Following the news that the metro tunnel excavation reached 500 meters from Hafezieh and the claim by cultural heritage officials that the project had been halted, a news agency reported, citing cultural heritage activists, that one of the dual metro tunnels has passed under Hafezieh and the second tunnel is currently being excavated. ILNA, affiliated with the government organization 'House of Workers', quoted Amin Tabatabai, director of 'House of Culture Javadan' in Shiraz, stating: 'According to reports received from former members of Shiraz City Council, there is no possibility of stopping the TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) for the metro tunnel, and the excavation of the metro tunnel 500 meters from the tomb of Hafez has not only not been stopped but has continued.' ILNA's report on the continuation of the metro project in Hafezieh comes while the director general of cultural heritage in Shiraz stated during a ceremony commemorating Hafez Day that: 'By order of the Minister of Cultural Heritage and the Governor of Fars, the excavation of the metro tunnel has been halted.' In response to the metro passing under Hafezieh, Tabatabai mentioned that corridors and passageways must be created in this area to provide access for metro passengers to the tomb of Hafez, which means reaching the underlying layers and damaging parts of the thousand-year-old cemetery in Shiraz. According to Tabatabai, the damage caused by seismic vibrations from the metro passing near Hafezieh on the structure of Hafez's tomb and the existing cistern in the portico and the historical cistern outside the portico and Hafez's tomb is a matter that has not yet been examined. ILNA had previously emphasized that this action by the municipality was taken without obtaining the necessary permits from the Fars Governorate and in the absence of approval from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts. The Minister of Cultural Heritage stated that a complaint has been filed with the judiciary regarding the destruction of cultural artifacts in Shiraz. The director general of cultural heritage in Fars denied the advancement of the metro to Hafezieh, and the City Council confirmed the metro station's proximity to Hafez's tomb; the risk of destroying the thousand-year-old cemetery in Shiraz remains.
Shiraz Metro Not Stopped; Tunnel Passes Under Hafezieh
The excavation of the Shiraz metro tunnel has reportedly continued despite claims from cultural heritage officials that it was halted. Amin Tabatabai, a cultural activist, stated that the tunnel has passed under Hafezieh, raising concerns about potential damage to the historic site. This situation highlights ongoing tensions between urban development and cultural preservation in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The excavation of the Shiraz metro tunnel has continued despite claims from cultural heritage officials that it was halted. Concerns have been raised about potential damage to the historic site of Hafezieh, which contains the tomb of the famous Persian poet Hafez.
- The metro tunnel has reportedly passed under Hafezieh, a site of significant cultural heritage.
- There are conflicting reports regarding whether the excavation has been halted or is ongoing.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a rich cultural heritage that is often at risk due to urban development projects. The tomb of Hafez is a national symbol and a UNESCO World Heritage site, making its preservation critical.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%