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Yemen's decaying religious history

Historic sites are being destroyed by the civil war in Yemen’s once-peaceful city of Aden, known for its history of diversity and coexistence.
A general view shows destruction inside the Roman Catholic church of St Joseph in Yemen's second city of Aden after unidentified assailants set ablaze to the church on September 16, 2015 a day after it had been damaged by vandals. The masked arsonists torched the church in the central Crater neighbourhood of the port city, which is controlled by loyalists of the exiled government. AFP PHOTO / STR        (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
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The Yemeni city of Aden has been a unique case of coexistence and diversity in the region, where numerous groups lived together despite their differing beliefs. The city’s strategic location — along the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden — made the town an enticing locale for colonial powers. The last occupiers were the British, who ruled the city from 1839 to 1967, and over its history Aden became a meeting point for various nationalities.

Aden boasts important landmarks tied to many historical periods. Its soil is home to churches, synagogues and Hindu temples, all serving as witnesses to the diversity that is currently struggling to survive. These buildings have become targets in a war that has been raging since March between the government forces of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and Shiite Houthi forces.

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