SANA’A — A dispute broke out between Saleh Al-Dhabiani, a professor at Al-Eman University, and Lutffi Hassen, an Egyptian preacher in the Al-Ansar mosque in Sana’a.

Basheer Akroot, an eyewitness, told the Yemen Times that Al-Dhabiani came to the mosque in order to deliver the Friday sermon after being abroad for months.

Once Al-Dhabiani mounted the pulpit, Hassen immediately objected. Al-Dhabiani’s guards intervened and started beating Hassen.

Ibraheem Al-Jawfi, another witness, said that Al-Dhabiani started the whole affair by jumping to the platform yelling that“anyone who wants to listen that is up to him, and anyone that wants to leave is free to.”

The eyewitness said Al-Dhabiani was allowed to speak at the Al-Ansar mosque by the landlord and those who built it.

Akroot went on to say that disagreements also occurred last year from sermons highlighting politics instead of religion. Such sermons instigated Saleh’s loyalists to bring orders from the Endowment Office to install Hassen instead of Al-Dhabiani (who is known as a fervent anti-Saleh preacher).

Al-Jawfi said approximately 50 of Al-Dhabian’s supporters broke into the mosque and attacked Hassen. When removed from the pulpit, Hassen was taken to a hospital, while the worshippers continued to fight with Al-Dhabiani’s  guards.