Continuation of 'Illegal' Excavations Under the Historical Fabric of Shiraz; Tunnel Digging for Electric Buses

A cultural heritage activist in Shiraz has warned about the city's municipality's action to dig a tunnel beneath the historical fabric, emphasizing that 'this tunnel is not for metro transit, but intended for transporting passengers with electric buses.' According to the government news agency ILNA, Amin Tabatabai, a cultural heritage activist, stressed that the tunnel excavation project is being carried out without the approval of the Supreme Council of Urban Planning and Architecture and without permission from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage. He added, 'Previously, a monorail construction plan was examined without harming the historical fabric, but now the municipality has decided to implement a costly and destructive project.' Tabatabai explained that the new tunnel starts near the Hafezieh and extends at a depth of 17 meters underground, passing through 9 Dey Street, which itself was built years ago by destroying part of the historical fabric. This cultural heritage activist warned that this depth includes multiple historical layers that could be damaged. He emphasized that 'the construction of this tunnel could destroy historical artifacts and the qanat systems beneath this fabric.' Tabatabai also referred to previous destructions in this area, stating that multiple earthquakes over the centuries have harmed the region. He explained that in many cases, new buildings have been constructed on top of previous ruins, which is why numerous historical artifacts exist underground. Previously, regarding the controversies surrounding the development of the Shiraz metro line, a member of the Shiraz City Council had reported that 'the issue of metro excavation near the Hafezieh tomb has been resolved,' but on the other hand, the director general of the preservation and restoration of historical buildings, fabrics, and sites stated that 'the project will remain halted until necessary studies and inquiries are completed.' Meanwhile, Mohammad Hassan Asadi, the mayor of Shiraz, stated, 'We have promised to extend the metro to Saadi's Cottage by July next year, which is one of the deprived areas of Shiraz.' After reports emerged that the metro tunnel excavation had reached 500 meters from the Hafezieh and claims from cultural heritage officials that this project had been halted, on October 22, a news agency quoted cultural heritage activists stating that one of the twin metro tunnels had passed through the Hafezieh and the second tunnel was still being excavated. ISNA news agency also reported on November 16 that despite the cultural heritage announcement nearly a month ago that the execution of line 2 of the Shiraz metro near the Hafezieh had been halted, some cultural heritage enthusiasts claimed that this work had not been stopped. Ambiguity regarding the halt or continuation of the Shiraz metro excavation; insistence on project execution. Conflict over the destruction of 'Shiraz's historical fabric'; cemetery construction due to 'profitability.' Discovery of one of the most important fire temples of the Sasanian era near Mashhad. Experts warn about the disastrous consequences of constructing the 'Tang Sarakh Dam' in Shiraz.