Burial of Two Unknown Martyrs in Pasargad Despite Objections from Cultural Heritage Officials

Despite objections from the head of the Cultural Heritage Organization and the head of its research institute regarding the construction of a tomb for the 'unknown martyrs' within the 'second-degree protection zone' of the historical site of Pasargad, reports have emerged about the burial of two victims of the Iran-Iraq war at this site. The Young Journalists Club reported that the bodies of two 'unknown' martyrs from the Iran-Iraq war were buried on Thursday, March 12, in the 'Park of Unknown Martyrs of Pasargad.' This park may refer to the 'Memorial of Unknown Martyrs,' which has faced protests in recent days. However, officials from the Cultural Heritage Organization have not yet commented on this report. On March 8, the news site Khabar Online quoted Hamid Fadaei, the director of the Pasargad site, stating that the 'Memorial of Unknown Martyrs' has been under construction for some time within the second-degree protection zone of the historical site. He mentioned that 'the height and materials used will comply with cultural heritage regulations.' Fadaei also emphasized that 'we are all obligated to implement these regulations to keep Pasargad on the World Heritage list.' According to the report, the proposal for the construction of this tomb was 'recently made by the city council,' and the municipality was responsible for its construction. This issue has also sparked reactions on social media, with Zahra Ahmadipour, the head of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization, announcing on Twitter that 'this matter is being pursued, and extensive correspondence has been conducted regarding it.' Meanwhile, the head of the Cultural Heritage Research Institute stated in an interview with ILNA that 'burying unknown martyrs in prominent locations that are historically recognized is not a sign of respect for them; rather, it could be disrespectful, as the presence of unknown martyrs can turn any place into a destination for people.' Mohammad Beheshti stressed that the construction of this tomb could create 'problems' for Pasargad's status on the World Heritage list. However, Mohammad Pardel, the Friday prayer leader of Pasargad, defended the action, stating that 'the burial of unknown martyrs in the Pasargad area will bring goodness and blessings to the region.' Earlier in June, the construction of a tomato paste factory in the protection zone of the historical site of Pasargad had also made headlines. The historical site of Pasargad includes ancient buildings such as the tomb of Cyrus, the royal garden of Pasargad, and the tomb of Cambyses, and was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004. The county of Pasargad, with its center in Saadat Shahr, is located 110 kilometers north of Shiraz. On Tuesday, December 22, 2014, despite opposition from the Cultural Heritage Organization and the provincial security council, eight victims of the Iran-Iraq war were buried in the historical and tourist area of Amir Chakhmaq in Yazd. The burial of victims of the Iran-Iraq war in Iranian universities during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency had also sparked protests.