Demolitions
On 1 May 1925, the mausoleums in al-Baqi' were destroyed by King Ibn Saud. In the same year, he also demolished the tombs of holy persons at Mualla Cemetery in Mecca where Muhammad's first wife Khadijah, his grandfather and other ancestors are buried. This happened despite protests by the international Islamic community.
There is the argument that the Qur'an accepts building structures over graves in Sura Al-Kahf, Ayah 21:
"...they argued among themselves over their affair, then said: 'Build a building over them (their remains). Their Lord knows best who they were.' But those who prevailed over the matter said; 'We will build around them a mosque.
Shi'i Muslims continue to mourn the day the House of Saud demolished shrines in al-Baqi', named Yaum e Gham ("Day of Sorrow"). Shi'i Muslims continue to protest the demolition of these shrines by Saudi government (which follows the Wahhabi sect); other Islamic sects do not believe as such, as it is seen that for centuries there were tombs in all cemeteries and Muslims visited these as part of ziarah, or pilgrimage to tombs. This practise is a sunnah of the Prophet, the his family, and the righteous among the his companions, and was never considered worshipping the dead.
Read more about this topic: Al-Baqi'