Following the demolition of several historical structures in Fars and Hamedan provinces, heritage authorities held a meeting to explore strategies to better protect cultural heritage sites.
In a bid to investigate the matter and make decisions to avoid further loss of historical mansions, senior relevant authorities convened at the headquarters of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization on Sunday to discuss the issue, ISNA reported.
Referring to the old texture of Shiraz, Mohammad Hassan Talebian, an ICHHTO’s deputy, explained that a huge part of damage inflicted to the historical structures in the city have been due to development projects such as the plan for expansion of Shah Cheragh Mosque.
Reportedly, the directors of the mosque had bought several historical buildings from their owners years ago to expand the its area.
Notwithstanding the objection of ICHHTO’s protection unit, the houses named Salimi and Montaseri, both inscribed on the National Heritage List in 2003, were flattened in line with the scheme.
“The other houses victimized by such plans include houses of Ali Akbar Asgharzadeh, Hassan Helisaz, Asadollah Shoja’at, Asadollahi, Masoumi, Haji Aatefi and Pour Navvab, which are among the most outstanding emblems of Iran’s ancient history in the city,” Talebian added, expressing concern about the threat to the remaining houses of Sadr Jahromi, Shahram Bahrami and Rasouli.
Task Force
Ali Asghar Mounesan, the ICHHTO chief, set up a working group of experts to be deployed to Shiraz to carry out close investigations of illegal destructions.
The team will reportedly scrutinize the ongoing development project and monitor construction activities.
“Expansion of Shah Cheragh Mosque should not by any means cause damage to the historical texture of the city,” Mounesan emphasized.
Fars Province boasts 3,000 national heritage sites, accounting for 9% of Iran’s historical places. It is also home to three world heritage sites: Pasargadae, the ruins of Persepolis and Eram Garden (inscribed along with seven other gardens grouped under “Persian Gardens”).
However, the valuable status of the city will soon be ruined if the alterations do not cease.
Another Concern
The project on converting the historical Imam Square in Hamedan Province to a pedestrian precinct was the other plan posing a threat to another historical texture in the country.
The idea was first proposed last year when the heritage and municipality officials of the province called for highlighting Hamedan’s historically valuable monuments, particularly Imam Square and Ecbatana ancient city to become a tourism hub.
However, the plan ignored the need for vehicle access routes while shop owners at Hamedan’s old bazaar need at least a small path to drive their vehicles across the age-old structure of Imam Square.
To solve the issue, a temporary fix was adopted to allow vehicles to use the entrance gate of Ecbatana historical site as a temporary passageway to the old bazaar.
This is while the gate is designated for walkers, and the entry of vehicles would harm the historical texture of Ecbatana and is against cultural heritage rules.
Pointing to the cultural value of the endangered site and the demolished historical sites in Hamedan, Talebian also underlined the necessity of setting strict policies to protect the vulnerable areas.
He said the issue will soon be negotiated with higher-level relevant officials for final decisions.
Ecbatana was an ancient city in western Iran and the capital of the ancient Median empires. Excavations have revealed tools and pottery dated 1400 to 1200 BC.
