The Number of Signatures for the Removal of Zakhani from Tehran Municipality Reaches One Hundred Thousand

The number of signatories for the campaign to remove Alireza Zakhani, the mayor of Tehran, which arose in protest against his support for the construction of a mosque in Qeytarieh Park and a cultural center in Laleh Park, has reached approximately one hundred thousand. The newspaper "Sazandegi" reported on Tuesday, July 9, that with the presence of the mayor in the 14th presidential elections, the issue of construction in the parks and green spaces of the capital was forgotten, but now, after Zakhani's withdrawal from the elections and the election of Masoud Pezeshkian as the "people's choice," this campaign has once again gained attention. Zakhani's statements and rhetoric, which labeled him as one of the "cover" candidates for the presidential elections, faced significant criticism and mockery from social media users during the debates. Part of the text of the "Campaign for the Removal of Zakhani" states: "While urban and national officials have no determination or plan to solve these major environmental problems and material and human losses, the mayor of Tehran has an overwhelming desire for density selling and changing the use of existing green spaces in parks to mosques, hotels, towers, restaurants, amusement parks, and commercial and administrative spaces to generate income from parks." Thousands joined the virtual campaign against the construction of a mosque in Qeytarieh Park. This campaign has called on the Tehran City Council to "lift this heavy responsibility from Zakhani's shoulders" and "place it on the shoulders of those who deserve it." Despite the continuation of this campaign for Zakhani's removal, Alireza Nadali, the spokesperson for the Tehran City Council, said on Tuesday, July 10, in response to this request that "Zakhani will continue his work with power" and that the mentioned campaign "will not affect the work of the council and the Tehran municipality." Mehdi Chamran, the head of the Tehran City Council, also reacted to this campaign by saying, "Do not pay attention to these campaigns; these are not campaigns; many such cases have been created." He added, "Our country's system is not a campaign system. It is based on elections; if we want to make decisions based on campaigns, we should also decide for the presidential election through campaigns, which is illogical. Note how many campaigns were created for Mr. Biden, but he did not step down." The "Ham-Mihan Online" website reported on March 13 last year about "fencing off part of about two thousand square meters of Qeytarieh Park" and warned about the construction of "a shopping center and commercial center under the pretext of a mosque." A few weeks later, Alireza Zakhani, the mayor of Tehran, confirmed the construction of a mosque in this park in response to reporters' questions, claiming that based on his observations, only "ten to fifteen saplings" would be "relocated" in this park. A virtual campaign also emerged against the construction of a mosque in Qeytarieh Park, which saw an increase in signatures after the "numerous" police intervention in the gathering of some opponents of the municipality's plan on April 2. The Tehran municipality's plan to build a cultural center in Laleh Park, which was revealed to the media after the establishment of a container around the perimeter of this park in May, is another controversial decision made by the Tehran municipality during Zakhani's tenure. A member of the Tehran City Council said that construction in Laleh Park has been canceled. However, following protests and controversies over the cutting down of trees in Laleh Park for the construction of a prayer room and cultural center, a member of the council said on June 15 to the ILNA news agency that "it was decided that no construction would take place in Laleh Park, and this issue has been completely canceled."