A picture taken on May 3, 2012 shows Free Syrian Army militants standing in the courtyard of the Khaled Ibn al-Walid mosque in the al-Khalidiyah neighbourhood of the central Syrian city of Homs. "Activists from the Khaldiyeh neighbourhood in the city of Homs have reported the destruction by army shelling of the mausoleum of the prophet's companion Khaled bin Walid," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. PHOTO: AFP
Reports of the destruction of the Sunni pilgrimage site emerged as an intense army campaign to reclaim rebel-held areas of Homs, a strategic junction city, entered its fourth week.
"Activists from the Khaldiyeh neighbourhood in the city of Homs have reported the destruction by army shelling of the mausoleum of the prophet's companion Khaled bin Walid (RA) ," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Housed in the rebel area of Khaldiyeh, the Khaled bin Walid mosque had already suffered significant damage during earlier fighting for control of the city.
Amateur video distributed by activists showed the mosque, renowned for its two towering minarets, and images of what was identified as the destroyed mausoleum.
"The Khalid bin Walid mosque was shelled, and the shrine was completely destroyed," said the unnamed activist filming the footage.
The images show mounds of rubble, stone and metal at the site identified as the mausoleum.
The video also shows an unidentified man lashing out at the world over the destruction of the shrine.
"I want to tell Arabs and Muslims, how will you face God after Khalid bin Walid's (RA) shrine has been destroyed? Why have you abandoned besieged Homs?" says the man.
Speaking to AFP via the Internet, Khaldiyeh-based activist Yazan said the mosque holds symbolic importance not only for Homs' residents but for Sunnis as a whole.
"People used to come and visit the shrine from the world over," Yazan said, adding that the mosque housing the shrine is "practically destroyed".
Khaldiyeh and the Old City neighbourhoods of Homs, still under rebel control, have been under suffocating army siege and near-daily bomb attacks for more than a year.
The mosque housing Khalid bin Walid's (RA) shrine, an important pilgrimage site for Muslims, was built over several centuries. The shrine itself dates to the 11th century, while the mosque was constructed by the Mameluks in the mid-13th century.
Known for his military prowess, Khalid bin Walid's (RA) forces captured Damascus from the Byzantine empire. A military commander under Prophet Mohammed and under two successive caliphs, he died around the year 642, in Homs.
Bin Walid's (RA) mausoleum is the latest of a series of Syrian religious and cultural sites damaged or destroyed in the course of the country's 28-month war.
In the war-torn northern city of Aleppo, the minaret of the landmark Umayyad mosque was destroyed in April, while parts of the ancient souks were burnt down in September last year.
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@Khair Khaw: They care for them as military shields not shrines.
We all Muslims must cOndemn these Attacks On hOly shrines irrespect Of Shia Sunni. ThOse whO are attacking can't be cOsidered as Muslim and shame fOr Pakistani Media silence.
Im surprise no condemnation from our so-called leaders!! Shame
@Farhan: "This" did not clarify that the attack was actually attributed to the Syrian Army. Best wishes.
@Shirazi: "Salute to Bashhar Asad. Happy to hear this news." So, you rejoice at the death and destruction of fellow Muslims and the decimation of a mosque? Shame on you!
@Farhan: Which person are you talking about? Common sense requires paying attention to the thrust of the discussion. Incidentally, common sense is not so common but fortunately you have an over-abundance of it.
Gujranwala, shame on you.
@Ali Abbas: Most rebels are not extremists and they do care for shrines.
@Well Wisher: That person clearly mentioned "this" in his condemnation sentence, and this is the same sentence your qoute in your reply. I wonder where is your common sense?
Being a shia, I condemn this attack on Khalid bin Waleed's shrine. However, given the Syrian government managed and maintained this shrine well up until now, I believe the rebels provoked this attack as they don't care for shrines anyway and believe shrines to be centers of idolatory.
after this how can shias question if FSA levels all the illegitimat shia shrines in sunni majority area so syria. The sunnis are more concerned about the damage done to khalid bin walid mosque, shrine is just part of the mosque, it is not the principal entitiy that has been targeted. Target seems to be khalid bin walid mosque which is the symbol of the glory of sunnis.
@Ali Baloch: " “FSA”used the shrine as a base to launch attacks and store weapons," yes, that is possibly true but they got fired upon and shelled at by the Syrian Army, which should have shown restraint as it is fighting an unpopular war against the majority of the Syrians, particularly since a historical cite was involved. I agree with "Well Wisher" that there should be agreed upon mechanism for restoring peace and if necessary mediation of a third party be acquired. Only elections to form a new govt based on adult franchise will solve the issues and restore peace. For how long is Asad going to continue to butcher the majority? Syrian Army is already experiencing defections and it is only a matter of time that Asad is likely to get ousted.
If you check the facts you will find that the Takfiri sect are responsible, They are also responsible for the damage at Seyyada Zainab (as) Shrine, And also at the Bibi Ruqayyah (as) site. Don't be fooled by propaganda.
Just wondering..what if its the same people who destroyed hajr bin adis and Lady Zainabs Shrine? destroying the shrines is a hobby of a particular group which makes up the majority of the al nusra front.. food for thought.. since its unlikely for a govt. that maintained this site during their good days to destroy it deliberately now!!
