SABYA — Angry residents called on the Sabya municipality to do something about uncollected garbage and construction material accumulating in a cemetery in Al-Majdera neighborhood in the Kingdom's southernmost province of Jazan. Residents said the municipality has failed to keep the cemetery clean and preserve the dignity of the dead. Local resident Muhsin Muqri said he was surprised at the negligence the municipality has shown. “What is the municipality doing? There is garbage everywhere. The situation is depressing,” he was quoted as saying. Other residents said in addition to cleaning the cemetery, the municipality needed to fix the cemetery's main gate, increase the height of its walls and plant trees along the perimeter boundary. Hasan Al-Ammary, a local mosque preacher, said it was strange the municipality continues to ignore the cemetery. “This is their responsibility. The dignity of people, whether dead or alive, should be always protected. The condition of the cemetery is tragic and uncivilized. What are they waiting for?” The head of Sabya municipality, Abu Bakr Mutahar, insisted the municipality was being cleaned on a regular basis and accused residents of discarding garbage in the cemetery. “We are suffering from people who are throwing household garbage and construction materials inside the cemetery. We urge the people of the neighborhood to protect the dignity of the dead by only disposing of garbage in designated trash receptacles,” said Mutahar.
