The first question-and-answer session of the 45th round of Tehran Zoroastrian Association was held on Friday, Ordibehesht 22, 1402 (May 12, 2023), in Iraj Hall. You are reading the report of this meeting here-below, without news coverage and with very little changes.
The public relations of the 45th Zoroastrian Association of Tehran organized this question and answer session. Afshin Namiranian, President of Tehran Zoroastrian Association; Shabahram Sirousi, Treasurer; Farshad Farahifar, Chairman of the Cultural Commission; Babak Shahriari, Chairman of the Financial Commission; Sasan Niknam, Chairman of the Construction and Endowments Commission, Nozar Nozari, Secretary and Member of the Endowments Commission, Mehrdokht Shahriari, Chairman of the Commission Services, Ardeshir Khosroviani, member of the board of directors were in the accountability panel, Farshad Khorshidian and Mehrdad Kaviani, inspectors of the Zoroastrian Association were also present. Faramarz Pourrostami, head of the public relations of Tehran Zoroastrian Association, conducted the meeting.
Pourrostami, the program’s presenter, welcomed the attendees and said: “Today we are having a question and answer session. We have started at 9:34 and I think it will end at 12 noon. We have given you papers to write your questions in. I suggest you write each question separately. If you write several queries at once, it will take time. This is the first point. The second point is that because some questions may be similar, we look here and categorize them so that if they are identical, we will raise them once so that it takes less time. Let me tell you one more thing. I said that you are the real owners of this Association. We will mention all the points in this session; but I request you that sensitive subjects discussed here may please not be said outside this place, because those outside may get a wrong impression, which we want to avoid. One more point when someone is asking a question or a question is being read, or an answer is being given, I request that we all stay quiet and listen; and when our turn comes we can speak out. We will also allow one or two persons to speak each for two three minutes.
The head of the public relations commission first invited the members of the commissions to take their seats. The meeting started at 9:35. Pourrostami: “One of the participants has asked three questions; the first one I will answer because it is easy to answer, and the other two questions will be answered by our colleagues.”
Is the legal commission of the association active? If not, when will it be formed despite the needs of society? Faramarz Pourrostami, Head of Public Relations of Tehran Zoroastrian Association: Currently, we do not have an independent legal commission, but fortunately, we have someone on the board of directors who has studied law and is educated in law, so if a case arises, we will refer to him. During this time, no legal questions have been given to the association. As far as I know, the legal commission was one of the commissions with less activity, in previous cycles. Now, since there is a dispute resolution council, such cases are referred to the Association much less, instead are referred to the dispute resolution council and are investigated there.
Has the Association updated the rental contracts or not? If not why so? There are over eighty residential and commercial units. Sasan Niknam, Chairman of the Building and Endowment Commission: “We have more than 65 residential units, we also have several retail units, almost all of which have their contracts updated, and all these rental contracts may be written in the same way, or according to certain regulations.”
In spite of financial loss to 3% in the schools, is the Association still intending to manage the schools through board of trustees? Why?
Farshad Farahifar, Chairman of the Cultural Commission: After the revolution in the 60s, this matter was followed up by the Zoroastrian Association, and the first payment was made by Ministry of Education, but then later Goshtasb middle schools was also added, and now the schools became six. In the minutes of meeting that was held during Najafi’s term (Mohammad ali Najafi 1368-1376) (the exact year I do not remember) and the visits that followed and the last time that this case was followed up in a visit made by Dr Namiranian, it was decided to receive about 1 billion toman from the Ministry of Education, but in fact we were able to recover only 300 million toman, which when divided by six, each school received 50,000 toman and the rest was not paid to the Association.
This issue is different from the case of the school board of trustees. Regarding the school board of trustees, we have two schools that in 1394 (2015), according to the resolution of the Tehran Province and the Supreme Council, it was suggested that Firouz Bahram and Anoushiravan schools be retained as schools, and their documents were collected in these years and by Schools were given to them. I highlight that because the schools have been under the control of Ministry of Education, the permanent schools were also out of the power of the Board of directors. According to the resolution in the Board of Education and the governing Board, permanent schools must be managed by a board of trustees. This has yet to happen, although if you visit the website of these schools, all these schools are registered as trustee schools in education. According to the situation, if these schools do not become trustees, there will be worse consequences for these schools, especially the Anoushiravan School. The 3% issue is another issue the Board of Directors brought up to see the decision. This issue has its legal process and has nothing to do with whether the schools become trusty run schools.
