Opposition leader condemns drone incident near Mecca, says attacks on holy city ‘unacceptable’

Leader of the Opposition and Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dr Shafiqur Rahman has condemned the reported Houthi drone attack near Mecca, saying any attack against the holy city is unacceptable.

In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Shafiqur Rahman said Mecca holds the highest religious significance for Muslims as the home of the Kaaba, the House of Allah.

“If any kind of attack is carried out against this sacred place, it is our moral and religious duty to speak out against it and condemn it,” he said.

“I strongly condemn this incident. Whether the attackers are Houthis or anyone else, such attacks are in no way acceptable,” he added.

Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Mecca on Tuesday evening before it entered the holy city’s restricted airspace. Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki said the incident prompted a security alert in Mecca, Taif and Jeddah.

The Houthis, however, have denied targeting Mecca or any other Islamic holy site, describing Saudi claims as misinformation. The security alert in Mecca was lifted within minutes, according to reports.