TEHRAN - Recent reports of a subway tunnel being constructed near the tomb of Persian poet Hafez in Shiraz have sparked concern among cultural heritage enthusiasts and experts, who fear the project could pose a threat to the historical site.

In response to these concerns, the Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, has ordered an investigation into the project.

A delegation led by Mostafa Dehpahlavan, head of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Research Institute, along with several specialized managers and experts, was dispatched to inspect Line 2 of the Shiraz Metro, which passes near the Hafez Tomb complex, ISNA reported.  

The team has been tasked to assess the project under legal requirements and expert opinions before making a final decision.

Following a complaint filed by the Fars province’s cultural heritage department, construction on Phase 2 of the Shiraz Metro has been temporarily halted pending further evaluation.

During the visit, Dehpahlavan criticized the Shiraz Municipality and Shiraz’s urban rail transport organization for not consulting the Ministry of Cultural Heritage before starting construction, as required by law.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the official emphasized that dialogue, adherence to regulations, and expert input are essential to resolving such challenges.

“In developed countries, cultural heritage is not a barrier to development but the very foundation of it. Development that sacrifices a city's historical and cultural heritage is not true development,” Dehpahlavan stated. He added that while the ministry does not oppose metro construction, projects must comply with legal requirements to protect cultural sites.

Dehpahlavan assured that the ministry's priority is to ensure the subway construction does not harm the Hafez Tomb, emphasizing that the poet is a cherished cultural figure, both domestically and internationally.

Meanwhile, Ali Kalantari Mazraeh-No’ head of Shiraz's urban rail transport organization, sought to ease concerns, noting that the subway tunnel, running 26 meters underground and at least 80 meters from the complex’s rawaq (an arcade or portico open on at least one side) and 120 meters from the tomb itself, will not damage the historical site. He also highlighted the potential benefits for the tourism sector in Shiraz.

Construction projects near cultural heritage sites in Iran must receive approval from the ministry’s technical council for urban development, in line with guidelines for protecting historical and cultural assets.

Better known as Hafezieh in Iran, the site is set in a charming orchard. Hafez’s tomb is surmounted by an octagonal dome supported by eight stone columns. The internal side of the tomb bears elaborate tilework.

Hafez poetry soaked in a deep sense of humanity echoes ranges of historical events, biographical descriptions, and details of life in his hometown, Shiraz. He is most famous for his Divan and among the many partial English translations of this work are those by Gertrude Bell and H. Wilberforce Clarke.

AM