Afshin Namiranian, president of Tehran Zoroastrian Association: according to the statement of Farshad (Farshad Farahifar, director of the cultural commission), the question itself had a basic problem, i.e., according to the phrase “harming the 3% contract”, the word “financial damaging” is not correct. According to the information and analysis they have, Some of our friends, unfortunately think that the schools being run by board of trustees will affect the 3% contract, but this is not true. We have explained it with different words, but they repeat their own interpretation that “it affect the schools”. I really do not know with what words to say that this will not affect and also that there is no relevance.
A question: Shohada Garden is a suitable place for job and business created for our youth. What are your plans for the Shohada Garden? Pourrostami answered: “I will give a short explanation. You see, Shohada Garden has a lengthy case. Something happened at a time, according to the requirements of that time, and not this time. At that time, they wanted only one Zoroastrian to stay in that garden. It has been about staying. If we look at it now, a contract has been written that is flawed, and there are many flaws, but at that time, it was equal to the requirements of that time. We must see everything in its time and place. Suppose a book was written 1500 years ago. Some things in it are wrong now, but they were not wrong then; if we say now that this is nonsense, no, it is not nonsense, but these writings are not helpful now.
Faramarz Pourrostami: “The things we say here may not convince you, but you should consider them. We did not come to convince you; we came to explain.”
Can the board of directors invite persons other than those approved by the community and Ministry of Interior? (F. Pourrostami: I do not follow your question; what do you mean by “approved by community or approved by the Ministry of Interior?) The questioner: There are some cases that are reviewed in the commission meetings and then they say that we have brought these persons from here or there and with this or that opinion (F.Pourrostami: Where do you mean from? Please express with proof). Questioner: For example, there are various jobs right now, like the cultural commission, financial commission; for the work they do can they benefit from other persons?
F.Pourrostami: “Yes, of course they can. The commissions welcome everybody to come. I am the head of the public relations committee. From here, I invite everyone to come on Thursday at 9 o’clock and give your opinion so we can benefit from your opinion.”
Afshin Namiranyan: “We are ready to answer any question.”
Is the association’s budget transparent, and how much is it for each specified commission? If not, why?
Babak Shahriari, Chairman of the Financial Commission: “Our intention is to make budget allocation for our association, and the reason why this has not been done so far is that the association has faced events, most of which are unpredictable, so we have yet not been able to complete this work, but we are still pursuing this goal so that we can provide this budgeting program next year.”
I have a two and a half years old child. For enrolling in Parvaresh kindergarten I have been told to pay 1.8 million toman for four hours, from 8 to 12. Snacks should be given to the child by parents. Regarding the bus service, my house is on Amirabad Street, and the driver drives the children around the city with their seatbelts on and asks for two and a half million, so we gave up. Under these conditions, it looks as though only the senior home will prosper!
Faramarz Pourrostami: “What you said about the bus service, you should give us in writing so that it can be followed up; the Association will gladly follow up. Regarding the costs, I don’t know what the kindergarten regulations say. If the regulations are not implemented, you are right; please confirm in writing. Regarding your statement: “tied seatbelt” can you please elaborate on what you meant?”
Questioner: The driver says that the Association does not pay him subsidy and he is right about this. He says that “I pick up your child in Amirabad, then I go to Mosala and from there I come to the kindergarten. So Your child is sitting with the seatbelt tied for so long, it naturally becomes unbearable for the child. And, of course, no one is accompanying him. This is not feasible. Now, about the fees, the driver says that because the association does not give subsidies, we get a free rate. We must pay 1.8 million toman for kindergarten fees and 2.5 million for the bus service, just so that our child attends a zoroastrian kindergarten. So, we rather not send him there.
