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An official source at the National Society for Human Rights has said that the Society has followed what was published in the local newspapers, and what has been circulated in some social networking sites regarding all the encroachment that have been removed in Moknea village on the outskirts of the city of Mecca. The Society has commissioned a team to visit the village and meet some the people affected, and preview what has been done. Moreover, the Society has taken note of the statement of the Emirate of Mecca, which was published in the local press and consists of five-explanatory terms. The statement has explained that the land of Moknea village was owned by the state and was dedicated by the Ministry of municipal and rural Affairs as industrial area and some of these sites were dedicated for public investment.

Besides, the Society has made sure that most of the residents of the referred area are ordinary citizens and removing their buildings, by the way that has been done, has two effects on them. For illustration, the first harm is losing their money which they have spent in building the houses for their families. The second harm is the effects of implementing the regulations and the decisions taken in this regard.  In this case, the best          solution should be providing alternative homes for those who have been affected and transferring them or leaving them in their homes till the state provide alternative housing for them. In addition, as stated in the fourth item of the statement of the Emirate of Makah, the competent authorities has the right to account those who tricked the citizens and sold them what they do not have.

Furthermore, needless to say that the citizen’s continuation in constructing these houses was the result of turning a blind eye about them by the executors of the government regulations and instructions during the past years which have witnessed the construction of these houses as an extension of a population in the region.  This extension has included the establishment of multi-storey homes, in addition to the establishment of a mosque, garden and playground for children on a planned land that contains double spacious paved streets. Hence, citizens expect that the region has a certified systematic planning from the relevant entities, and that it is not a random area and makes them believe that the construction procedures are in accordance with the applicable regulations.

Besides, the Society has clarified that, before removing these buildings, the government should have given the citizens the sufficient time till providing them the appropriate alternative housing after examining the documents they have, and this grace at the same time does not cancel the right of the government in implementing the applicable regulations in this regard from both tricked or exceeded.

The Society also reaffirms on the necessity of respecting the regulations, instructions and government decisions. In addition, the competent authorities, as a sponsor for the interests of citizens,  that based on delivering services to them and following up all matters relating to their special interests within the framework of following up the public interest, they should prevail the minimal damage and take into account the simple social level of this segment of the citizens, who have set up their homes, which have been removed, in order to accommodate their families, under the pressure of the need and the lack of alternative housing. Moreover, based on the State’s keenness for the citizens’ convenience, the state should not leave those families, whose houses have been removed, without shelter.

Clearly, we must distinguish between the cases in which citizens established homes for shelter, from the cases in which other intentionally fence the land for trading and exploiting citizens. Hence, the cases of ordinary citizens in need of housing require careful and merciful look to them, but the cases of land speculation, trade and exploitation require accurate removal and accounting for those who did so.

Finally, the Society stresses on the importance of considering the social dimension in this regard, and reviewing all the procedures taken on the nature, by the way that can deal with all the negatives that have happened, bring a smile to the faces saddened by what has been happened of removals, and achieve justice for all. The Society is confident that the relevant authorities will carry out its duties in this regard, towards these families.