The latest news out of Yemen is that militants led by Tariq Al-Zahab (طارق الذهب), who has family ties to Anwar al-Awlaki, took over the town of Rada'a (رداع) and occupied the famous al Amiriya mosque and madrasa. The locals complained that the military, with their tanks and armored vehicles stationed nearby, let the militants take over the town without firing a single shot.

Rada'a is located approximately 150km (~ 3.5 hours by car) southeast of Sana'a. It would've been just another Yemeni town if it weren't for the splendid 16th-century Al Amiriya mosque and madrasa complex restored to its former glory by a dedicated team of local and international architects, artists, and workers led by Dr. Selma Al-Radi who passed away in October 2011. The entire project took over 22 years and upon completion received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2007.

Al Amiriya mosque and madrasa restored to its original splendor.

Dr. Selma Al-Radi insisted on using local materials and reviving traditional building methods. Her research results have contributed greatly to restoration projects in other parts of Yemen.

Restoration of a mosque using traditional methods in Zabid, Yemen.

Here is a short video of Tariq Al-Zahad who calls himself the amir of Ansar Al Sharia. Given the bad rep Al Qaeda has been getting, these guys are re-branding themselves as Ansar Al Sharia - followers of Islamic law, i.e. AQ version 2.0.

This video shows someone giving a sermon inside the Al Amiriya Madrasa. He was calling anyone who cooperates with Jews and Christians an infidel. The irony is that he was saying that standing in the middle of a restoration project funded by Dutch, Yemeni, Italian, and US governments and carried out by a multinational team including Rada'a locals.

The mosque and the madrasa look intact so far. I sincerely hope that all sides will exercise restraint and not to use the historic Al Amiriya as a battle ground.

•