Arastou Sotoudian, one of the audience: “First point, the legal commission’s job is not only to review documents, but to rewrite contracts, follow up on the 3% contract, review checks, and the dispute resolution council is also a part of this commission’s work. In addition to this, it is the work of this commission to review the letters of intent of the places that the association owns; now he is asking you, as the father of one of the students (kindergarten), why is no subsidy given? Because the association does not review and rewrite the contracts, it needs to be implemented according to the letters of intent; we now see that none of our students and members of the Zoroastrian community receive subsidies, and no aid is extended to them. In the 40th cycle, in the legal and cultural commissions we investigated this matter with the help of an experienced lawyer. Wasn’t the 3% cheque cashed? In the 40th cycle we would cash cheques. Now, this amount has added upto 1 billion toman.
Why were checks not cashed in 1988? Third point, what percentage of Zoroastrian schools in Kerman, Yazd, and many other places are managed by Zoroastrians? If the rent is charged, what is the amount? Where is it being spent? They have a letter of intent. Where are these costs paid? We have 80 units; where does the income go? Where is this money spent? Now, if we look at the Shohada Garden contract, where was that contract signed with the Sepah? What is the amount, and where is it being spent?
Afshin Namiranian: Arastou, you know how much I love you, but your series of talks were almost all wrong. As someone who has been an association member for seven or eight years and is proud of this work, I have been sensitive to all the points mentioned. For the shohada garden we have no contract with Sepah, or, where are the letters of intent you mentioned? All the letters of intent are in their right place. These nonspecific statements that you made are of no use other than causing negative impressions. You asked where are the cheques spent; no cheque has yet been drawn! In the 40th cycle if something was done it was because they had funds. Of course, their efforts are appreciated. We got to see where the money came from. I will not explain, but we know that they built and sold land; we know that a contract was written with the Sepah, which may have needed to be revised. Even now, the Sepah insists that we sign that contract, but we don’t.
Farshad Farahifar, head of the cultural commission: “Mr Sotudian, I was in the 41st cycle and bus service was charged. The 41st cycle approved one day for the service to be free. The 41st cycle was before the 40th cycle. f you made the bus service free in the 40th round,, in the 41st the school bus service was free for one day. Dear friends, in our discussions the information exchanged should be complete and accurate. I am a member of the Association for the past 8 years, and for certain cases, I do not have complete information, so I will not say anything. When you come to the commission meeting, I will provide you with the documents, and we will exchange information.”
Please explain about the management of Grand Adorian: How is it managed and also about how decisions are made. Is making decisions the responsibility of Tehran Zoroastrian Association or the Mobed Association? Please separate these two organizations. Second: about the tours interested in visiting Adyan Street, where Adorian plays an important role, do you have a solution for better interaction by the persons who are in charge there?
Farshad Farahifar: I am glad that the questions are cultural and educational. Regarding Adrian Tehran, there have been different management methods in recent years. At one time, the Zoroastrian Association of Tehran managed it; at another time, it was handled differently. This term is following the method used in the previous term. This memorandum has just been signed, and this connection between these two associations has happened. According to the directive, we will have a supervisor who will manage the affairs of Adorian, and will take care of the fire in Adorian so that Adorian will come out of stagnation. It is a detailed talk about tourism, and we talk a lot about this. We have several plans in mind; let these plans reach somewhere, and this management system will be notified to everyone. But now, according to the previous understanding, Adorian is special for co-religionists, and non-religionists must coordinate with the association’s secretariat in advance to visit and come inside Adorian with a written letter and permission provided to them. The security guard has also been told to prevent the entry of unauthorized persons.
Faramarz Pourrostami: “The visitors know us, but we don’t know them. That is why they should be controlled, not because we oppose their entry. We also had visitors from the Qom seminary, and we also had visitors from the embassies. If you look at the website of the Tehran Zoroastrian Association, all the news about this can be found on the website. There were 20 people from the seminary, and they visited for three hours, and Mobedan and we all answered their questions.”
The next question was about the municipality and the contract known as 40 – 20 – 40 and Marker park
Pourrostami: These cases are open and their legal aspects are being studied. Before we get some results we will not be able to answer this question. It has been mentioned here that more than 30 years have passed for some of the contracts. Yes, you are right. 30 years have passed but the contracts that have piled up for 30 years are not going to be solved in three months. Things like, for instance, what is the need for keeping the name “Marker” on the park, after transfer of the document. Please note that these issued do not have clear answers.
