Prosecutor's Office Closes Public Donations Account for Ahmadabad Castle

The trustees of Ahmadabad Castle (the burial place of Mohammad Mossadegh, a symbol of the 'National Movement of Iran' and Prime Minister from 1951 to 1953) recently announced in a statement that government officials have closed the bank account designated for the maintenance and restoration of this castle at Bank Melli Iran. The trustees also requested that supporters of Mohammad Mossadegh refrain from depositing any further funds into this account. The mentioned bank account was opened in the name of Mahmoud Mossadegh, the grandson of Mohammad Mossadegh, and Hossein Shah Hosseini, a member of the 'National Front' and a veteran activist of the 'Nationalists'. Radio Farda asked Mr. Shah Hosseini if the news about the closure of the special bank account for the administration of Mohammad Mossadegh's tomb is true. Yes, it has been closed. The reason is clear as to why it was closed. So far, we have not received any response, and we have been invited to come on Wednesday to get answers. Who invited you? What was shown to me was 'the investigator of the second branch of the third district prosecutor's office in Evin'. How did this prosecutor's office get involved in telling the bank to close it? We have no information. None. On Wednesday, it has been arranged that Dr. Mahmoud Mossadegh and I will go to see what the issue is. What has been done with this account so far? The restorations that have been done...? A lot. A building has been constructed. A library has been built. Of course, they did not allow it. The building is completely ready in every respect. Books have also been donated and placed there. Of course, the castle itself incurs a monthly cost of at least between 10 to 15 million tomans for its maintenance. It has four walls on all sides. The walls of this castle are made of mud, and we want to preserve the heritage as well. The building itself is made of adobe and has absorbed moisture. It has an old roof structure. Well, there are trees here, irrigation, cleaning, telephone, gas, and electricity. There is a caretaker who is always there. There is always a worker. Now it is the time when the ditch needs to be dug, the weeds need to be pulled, the branches need to be trimmed, and spraying needs to be done. Cleaning the fallen leaves there... How have these expenses been covered so far? By the people. Just the people. There was an account that we announced in the name of 'the trustees of Ahmadabad Castle for the maintenance of Ahmadabad Castle, interested parties can deposit money into this account at Bank Naderi.' But that account has been closed? They closed this account. There was 12 million tomans in the account that they closed. What has this board of trustees used from Ahmadabad Castle so far? Sometimes, foreign embassies would go through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to get permission; they would visit when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued permission. I or Dr. Mahmoud Khan or one or two of the trustees would tell the caretaker there, and they would go inside the tomb to take a photo or pay their respects and leave. Sometimes, until three years ago, the board of trustees would intervene directly, and the government had allowed that on the 14th of Esfand and the 29th of Ordibehesht, which are the days of the birth and death of the late Mossadegh, they would announce that the castle is open, and people can come to pay their respects and lay flowers. About one thousand to one thousand five hundred people would come, and the government had allowed it, and security personnel were present. Now, however, they ordered two or three months before closing the door that no one should be allowed in, not even the family of the late Mossadegh. Until that time, some people would go on Friday nights to read prayers, and on some holidays, some would go. They would observe it. The government also allowed it. But now, for the past three or four years, the government has not allowed any programs to be held on the 14th of Esfand and the 29th of Ordibehesht there. Will there be a ceremony on the 29th of Ordibehesht this year? This year, we wrote a letter and sent it to the gentlemen. They must give permission. Just as they did not allow the ceremony on the 14th of Esfand 94 for the anniversary of Dr. Mossadegh's death, now it is highly likely that they will not respond regarding the 29th of Ordibehesht, which is Dr. Mossadegh's birthday.