Imam's legacy is in his life, not in deprivation of people
Safir Arjan; Protecting a historical heritage, along with protecting the rights of the people who hosted it.
According to Ambassador Arjan, in the history of every nation, there are places that get their credit not from stones and bricks, but from the people who lived in them. Ambassador Arjan is from these places; A neighborhood where a simple house became the center of fateful events and its name was forever associated with Imam Khomeini (RA). That house was a sign of Imam's simple life, but his greatness did not originate from the house; It was the Imam's thought, faith and character that gave prestige to that house and neighborhood.
It is a national duty to preserve the historical house of the Imam, Hosseinieh Sefir Arjan and other valuable works of that era. However, one must ask, does the protection of these monuments necessarily mean that the life of a residential neighborhood, with its houses and families and its natural needs, remains limited for decades to come? The purpose of this question is not to diminish the sanctity of the Imam, but to return to a way of life in which the rights of the people and the comfort of the people had a high place.
People who hosted with love
In May 1359, the people of Ambassador Arjan received the Imam with love and honor. The crowd of enthusiasts endured the security measures and the change in the calmness of the streets, without seeking any concessions. Imam also saw these efforts. In a meeting with the residents on 28 April of the same year, he said: "I thank the people of this place, Ambassador Arjan, for their hard work, even though I did not serve them." This sentence, in the twelfth volume of Imam's book, gives a clear picture of his humility towards his neighbors.
Earlier, in Nofl Loshatu, the peace of the neighbors was not far from the Imam's eyes. According to Seyyed Ahmad Khomeini, when he left France, they asked the neighbors to apologize for the crowding and disturbing the silence of the village. In another memory, sending flowers and sweets to the neighbors on the occasion of the birth of Hazrat Masih (PBUH) is mentioned. These two narratives, each in a way, tell of a human sensitivity: a man who had the eyes of the world fixed on his home, did not forget the comfort of several families. How can we ignore the difficulties of the neighbors of his historical house in the name of protecting the memory of such a person?
Worrying about design effects is not a new thing. Hujjatul-Islam wal-Muslimeen Seyyed Hasan Imam Safir Arjani, who was the imam of Jama Masjid Safir Arjani during his speech, said in July 2019 in public: "This plan had two real oppressors; One is the dear Imam of Quds Sar and the other is the oppressed people of the ambassador of Arjan. To explain his speech, he mentioned a story about the Imam's emphasis on concluding a lease contract for the protective use of Khosrowshahi Garden; An example of how the necessity of protection should not forget the rights of the owner.
The importance of this protest was that the speaker did not put the dignity of the Imam and the rights of the people against each other. His warning was about the danger that the suffering caused by administrative decisions will be written against the name and memory of Imam; However, there is a fundamental difference between the Imam's life and the rules that were approved years after him.
Houses that last a lifetime
Being north of Tehran, the ambassador of Arjan does not mean that all its residents are rich. For many old families, the paternal home is the most important or only asset; A house where generations have lived. Children grow up, get married and need shelter. Parents may hope to renovate the same property to accommodate their children, but building restrictions make this difficult. The high value of the land on paper does not necessarily mean the financial strength of its elderly owner.
Renovating such a house is not always speculative; Sometimes it is a way to continue the life of the family in the neighborhood where it is rooted. If the restrictions become disproportionate and long, it is no longer just a matter of height and density; The future of children, the deterioration of buildings and the possibility of people staying in the neighborhood are discussed. The people of Sefir Arjan are not the only neighbors of historical monuments; They are part of the living history of this neighborhood.
Protection is essential; Its scope should be measured
The special plan for the organization of Sefir Arjan was approved by the Supreme Council of Urban Planning and Architecture in 1380. The goal of protecting the historical and physical features of the neighborhood is a respectable goal; But the legitimacy of the goal does not justify any limitation in any scope and for any duration. The main question is the limits and proportionality of protection: are all the restrictions envisaged after more than two decades still necessary to the same extent? Should a large part of the residential fabric face similar restrictions in order to protect valuable buildings?
The solution is not the denial of protection or the careless removal of the privacy of works. The field of registered works and other valuable buildings, including Beit Imam, Hosseiniyeh, related historical passage and buildings whose heritage value has been determined, should be carefully identified; Then, the really necessary privacy of each work should be determined based on legal documentation, historical perspective and expert opinion. For other properties, it is possible to foresee appropriate architectural and renovation criteria that both respect the historical appearance and do not make conventional life impossible. The heritage registration of a building and the inclusion of a property within the scope of the urban development plan are two different issues and should not be assumed to be the same without examination.
The historical neighborhood is not a deserted museum. Houses wear out and the needs of generations change. If the old residents and their children are forced to leave to maintain the appearance of the neighborhood, is its social and historical spirit still preserved? Modern experiences of urban conservation also emphasize the connection of heritage with the life and economic and social needs of residents.
Rights and responsibility of decision makers
In Islamic culture, the sanctity of legitimate ownership and the rule of "harmless and harmless" remind us of the need to measure the effects of public decisions on people's lives. Undoubtedly, it is not possible to manage the city and protect the heritage without regulations; But the public interest does not make the authorities unnecessary to comply with the law, proportionality and fairness. If the entire society benefits from the preservation of a national heritage, why should its heavy cost remain mainly on the shoulders of a few families? In cases where the limitation is necessary, its effects on the rights of the owners and the legal and fair methods of compensation should also be examined; Of course, any limitation does not automatically create the right to receive damages.
On the 7th of July 1359, addressing the guards who were in charge of protecting and managing people's movement in Arjan, the Imam emphasized the respectful and servile behavior towards the people: "Note that with the servants of God, those for whom you died, now behave very well, be the behavior of servants." This statement is not a legal ruling about urban development; But the main reminder is moral: even the precious task of protection should not marginalize respect for people.
In this context, it is also appropriate to recall the speech of Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimin Seyyed Hassan Khomeini, the memory of Imam Rahal, who in November 1401 emphasized on listening to people's words in the administration of society. It is good that this principle is also reflected in Ambassador Arjan. The voice of the people is sometimes the voice of a family whose house is worn out, or a father who is looking for a solution for his child's housing; Hearing these voices is respect for the same people who proudly hosted the Imam.
Tehran Municipality should go beyond the implementation of the rules, pursue the identification of difficulties and their legal correction. The City Council, the Supreme Council of Urban Planning and Architecture, the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and other competent authorities must also review the protection limits and social and economic effects of the plan with the participation of experts and representatives of residents. The demand is not disregard for the law; The considered modification of the rules is within the framework of the law.
The Imam is known for his thought, faith, independence, simplicity and respect for people, not for the constant height of the houses around his house. Historical works are valuable, because they are a reminder of this tradition; One should not be so engrossed in preserving the outward appearance of the memory that its spiritual truth is forgotten. Unnecessary restrictions, if continued in the name of the Imam, may link people's suffering to a legacy that is a reminder of human dignity. This is a danger that lovers of that heritage should be more sensitive to than others.
Ambassador Arjan should be preserved; With Bayt and Hosseiniyeh and its historical passages, as well as with the families that have lived there for generations. Careful protection of the works, revision of the scope of the plan and opening the way for appropriate renovation are not conflicting demands, but components of a fair plan. The greatest respect for the Imam's legacy is to show his values in dealing with people. Because Imam's legacy is in his life before it is in the walls.