Some could claim that the building of Sivand dam in the Iranian province of Fars is necessary and has nothing to do with destroying Iran’s history and pre-Islamic monuments.
Many others, however, including 47 organizations in Iran itself, the UNESCO and many scholars and Iranians citizens claim otherwise. The building of this dam in the Pasargad plains can cause irreversible damage to the most valuable treasures and historical monuments in Iran.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has embarked on the final stages of a dam construction in the south of Iran. This will ultimately flood and ruin archaeological sites of Pasargad and Persepolis, the ancient capitals of the Achaemenian Empire. A rich complex site, it has been considered by all writers on antiquity as one of the wonders of the ancient world and thus a part of the cultural heritage of the human race.
The magnificent archaeological remains at pasargad and Persepolis are testament to the industriousness and grandeur of the ancient Persians. However, their loss is not only confined to Iran and her people. It is not only Iranians that would be deprived of the most important part of their cultural identity but it is the world history itself that is in peril.
Among the sites that will be wiped off the face of the earth in the long run lies the tomb of Cyrus the Great, the Achaemenian king and father of the first Declaration of Human Rights. Since the rumours came out, an international comittee has been formed to by all means try to save the archaeological sites of the plains of Pasargad.
Their official website is savepasargad.com
This committee has managed to gather more than 60.000 signatures from around the world, including many scholars and historians and archaeologists in order to make their voice heard by the cultural wing of the UNESCO and United Nations as well as all citizens of the world. You can add your signature.
In Iran itself many concerned and aware citizens gathered both in Tehran and both in Pasargad in order to stop the building of this sinister dam. You can browse some of their pictures.
As an Iranian it would be almost impossible not be very concerned with this outrageous act only comparable with what the Taliban did with the statues of Buddha in Afghanistan, although I personally believe that the damage caused by this dam goes much further as it’s carefully designed to undermine and destroy our idetity as Iranians and Persians.
So far the Islamic regime of Iran has ignored all the petitions to stop the building of the dam, claiming that ‘Sazemane Mirase Farhangi’ (Cultural Heritage Organization) sees no reason to stop its building. It goes without saying that the members of the so called ‘ Sazemane Mirase Farhangi’ consider the pre-Islamic rich history of Iran as something corrupt that needs to be ignored, to say the least.
I strongly recommend that all Iranian watch this debate where several Iranian experts both inside and outside Iran gathered to discuss this issue in detail. It’s very informative and interesting.
The enemies of Iran, long ago, realized that the only way of destroying our culture and identity is from whithin. They activated their plan 30 years ago. We should be united and should come up with effective ways to invalidate their actions. Please help.
Zende bad Iran zamin
Ba sepas.