Afshin Namiranian: For those who don’t know I am going to tell the facts. In March 1988, due to certain reasons, it was decided that a piece of land belonging to the Iran-Bombay Association in Naeimabad, which covers a vast area, and I cannot say the exact size, but I think it was over 100,000 sqm. According to the contract called the 40 – 20 – 40 contract, by which 40% will be owned by the Association, 20% to be given to the municipality and the other 40% to Yazd University. After the war Yazd university which was a small university and had just started to expand and there were some commitments between our Association and Yazd University. We have nothing to do with the commitments that were for the association, but the university undertakes to do one or two civil works at Yazd University and name it after Markar. Yazd University built a faculty and a laboratory center on that land and named it after Markar. The municipality also undertakes to establish an urban space called Markar. In all these years, what happened is that the board of directors of the association was involved in this issue during all these periods.
The fact is that contrary to the written commitment that the mayor of Yazd once wrote to the governor, that is, we have a written obligation from the mayor to the governor that they will build a park and that the name of this park will always be Markar, and for the reason that you all know, a series of objections And there have always been resistances. In any way, a park was built in a part of Yazd. In all official correspondence, the name of Markar is sometimes mentioned, and despite the numerous approvals of the city council, which emphasize that the name of this park is Markar Park, as I said, for some reason, everyone knows it as “the Grand City Park”. The problem is that the municipality believes that they have fulfilled their obligations, but we believe that they did not, and this is because these obligations need to be clarified. For now, we have not given any land in the name of Yazd municipality, but this discussion is continuing. There was silence for some time, but in these past 2-3 years, we are going back and forth, but we are following up in any case.
Question: Please provide an official and applicable job description of the inspectors of the Association. Why is it said that the inspector does not have the right to participate in some public and private meetings? As far as I know, inspectors can be present in all meetings and can also criticize . We request that you cooperate fully with the inspectors of this term, because they are really active and sincerely want to cooperate.
Faramarz Pourrostami: I will start with the last part. I also like this group, I have always said and written, but on one point I do not agree with him, and that is where their reports are not documented. The inspector’s duties are described in the articles of association that is written according to the trade law, and this is one of the problems of our articles of association. These articles were approved by the Ministry of Interior in the 1960s, nearly 40 years ago, and the seal of the Ministry of Interior is placed under it, but the rest of the associations have their seal under the statute. Because the business law is written for business, we have to adapt it to this Association to fit the Association’s job description. They need to be more suitable for the Association. The section written for the inspector’s duties should be adjusted and updated, and this can only be done if the articles of association are changed and new articles are written. I hope this happens, and this is a long process. In closed meetings inspectors can be present; if there is a case where they have prevented from participating, document it so that we can deal with it. According to the trade law, an inspector is not allowed to criticize. Criticizing and observing are two different things. Inspectors are one of the pillars of the Association and the board of directors is another pillar. We work together and not against each other.
Faramarz Pourrostami: “The one that I am in the picture, we replied in November last year but it was not mentioned that we replied to it. We have problems with our articles of association. Because ours is taken from the business laws. For example, if in a commercial company, the inspector, according to their law, demands a document from the accountant, the accountant will ask what is it needed for. The request should be in writing.
Afshin Namiranian: One important point is to first study every word we hear and see the documents and find out what is right and wrong, and the fact that a person is not a liar does not mean that all his words are valid. The inspectors shared two or three letters. They gave it to the forum, which I explained; of course, I answered one and will answer the other two before the 15th. One of the inspectors wants things and has corresponded. Of course, we are obliged to provide this information to him, but in some cases, morally and ethically, I am not ready to give some of this information. If the general assembly demands, I will report to them. For example, they asked for the list of needy and pensioners. I’m not going to give the list of tenants and how much rent they’re paying; I’m not going to provide that list and information like that. Find out the reason yourself. On Aban 16, I wrote a letter to each of the inspectors and said that any information you want, I will be in my room on Wednesdays and answer your questions with documents. But I will not provide you with a copy of it. Regarding the financial records, one of the respected inspectors went to the accounting office of the association whenever they wanted to during these months because he was the treasurer before and had accounting literacy. From tomorrow morning, the inspectors can see all the association documents.
