Environmentalist in Miankaleh Prevents Unauthorized Construction Material Removal and is Arrested

According to news sources, the prevention by the Miankaleh environmentalist from unauthorized actions by the head of the Cultural Heritage Department of Golestan Province led to the 'arrest' of the environmentalist. Zeynab Rahimi, an environmental journalist, wrote on social media platform X that the order from the Golestan governor for the 'one-hour arrest' of Mahmoud Taghipour, head of the Miankaleh Wildlife Refuge, and his transfer outside the refuge area on April 23 occurred after this environmentalist stopped the 'unauthorized' removal of construction materials on Ashuradeh Island. ISNA news agency reported on Thursday, April 25, citing the commander of the Environmental Protection Unit, Jamshid Mohabbatkhani, confirmed that the Cultural Heritage Department of Golestan Province intended to enter the protected area of Miankaleh without obtaining permission. The Miankaleh Biosphere Reserve, approximately 70 kilometers long, is located in the central part of the Miankaleh Wetland and southeast of the Caspian Sea. Zeynab Rahimi emphasized in a series of messages on X that 'the governor and the head of the Cultural Heritage of Golestan intend to implement plans in Ashuradeh Island under the guise of tourism, outside the law, on the borders of Mazandaran and Golestan.' This environmental journalist described the 'illegal arrest' of the head of the refuge while performing his duties as 'a disaster and a sign of management chaos in the government and authority.' The commander of the Environmental Protection Unit denied the arrest of the head of the Miankaleh Wildlife Refuge and any 'conflict' between him and the Cultural Heritage staff in an interview with ISNA. Meanwhile, Zeynab Rahimi emphasized the 'short-term arrest' of the head of the Miankaleh Refuge, stating that he was 'transferred by coast guard forces from his place of service to the coast guard station in Bandar Torkaman.' Zeynab Rahimi also reminded in a post on X that 'environmentalist Taghipour had previously been insulted and threatened by the head of the Cultural Heritage of Golestan.' The Miankaleh Peninsula, Gorgan Bay, and Ashuradeh Island are part of the Miankaleh Wildlife Refuge. Despite widespread opposition from experts to the 'Ashuradeh tourism plan' in previous years, Ebrahim Raisi issued an order to begin implementing this plan during his visit to Golestan Province in December 2023. There is ambiguity regarding the 'cancellation' of the agreement for the construction of the Miankaleh petrochemical plant; the head of the Land Affairs Organization stated: 'I have not received any letter.' The agreement for the construction of the Miankaleh petrochemical plant has been canceled. An environmental activist stated: 'Ghalibaf is a supporter of the investor of the Miankaleh project.' The death of wetlands in Iran continues; the 'Hoshilan' wetland is on the verge of complete dryness.