Tehran residents against a city plan to construct a mosque within a historic park in the north of the Iranian capital have launched a protest, citing environmental concerns over the project.
The residents held a rally on April 1 on the heels of the announcement of the project by Tehran's municipality, with the mayor's office advocating for the construction of mosques in public spaces. Police maintained a significant presence at the protest site, though no disturbances were reported.
The campaign, particularly for the mayor's proposal for a mosque in Qeytarieh Park, has drawn criticism for coming at a time when the city's financial resources could be better allocated toward supporting the underprivileged rather than constructing new religious structures.
"We must continue until the complete cancellation of this project," said Shiva Arasteh, an architect and one of the protesters.
Meanwhile, concerns also have been raised about potential damage to the area's historical significance after the discovery by renowned Iranian archaeologist Seyfollah Kambakhshfard of 350 graves.
An official from the Cultural Heritage Department of Tehran Province announced that fences installed by the municipality around the site where the mosque is to be built had been dismantled, though the news has not been confirmed.
Nasser Amani, a member of the city council, noted two large mosques are already in the same area of the city, while relocating the park's ancient trees was "impractical."
The construction plan has drawn further scrutiny amid revelations last year by Mohammad Abolghassem Doulabi, a senior Iranian cleric, that 50,000 out of 75,000 mosques across the country had closed due to dwindling attendance.