Following the news of the metro station in Shiraz reaching 500 meters from the tomb of Hafez, the Director General of Cultural Heritage in Fars denied the metro's extension to Hafeziyeh. However, a member of the Shiraz City Council confirmed this matter, stating that 'the project was executed without the approval of the Traffic Council and the province.' According to regulations, the metro project was supposed to stop one kilometer from the tomb of Hafez. Nobakht Qaedi, the head of the Urban Development and Transportation Commission of the Shiraz City Council, stated that the plan was supposed to stop between Atalasi Circle and Hafeziyeh and continue with the construction of a tram. Qaedi noted that the new project lacks any studies and is without the approval of the provincial Traffic Council, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, and the national Traffic Council. Reports indicate that upon completion of this project, the thousand-year-old cemetery of Shiraz, a historical water reservoir, and the Hafeziyeh monument will be seriously endangered. Yesterday, the government news agency ILNA reported on the danger of the destruction of the thousand-year-old cemetery in Shiraz, stating, 'The Shiraz municipality has extended the second metro line, which was supposed to stop one kilometer from the tomb of Hafez, to 500 meters from Hafeziyeh.' ILNA emphasized that this action was taken without obtaining the necessary permits from the Fars governorate and without the approval of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts. The destruction of historical and archaeological sites in Shiraz has repeatedly made headlines, with the most significant being the expansion plan of the religious site Shah Cheragh, where in July 2022, an official news agency in Iran reported the expropriation of '35 valuable and national buildings' and the 'demolition' of the historical fabric of Shiraz under the pretext of the 'between the shrines' plan but for the construction of 'hotels, city council halls, and shopping centers.'
Director General of Cultural Heritage in Fars Denies Metro Extension to Hafeziyeh, City Council Confirms
The Director General of Cultural Heritage in Fars denied the metro extension to Hafeziyeh, while a city council member confirmed it, stating it was executed without proper approvals. This situation raises concerns about the preservation of historical sites in Shiraz, particularly the tomb of Hafez.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Shiraz City Council confirms metro extension endangers Hafeziyeh despite Cultural Heritage denial.
- Shiraz City Council announce Hafeziyeh, thousand-year-old cemetery
- Director General of Cultural Heritage in Fars deny metro extension to Hafeziyeh
- ILNA report Shiraz municipality, Hafeziyeh
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The metro extension poses a serious risk to the Hafeziyeh monument and surrounding historical areas.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%