IRAN: Old trees cut in name of Islamic purity

The daily Iranian newspaper Etemaad today covered a funny but sad story about the cutting down of two centuries-old mulberry trees by authorities under the pretext of fighting local superstitions.

The story comes out of the town of Rezvanshahr, along the Caspian Sea province of Gilan, where lush forests are increasingly destroyed by  urbanization and pollution.

There the local head of an Islamic charity named "Mr. Eshkavari" has decided to tear down a pair of old trees on properties he owns because some people are placing candles and ribbons at them as part of an ancient ritual.

Eshkavari was quoted as saying that "votive offerings to the trees have no justification is Islamic precepts."

Over the last three years the Islamic organization in Gilan already won permission to cut down and uproot five old trees growing in its lands.

A group of Gilan environmentalists wrote an open letter addressing the head of the charity said:

"To fight against superstition, you do not need to cut the old and lovely trees. You need a cultural campaign. The trees have been adored by the people for centuries. The trees are the blessings of God."

-- Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran

Photo: Old trees of the type ordered torn down by an Islamic charity in Iran's Caspian Sea province of Gilan. Credit: Etemaad Daily

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Comments

[Jaff Sassani]

The New Administration Should Treat Iranians as It Does Europeans
Please read this article in the” wide American media” in the address below:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/WE-REQUEST-THAT-THE-NEW-US-by-Jaff-Sassani-081119-28.html

Sincerely,
Jaff Sassani
From the SKDC
Nov-20-2008

[hamid]

Hashem agha, how do you know the trees were going to be used for construction? The story does not say anything about that. Besides why would any one cut down 200 year old trees for any reason? The story is from a paper sactioned by government not from the opposition. Could it be perhaps you are one of those bashful supporters of the Ayattollahs?!!
Is there anything sacred to these barberians? (besides greed and power...)

[Hashem]

I think this article is misleading.

In this specific case the trees are being cut down for a construction project.

The "ancient ritual" was brought up in opposition to that. And in response, Eshkavari basically said that; those rituals are superstitions anyways.

It is ironic to see that those in Iranian who oppose the ayatollahs are as backwards and superstitious as the ayatollahs are.