Okaz/Saudi Gazette QUNFUDAH — The cemetery of Al-Mutahma village in the north of Qunfudah has turned into a haven for stray animals. Vehicles cross through the cemetery due to the absence of a fence surrounding it or signboards indicating the sanctity of the location. The villagers asked the municipality of Al-Muzailif to solve the problem and preserve the sanctity of the dead. Ahmed Al-Faqih, a resident of Al-Mutahma, said the village is suffering continuous neglect from the authorities, which also affected the graveyard. "The cemetery has no fence to protect it against stray animals, which roam the area freely desecrating the sanctity of the dead," he said. Ibrahim Shamsi said the streets in the village have not been asphalted or lighted. "I am pained every time I come near the cemetery, which has been violated by the passersby as well," he added. Shamsi said many passersby and shepherds do not recognize the unfenced location as a graveyard so they enter it with their animals for grazing. "I hope that the municipality will move quickly to rectify the situation and to protect the cemetery against all kinds of violations," he said. Ali Abdullah Marawi also asked the municipality to correct the situation and said what is happening in the cemetery is unbearable. He said the animals are moving freely among the graves and the cemetery has also been turned into a dumping place for the garbage. Marawi asked about the role of the municipal council in developing their village and said the municipalities of Al-Muzailif and Jeddah should join hands in resolving the problems facing their village by providing it with the required civic services. Omar Al-Zahrani, chairman of Al-Muzailif municipality, said the fencing of a number of cemeteries has been approved but it did not include the graveyard in Al-Mutahma.
