MADINAH, 31 August 2005 — Historians and Madinah residents are outraged with the municipality’s decision to raze a section of the well-known Hijaz Railway, which was constructed in 1900 by the Ottomans.
The railway’s terminus was the Anbariya Station in Madinah. The municipality knocked down a bridge over the Aqiq Valley. The bridge suffered structural damage during the deadly floods of last year.
Some Madinah residents contend that the municipality should have attempted to preserve the landmark rather than levelling it. The Department of Antiquities in Madinah, which is responsible for the historical sites, said the municipality did not inform them.
“Every corner of Madinah is historic,” said Madinah resident Muhammad Basalem. “This is the City of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and every corner of it has a story to tell. This ancient bridge was serving pilgrims in the past when the railway was operating. I don’t know what the municipality was thinking when they demolished it.”
“How can we understand the future if we are not protecting our past?” asked Amin Al-Raddadi. “The rest of the track should be protected and listed by the Archeology Committee for conservation. How can we disrespect our past like this?”
Dr. Muhammad Al-Zulfa, a member of the Shoura Council and historian, also expressed his opposition to destroying antiquities.
“Advanced countries give importance to antiquities, especially those having historical significance. All historical sites in Madinah are important as they speak about one of the important phases of human history,” he told the Okaz newspaper.
“This railway line is also part of Madinah’s history and it testifies to the efforts of the Islamic government in those days to provide safe transportation facilities for pilgrims coming for Haj and Umrah,” he pointed out.
Dr. Ahmed Omar Zailae, a member of the Supreme Commission for Tourism and secretary-general of the Gulf Antiquities Society, said the municipality should not have destroyed the railway bridge without asking permission of the antiquities department. “The municipality should have coordinated with agencies that are concerned with tourist sites in order to protect the monument in some way or another. I am very sorry to hear the municipality destroyed the site without informing the concerned parties,” he said in a press statement.
“If destroying a small part of the railway bridge is good for the public, then there is no problem,” resident Majed Al-Harbi told Arab News. “What I wonder is if that part was dangerous to the pubic? If the flood destroyed part of it, then why didn’t they fix it?.”
Manahi Dhawi Al-Quthami, a researcher in antiquities, also expressed his anguish over the municipality’s irresponsible action.
He emphasized the significance of historical sites for promoting tourism. “It’s amazing that the destruction of Hijaz railway bridge was demolished at a time when the Supreme Commission for Tourism is working hard to protect such sites and give descriptions about them in order to attract tourists from within and outside the country.”
