Rewritten Title: Officials Deny Rumors of Imamzadeh Saleh’s Use as Emergency Shelter, Cite Structural Concerns
Article:
In response to circulating claims, the custodianship of the Imamzadeh Saleh holy shrine has issued a firm denial regarding the site’s alleged use as a personal shelter during past conflicts. The administration has labeled these reports as entirely baseless and politically motivated.
Custodian Rejects Shelter Claims
Hojatoleslam Ehsan Bi-Azar Tehrani, the custodian of the Imamzadeh Saleh shrine, explicitly refuted the rumors. “These rumors are completely false, and no such facility exists within the shrine for such a purpose,” he stated. He emphasized that the claims lack any credible source and should not be trusted by the public.
Structural Assessment and Ongoing Work
Further clarifying the situation, the custodian addressed the building’s actual condition. He explained that the structure of the shrine, particularly its basement, is not only unsuitable for public shelter during emergencies like war, floods, or earthquakes but is itself in need of reinforcement and repair.
He confirmed that construction operations are currently underway, but their sole purpose is the development and safety enhancement of the existing structure. “The goal of these operations is merely to complete and correct the existing structure, and there is no plan to convert it into an emergency shelter,” he added.
Official Statement Condemns “False News”
In an official release, the shrine’s public relations office condemned what it described as “unfounded claims” made by certain adversarial media and a political activist on social media. The statement categorically denied any personal use of the sacred shrine’s basement in any period, attributing the rumors to groups with political agendas aimed at tarnishing the spiritual status of holy sites.
The statement reassured the public that the basement, like other areas of the pilgrimage site, remains open to all respected visitors in accordance with religious and protective guidelines. It concluded by urging citizens and pilgrims to follow news related to the holy site exclusively through official domestic media and the shrine’s own official channels.