Response from Judicial Authority in Kermanshah Province Following the Destruction of a Historic Hospital; It Had Become a 'Gathering Place for Addicts'

In response to the reactions following the demolition of the historic 'Messiah' hospital in Kermanshah, the city prosecutor provided explanations stating that this action was 'legal' and the reason for it was the building being 'abandoned' and having become a 'gathering place for addicts'. According to ILNA news agency, Hamidreza Karimi, the public and revolutionary prosecutor of Kermanshah province, said that despite the national registration of this hospital as a cultural heritage site in 2003, 'no specific action' had been taken for the restoration and maintenance of this building since then, and according to the latest ruling of the Administrative Justice Court, this property has been removed from national registration. This judicial official continued that following a lawsuit filed by the owner in the Administrative Justice Court in 2009, who is a member of a religious minority, a ruling was issued on April 28, 2009, annulling the cultural heritage registration of this hospital. He stated that the head of the cultural heritage organization had sent a letter indicating that they would not defy the court's ruling and would not prevent the execution of the order. Karimi added that in the location of this building, which he described as 'abandoned and partially looted', two fires had occurred, and ultimately it had 'turned into a gathering place for addicts'. The public and revolutionary prosecutor of Kermanshah province also stated that the demolition of this hospital 'was carried out with the permission of the municipality and according to legal rulings and documents'. Previously, the director of the cultural heritage organization of Kermanshah province reacted to the demolition of this hospital, stating that there had been a 'challenge' with the owner regarding the protection of this building, which had 'become a place for addicts', and added that 'we will file a complaint against the owner of the building and those responsible for the demolition of the Messiah hospital in Kermanshah.' According to the government news agency 'Mehr', Daryoush Farmani stated that the demolition permit for this historic building was issued by the municipality without consulting the cultural heritage organization, and despite the objections of the cultural heritage officials, 'on the morning of Wednesday, May 23, taking advantage of the nationwide holiday, he used a bulldozer to demolish the building.' The historic 'Messiah' hospital in Kermanshah, which was demolished on Wednesday, May 23, was built in 1916 and was considered the second historic hospital in Iran. The destruction of the historical fabric of Iranian cities by municipalities has been criticized by media and experts in recent years. The development of highways and roads in the historic cities of Shiraz and Isfahan in recent years has led to the destruction of the historical fabric of these cities, and extensive construction in Mashhad and Yazd has also obliterated a large part of the historical fabric of these cities.