The Revolutionary Guard's Newspaper Reports on the Impact of Mosque Construction in Qeytarieh Park on Women's 'Improper Hijab'

The newspaper affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard has reported on the construction of a mosque in Qeytarieh Park, citing Jawad Saeedi Nejad, the son-in-law and 'executor of Mahmoud Mohtashami Pour's will,' stating that one of the impacts of building the mosque in this park is that women who come to the park must adhere to mandatory hijab. He also mentioned that the construction costs will be covered by the inheritance left by Mohtashami Pour, as there is a perceived lack of Islamic symbols in Qeytarieh Park. In an interview with the 'Javan' newspaper, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, Saeedi Nejad announced that the decision to build the mosque was made on October 9, 2022, with the presence of 14 individuals, including the mayor of Tehran, the director of the Endowments and Charity Affairs of Tehran Province, the head of the Mosque Affairs Center of Tehran, and the CEO of the Real Estate Organization. He rejected criticisms from some heirs, including Fakhr al-Sadat Mohtashami Pour, the wife of Mostafa Tajzadeh, regarding the decision to build the mosque in this park, claiming to be the 'religious and legal' decision-maker regarding the execution of Mahmoud Mohtashami Pour's will. Saeedi Nejad also denied allegations of tree cutting, damage to the archaeological site, and the construction of shops for revenue generation, claiming that the mosque will be built solely at the 'request of the local people.' He defended Alireza Zakani, stating that the opponents are 'a few politically-oriented individuals' against the municipality and asserted that with the construction of the mosque, women who come to the park without hijab must comply with hijab regulations. Amid ongoing controversies and concerns about the destruction of part of Qeytarieh Park and the removal of trees under the pretext of mosque construction, a campaign against this action has gathered nearly 134,000 signatures, but the Tehran municipality is pursuing its plans in the park regardless of the opposition. Alireza Zakani, the mayor of Tehran, announced on Wednesday, April 3, that 'no trees will be cut down and nothing will happen in Qeytarieh Park; an old building is set to be converted into a mosque.' He also accused the media of 'hysteria' and stated, 'This is a fuss over nothing.' Alongside the campaign against the destruction of Qeytarieh Park, a survey conducted by the 'Donya-e-Eqtesad' newspaper indicated that most participants believe that building a mosque is not a priority for the municipality, which should instead address issues related to air pollution, transportation, and traffic in the city. Last week, Mehdi Chamran, the head of the Tehran City Council, also reacted to the ongoing controversies, urging not to be influenced by the psychological atmosphere, as the council's resolution regarding mosque construction was approved on December 22, 2004. He emphasized, 'Tehran lacks mosques, and 400 mosques should be built in the capital, and we must also train prayer-goers.' Protests against the mosque construction in this park have continued since last Esfand, with a group of Tehran residents gathering on Tuesday, April 2, coinciding with the Iranian tradition of Sizdah Bedar, also known as 'Nature Day,' to protest the mosque construction plan in this recreational area. The 'Iran Watch' website reported that the Tehran municipality's goal with this action is to create 'Islamic neighborhoods.' According to Iran Watch, the term 'Islamic neighborhood' was first introduced by a commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Hassan Zadeh, in response to protests several years ago; a plan that focuses on mosques and expands the presence of Basij forces in various areas of Tehran. The site further noted that the mayor of Tehran agreed to this plan, which primarily aims to control neighborhoods, citizens, and suppress protests, after meeting with the commander of 'Al-Quds Corps.' In this project, the construction of mosques will enhance the position of Basij forces, and by commercializing parts of the mosques, the budget for these forces will also be secured. Despite widespread citizen protests, the mayor of Tehran insists on building the mosque in Qeytarieh Park.