Demolition work affects the Balqis Cinema building in Hoqat.
Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special
Aden ((Arabian Sea)) Special: Eyewitnesses and residents reported that the Belqis Cinema building, one of the most prominent cultural landmarks in the capital, Aden, has been undergoing a sudden partial demolition since Saturday without official clarification or legal justification. According to the same sources, heavy machinery accompanied by military personnel and unknown gunmen arrived at the site to begin removing parts of the building, which dates back to the British colonial era, amid a complete absence of the competent authorities. Residents considered the move a challenge to the law and an attack on private property of heritage value. The cinema building, which was owned by an Indian investor before it was confiscated in previous decades, was returned years ago to the heirs of the original owner, Mr. Jaafar Mirza, by an official decision of the Property Restitution Committee, along with the National Theater owned by the same family. Bilal Ghulam Hussein, a researcher in Aden's heritage, stated that the demolition is being carried out "by one of the military units present in the area, in preparation for converting the building into housing for them," considering this part of a series of attacks on historical sites in the city. As of Saturday evening, no official body had issued a statement about the party responsible for the demolition or its justifications, while the presence of a military escort raised concerns about the exploitation of armed influence to seize private property. In contrast, human rights organizations and citizens in Crater called on the Public Prosecutor, the local authority, and the Land Authority to open an urgent and comprehensive investigation, and hold those involved accountable, warning against the continuation of what they described as a "war of encroachment on Adeni memory," which in recent years has led to the loss of prominent landmarks that witnessed the city's cultural and social history.