@ET: Please help me with my right to reply to someone who has written to me. @Mj: "And the ‘rebels’ are trying to replace a secular tyrant with a religious one. FSA has been sidelined by hardcore militants." So there should be a mechanism for establishing a representative government. How best, the Syrian have to decide themselves. If they cannot do it on their own, let them invite a mediator from outsides, such as, from OIC or from UN or from any mutually agreed third party. Let then, there be peace followed by election of Constituent Assembly elected on the basis of one man one vote. This can be followed by whatever procedure the said Assembly prescribes for establishing a truly representative government.
Where is Muslim brotherhood
@Hassan: the mayhem gave them the excuse.
No has the right to call any sect "takfiri." Let no one play God.
This is not the first incident of destruction of shrine or digging old graves in Syria. Our Muslim brothers have gone MAD and showing a true face of distorted Islam.
@salman: No No man what you talking how they can come to street according to them we are infidels.. And if somebody needs prove look at your neighbor country where you cannot elect into parliament because of your sect and Yes they worship that Parsi Abu LoLu (Not even a Muslim ) just because he Martyr Caliph Umar
@Syed: "takfiri group of a sect ' The ruler who kills Muslims is actually a "takfiri." Get your facts straight. Asad is the one who has no right to govern Syria as he is a dictator who is being resisted by the majority. He is the one responsible for killing all in Syria.
Salute to Bashhar Asad. Happy to hear this news.
@Khair Khaw: Why not they destroyed when they were in full fledge strength Government. Also they have protected more controversial persoanlity grave in Damascus.
@Well Wisher:
And the 'rebels' are trying to replace a secular tyrant with a religious one. FSA has been sidelined by hardcore militants.
@Ali: "Being Shia, I strongly condemn this attack and Bibi Zanaib’s shrine attack." Why not also condemn the destruction of Khaled Bin Waleed shrine and mosque by the Syrian Army?
if pakistanis turn towards east to raise anger rather than its west its all the more good for people who live its east.
@ali totally agree with you. unfortunately a certain takfiri group of a sect is responsible for all the killing destruction in this world. these terrorists should go back to their countries but their fathers won't let them commit crimes in their land so they send them to pakistan, iraq, syria. shame on all the terrorists and their supporters
@Bilal Qadri Uraf Bilal Commando: It is the Syrian Army of the Tyrant Assad that has destroyed the shrine and the mosque. So put the blame where it is.
people should read about ramadan buti and the dream he had on his wikipedia page. syria is facing a horrible fate if this mans dreams are to be believed.
@Ali Wali: The Syrian Army is itself uses terror against the vast majority that is resisting the rule of a tyrant/usurper/dictator.
This is utterly DISGUSTING! Allah is watching and those responsible WILL be punished.
Saudi Arabia is silently demolishing mosques near Mecca to build five star hotels and casinos,but all Pakistanis care about is the destruction of an dilapdated mosque which was built on a disputed land in Ayodhya
These historic shrines are in regular use and millions visit these holy places. How can anyone even point a gun towards the direction of the shrine? It is the holy month of Ramzan. What are these people fasting and praying for? Just to go out and destroy holy shrines after their fast? This is awful, awful and very awful. No words to describe it. If you belong to a religion, you will feel a sense of piety when you enter such historic and renowned holy places of your religion, irrespective of the sect you may follow. How these people don't get even a little bit of such feeling, even in this holy month?
Terrorists used this site to launch rocket attacks on Syrian army, they are responsible for this unfortunate situation.
@salman: Its people like you who create the secterian divide. I assume that you are a sunni. Why does it matter whether Shias protest against this or not... Its a loss for the whole muslim world. I am sunni by the way...
@ali: No! Sectarianism is no sect's monopoly!
@ali: This is the action of other sect.
@Xnain:
A sectarian war which has turned regional. Inter-sect conflicts going on in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Bahrain, Iraq.
They should not be hiding in Mosques in first place the coward terrorists. I also find it strange that the FSA have been destroying mosques and holy shrines as they say it amounts to Idolatry yet they are now crying for a shrine.
Only one sect is known for destroying shrines............
Its a sectarian war. And its just the beginning.
Shame on Al Qaida/Wahabi linked militants and Syrian Army for destroying the mosque and the shrine.
Lets see will Pakistani shias will come out on the streets to protest or not
Being Shia, I strongly condemn this attack and Bibi Zanaib's shrine attack.
What about Rebes terrorist how destroy shrine of Bibi Zahniab and Sahabi -e Rasool and many more. Shame on Terrorists and there supporters...Hazarat Khalid bin Walid shrine was there before rebels occupy that area and it was well maintain by Syrian Govt.
Tragic indeed. When will the monster leave his throne? Over 100,000 people dead and he still stands in the way to block Syrians the right to self govern.
@Bbc: You conveniently forget rebels.
ET didnt report this when it happened
only now this to up the ante of shia sunni when the strikes on bibi zainab (as) in syria rolled into protests in Pakistan shame
Bashar al Assad is destroying civilization's antiques like the Taliban destroyed the Bamiyan statues of Buddha.
Sunni symbols being destroyed systematically?
The Syrian government didnt harm the shrine before the civil war. It seems they made a targeting error here. They'll probably do their best to fix the shrine if they win the civil war.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un, Shame on syrian government and army..
An OIC meeting must be called immediately to dismiss Bashar Al Assad for this heinous act.
Insanity indeed..has NO boundaries!
Tragic loss