JEDDAH — Thuraya Abdulaziz did not expect her local municipality to demolish a portion of her house without any warning. The Saudi woman thought that the officials would first look into her case, which had been referred to the governorate. However, Briman Branch Municipality did not wait for the governorate to come up with a decision on her appeal. The municipality, along with the encroachments committee, started demolishing part of the disabled woman's house in total disregard for humanitarian condition. According to the old woman, municipal workers were about to pull down the entire house while she was having breakfast inside. They stopped work when an encroachments official intervened, confirming that her case was still ongoing and a judgment awaited, she said. “While I was having breakfast with my only son last Wednesday, I saw the municipality officials in my house. I asked them in astonishment: ‘What has happened?' The municipality official replied that my house would be demolished immediately. He had no consideration for my disability and not even for my presence at the place. They demolished part of the house. They were about to demolish everything, even my bedroom. I contacted an official in the encroachments committee and informed him that I had submitted a petition to the governorate explaining my circumstances,” Abdulaziz said. “I told the official the request was submitted recently and it was accepted. The official understood and appreciated my circumstances." Abdulaziz said the official apologized to her and said had she informed them earlier they would not have touched her house. She said though the demolition work stopped, the municipality officials took her son because he objected to their action. He was released the next day from custody only after his cousin acted as a guarantor. Abdulaziz said, “Even a tenant who does not pay rent on time is given a notice before being evicted. They just informed me that they would demolish all the houses and plots that do not have title deeds. They did not notify me when they were coming. They demolished part of the house during our presence inside. They had no consideration for my disability nor my difficult circumstances. I respect the directives issued to demolish properties without title deeds. This is the state's right, as there is no proof of ownership. But other factors should be considered such as the period an individual had lived on the encroached land and their circumstances.” Samir Basabrain, chairman of the encroachments committee in the governorate, said the committee does not demolish any house unless it violated building regulations. Also, three notices are issued to the individual claiming ownership, he said, adding that the committee, the police and municipality participate in the demolition. He however said any demolition within an urban area is the sole responsibility of the concerned municipality.
