Saudi- Historic mosques will be protected

(MENAFN-Arab News) a team from the ministry of islamic affairs branch in madinah is looking for alternative residential areas to accommodate more than 250 families who were located on property which now comes within the area of the expansion project of the prophet's mosque

The director of the islamic affairs branch in madinah province, mohammad al-amin khatari, said the number of residential properties for awqaf which is included in the expansion of the prophet's mosque is estimated at 95 properties

He pointed out that the branch is waiting for compensation to be able to provide suitable alternatives for these families. he said the ministry has undertaken a number of procedures to speed up finding suitable alternatives as soon as it receives compensations for its removed property.

Al-khutari said the ministry's facilities, which have been included in the expansion project include 131 mosques, some of which are part of islamic heritage. these will be handed to the saudi commission for tourism and antiquities and the madinah municipality to renovate and maintain them because they are part of the city's history. he said abu bakr mosque, omar bin al-khattab, ali bin abi talib and fatima al-zhara mosques were assigned to relevant authorities.

In another development, the ministry of education in madinah ended the argument about the distribution of pupils of more than 116 schools marked for removal in order to facilitate the expansion project. a decision was taken to delay the evacuation until the end of the second semester enabling the children to complete their academic year.