Continuing Criticism Over Mosque Construction in Qeytarieh Park; Tehran Municipality Ignores Opponents

Following ongoing criticism and concerns over the destruction of Qeytarieh Park and the removal of its trees under the pretext of building a mosque, an opposition campaign has gathered around 120,000 signatures. However, the Tehran Municipality is pursuing its plans for the park without regard for the opposition. A statement published on the 'Campaign' website notes that 'Tehran suffers from a shortage of parks and green spaces, yet the municipality has been destroying trees in various parts of Tehran, including Zafaraniyeh Park, the National Botanical Garden, Chitgar Park, and Saadabad Palace, and now intends to destroy the historic Qeytarieh Park despite its ancient trees.' This campaign emphasizes that the citizens of Iran's capital 'suffer from depression, and the presence of ugly buildings, congestion, and lack of urban green space are causes of many mental health issues,' urging Tehran residents to prevent the destruction of Qeytarieh Park. Meanwhile, in response to the increasing criticism, Alireza Zakani, the mayor of Tehran, stated on Wednesday, April 15, that 'no trees will be cut down, and nothing will happen in Qeytarieh Park; an old building is to be converted into a mosque.' He also accused the media of sensationalism, claiming that this is all a fuss over nothing. A journalist suggested that Zakani's insistence on building the mosque in Qeytarieh Park serves as a cover to divert attention from the controversies surrounding a contract for importing electric buses from China. Despite widespread public protests, Zakani remains adamant about constructing the mosque in Qeytarieh Park. Yashar Soltani, who recently made headlines by exposing a land-grabbing case involving Kazem Sediqi, the temporary Friday prayer imam of Tehran, wrote on his Instagram that he will soon inform the public about a '€2 billion contract between the Tehran Municipality and a Chinese company for importing electric buses and vehicles.' He added that 'Zakani needed to divert public attention from the fundamental flaws in this contract, and his stubborn behavior regarding the mosque in Qeytarieh Park has currently achieved that goal.' Alongside the campaign against the destruction of Qeytarieh Park, a poll conducted by the newspaper 'Donya-e-Eqtesad' showed that most participants believe building a mosque is not a priority for the municipality, which should instead address issues related to air pollution, transportation, and traffic in the city. Other issues, such as the ancient nature of the site and the necessity to avoid any destruction of Qeytarieh Park, have been raised in the continued opposition to the mosque's construction, but the Tehran City Council is also siding with Zakani instead of pursuing the matter. In this context, Mehdi Chamran, the head of the Tehran City Council, stated that we should not be influenced by the psychological atmosphere, as the council's resolution regarding mosque construction was approved on December 22, 2004. He emphasized, 'Tehran lacks mosques, and 400 mosques need to be built in the capital, and we must also train prayer-goers.' Sociologist Mohammad Fazeli reacted to Chamran's remarks on social media, stating, 'Mr. Chamran said we should not be influenced by the psychological atmosphere since Tehran lacks mosques and the construction of 400 mosques is on the agenda. For conservatives, no protest is real; from protests over the poor economic situation to mosque construction, everything is psychological. Which protest have they ever considered real and justified? What is real?' Protests against the mosque's construction in this park have continued since last Esfand, with a group of Tehran residents gathering on Tuesday, April 2, coinciding with the Iranian holiday Sizdah Bedar, known as 'Nature Day,' to protest the mosque's construction in this recreational area. In this regard, the 'Iran Watch' website reported that the Tehran Municipality's goal with this action is to create 'Islamic neighborhoods.' According to Iran Watch, for the first time, Hassanzadeh, a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, unveiled the keyword 'Islamic neighborhood' in response to protests several years ago in Iran; a plan that aims to expand the presence of Basij forces in various areas of Tehran, centered around mosques. The site further noted that the mayor of Tehran, after meeting with the commander of the Mohammad Rasoulallah Corps, agreed to this plan, whose main goal was to control neighborhoods, citizens, and suppress protests. In this project, the construction of mosques will enhance the position of Basij forces, and by commercializing parts of the mosques, the budget for these forces will also be secured.