mausoleum - Al Bassa - Shlomy - in a state of neglect.

5- Al Zaidani mosque -Tabariyya- closed and in a state of neglect.

6- Al Bahar mosque - Tabariyya - closed and in a state of neglect.. The municipality of Tabariyya restored it for the purpose of using it as museum but it was burnt by a Jew on 6/2/2000.

7- Hittine mausoleum - jurisdiction of Tabariyya - (Kafar Zitim) - closed down several times by the Israeli land administration.

8- ‘Umqa mosque - ‘Umqa colony - closed, in a state of neglect and in danger of collapse.

9- Sheikh Mohammed Kwikat mausoleum - Bait Haemaq - in a state of neglect.

10- Prophet Yirchaa’s mausoleum - (Mitsoddat Yushaa) - jurisdiction of Safad- in a state of neglect.

11- Two mosques in Khan Jub Yussuf (Kibbutz Amead) - in a state of neglect.

12- Sheikh Ibriq mausoleum - Haifa coast - in a state of neglect.

13- Sheikh Ibriq mausoleum - Tabuun - in a state of neglect.

14- Prophet Hochan’s mausoleum - Hocha, north of Ibtine - jurisdiction of Haifa- restored by Muslims.

15- Mosque of Ibtine - jurisdiction of Haifa - in a state of neglect.

16- Ahmed mosque - ‘Akka - in a state of neglect.

17- Sumairiyya mosque - jurisdiction of ‘Akka - closed down by the Israeli Land Administration.

18- A mausoleum in Al Manchiyya - ‘Akka’ - inhabited by a Muslim family to preserve it.

19- Al Manchiyya mosque - in a state of neglect.

20- The Small mosque in Haifa - in a state of neglect ; Muslims are not allowed to restore and use it.

21- Assuhaili mausoleum - Balad Cheikh - Haifa - in a state of neglect.

22- Allujun mosque - Mjido- formerly converted into a carpenter shop, but now in a state of neglect.

23- Maalul mosque - jurisdiction of Nassera - demolished to a large extent and only a small portion remains.

24- A mausoleum in Tirat Al Karmal - Haifa jurisdiction - in a state of neglect.

25- Sarfand mosque - Haifa- (Hebonim) - in a state of neglect.

26- Ajzim mosque - coast of Haifa - closed down by the Israeli Land Administration. Anyone who violates the Israeli order risks going to prison.

27- Sheikh Ali mausoleum - Jab’- Coast of Haifa - in a state of neglect.

28- Umm Al ‘Alaq mosque - Rouha - (Rimat Handif) - in a state of neglect.

29- New mosque - Qissariya - demolished.

30- Sheikh Ahmed’s mausoleum - Al Khudaira - in a state of neglect.

31- Jamal Eddine Aqouch - south of Bir Sekka - in a state of neglect.

32- Saidna Ali mosque - Al Haram - (Herzelia) - restored by the Muslims and used for prayers.

33- Assadeq mausoleum - Majdal Sadeq - South of Kafr Qassim - jurisdiction of Ramla - in a state of neglect.

34- Prophet Yahya’s mausoleum - Al Muzairi’a - jurisdiction of Ramla- in a state of neglect.

35- Abi Al Awan’s mausoleum - Jamjuliyya - in a state of neglect.

36- Suraqa’s mausoleum - west of Qulaiqila - neglected.

37- A mausoleum in Al Midahdira - west of Tirat Bani Saab - in a state of neglect.

38- Maska mosque - west of Tirat Bani Saab - largely demolished.

39- Al Yazur mausoleum - jurisdiction of Yafa - in a state of neglect.

40- Ahmed Iqbal Usdud’s mausoleum - jurisdiction of Gaza - in a state of neglect.

41- Usdud mosque - jurisdiction of Gaza - partly demolished, in a state of neglect.

42- Sheikh ‘Awad mosque - ‘Asqalane - jurisdiction of Gaza - in a state of neglect.

43- Tamim Addari’s mausoleum - Bait Jibril - jurisdiction of Hebron - in a state of neglect, it was burnt three years ago.

44- Zakaraiyya’s mosque - north of Bait Jibril - in a state of neglect.

45- A mosque in Dir Sheikh - Al Quds mountains - in a state of neglect.

46- Ain Karem mosque - Al Quds - in a state of neglect. and used by drug addicts and prostitutes.

47- Lafta mosque - Al Quds - in a state of neglect.

48- Al Mijirmi’s mausoleum - Tantura - coast of Haifa - in a state of neglect.

49- Al Falluja mosque and mausoleum - jurisdiction of Gaza - the mausoleum was demolished one year and a half ago.

50- Mausoleum of Mohammed Al ‘Ajami - Al Majdil - Tabariyya - in a state of neglect.

Zionist Desecration of Cemeteries

1- Bulldozing of the cemeteries of ‘Aqer in the vicinity of Ramla, Salma, ‘Abbassiyya near Yafa, ‘Asqalane, and Istiqlal in Haifa. Houses, commercial centres and industrial zones were built where these cemeteries used to be.

2- Another group of cemeteries was converted into a rubbish dump, such as the cemeteries of Khayriyya and Yazur at the entrance of which a sign reads “Rubbish Dump”.

3- Other cemeteries were bulldozed to lay roads, set up animal farms or public parks.

4- The Ain Ghazal cemetery was converted into a municipal dump.

5- The Ain Hawd cemetery was converted into a parking lot.