Cancellation of Mosque Construction in Qeytarieh Park Due to 'Donor Withdrawal'

A member of the Tehran City Council has announced the cancellation of the mosque construction in Qeytarieh Park due to the 'withdrawal of financial support' and stated that the park's fences have been removed accordingly. Nasser Amani declared on Tuesday, December 25, that the construction of restrooms and water tanks in parks is essential, but noted that the establishment of 'certain items' in parks is not necessary. The Tehran Municipality has retreated from building the mosque in Qeytarieh Park, despite previously resisting widespread protests against the project. Qeytarieh Park is a historic park dating back to the Qajar era in northern Tehran, located next to an area with prehistoric archaeological sites. Late last year, images of fencing in Qeytarieh Park for the purpose of constructing a mosque circulated on social media, sparking widespread protests. Concurrently, as the Tehran Municipality insisted on continuing the project, a group of local residents gathered in protest in the park on April 2. Nearly 165,000 people also signed a campaign titled 'Request to Prevent the Destruction of Qeytarieh Park' against the municipality's action. There is a possibility of resignation from several members of the Tehran City Council in protest against Alireza Zakani. The signatories of an open letter addressed to the heads of the executive and judicial branches and the head of the Administrative Justice Court emphasized the 'severe air pollution in Tehran and the city's need for trees,' warning that the destruction of parks has 'irreparable consequences.' Social media activists also expressed strong criticisms against Alireza Zakani, the mayor of Tehran, on social networks. In response to these objections, Alireza Zakani emphasized the municipality's determination to complete the mosque construction in Qeytarieh Park and described the criticisms raised against the project as 'hysteria and noise for nothing.' Mehdi Chamran, the head of the Tehran City Council, was among those insisting on the mosque's construction in Qeytarieh Park, stating, 'Tehran lacks mosques and 400 mosques should be built in the capital.' After months of protests, it is now reported that the mosque construction has been canceled due to the 'withdrawal of the donor.' Iranian domestic media and social media users welcomed this news, describing it as 'saving Qeytarieh Park from construction.' Mohsen Saadati, the deputy of cultural heritage for Tehran province, described Qeytarieh Park as an 'important archaeological site' and stated, 'The late Kambakhshfard, when he excavated there, said he was able to discover 350 graves, and there are still many artifacts that need to be excavated.' Despite air pollution and Tehran's need for green spaces, the Tehran Municipality has made decisions in recent years that have angered the residents of Tehran. In May of this year, after the establishment of a container around the perimeter of Laleh Park in Tehran, several witnesses and residents reported that construction was likely to take place in that area and trees would be cut down. Following that, protests against the municipality's action to cut down trees for the construction of a prayer room and cultural center emerged, and ultimately this project was also canceled.