Faramarz Pourrostami: I have to mention a few points. The first point is that cyberspace is not a safe space. In cyberspace, the article’s author is known, but the reader of the article is not known. The second point: A respected inspector asked me to give him the list of phones because he said he wanted to compare. I told him that we have nothing to hide, and that he should request the public relations commission in writing. I will answer immediately, but they haven’t yet written this request. I stress again: I sincerely request that everything shouldn’t be written in virtual space because this can harm us.
Mahyar Noshirvani, one of the audience, went on the stand: the foundation of every society is trust. Trust is the most important thing. The questions raised here are because more trust is needed. Inspectors are necessary for all places, but every organization has classified documents.
Ardeshir Kyoumarsi said: “I have not been in such a gathering for 42 years. I hope you will come to your senses and remember how you were 42 years ago, how the situation was and is now. Forty-three years ago, I was 17 years old; when I went to the Association’s meeting, the younger ones were told to keep quiet; whatever is said should not leak out, and that any questions should be asked later, privately. But when we did ask privately, we were told that we are under-age and will not understand; and that they cannot tell everything to us; and so leave them and let them do their work. There was always a lot of argument among themselves. We would come out without getting any result. In 1357 (1978) the revolution started. At that time, someone shouted and asked the children of Firouz Bahram, for help and said: The association is having a meeting, and they kicked us out. We all left the school. They went to call the police but the police didn’t come.”
We pushed out the Association members. This was the biggest mistake of our lives. Then, we told the Association: “As Taleghani has said, everything should be managed by a council, including the student center and the Association, and everywhere should be controlled by a council. Everyone should be involved in managing these places and work together. Everyone should know what is going on in these places. Decision making should not be for a special group. But the late Mobed Shahzadi told us that the past should be like a bright torch to lighten our path towards the future. He always told us how Zoroastrians were kept behind the fence of the city gate, but they only let cattle in and did not let Zoroastrians in.
This is how our culture and religion has reached us; what are we doing now? Why did we dismiss the group that were doing their job, prioritizing their programs? Because they were not transparent. Why? Because they didn’t want to give information to a curious 17-year-old me. Why? Because we required solid public relations. In the absence of public relations, the problems are not transferred to the society; the heartaches are not reflected; you don’t thank so and so or praise so and so; that is the best time to speak up; share the problems you are facing and ask for help from the community. The Muslims are proud of us. But what are we doing? After 40 years, we are back to square one; with short answers, like: “It should not be disclosed, should not spread, should not leak out. Please, address the problems before they become big and difficult to solve.
Arastou Sotoudian: Dear Mr. Namiranian, I am addressing you as the association’s president; first, Where in the commercial law is it written that the Association’s president can provide documents to the inspectors at will? If he does this he is acting against the law. All documents must be available to the inspectors at any time and place. We had discussed this with the lawyer in the 40th term of the Association. How is it possible that the contract itself will be questioned.
Regarding Qasr Firouzeh, the contract we signed with the Sepah is a direct contract. This contract is different from other contracts. It also includes the Shohada Garden contract and cannot be separated. Per your statement, we write and add everything in our contract, except for one piece here. This should be followed up with the commission for legal affairs; you say that we do not have a commission for legal affairs and legal matters are referred to a lawyer! The commission for legal affairs is one of the most important and active commissions of the Association. Why is it removed?
About hospitals affiliated to the Zoroastrian Association; in all of them (of course, this is also related to the legal commission), is there a nurse or a Zoroastrian doctor employed in these hospitals? In the past few years, for the Zoroastrians patients who refer there what kind of subsidy do they get? Why don’t you let our community know?
Afshin Namiranian: “Not even one of Mr Sotudian’s statements is correct. His statement about the trade law i will answer at the right time, and in the assembly.”
Mr Pourrostami stated that our association is considered as a charity organization and comes under that sector. But we say that if I am doing anything illegal I will be accountable to the assembly, which is the highest authority, and I will accept whatever they say. The second point that Sotudian addressed, I would recommend that you please do not listen to him. Whatever he said id incorrect. Arastu, from my point of view 3% is not the real contract. The first condition of a contract is that both parties must sign the agreement, which is not signed.
One of the audience said: Because I am familiar with the commercial law, and it is written there that inspectors have the right to access all documents, and if they see a problem, they should not make it public and should report it, and before the report goes to the assembly, they should consult the managers. Their discernment may be wrong, or on the contrary, if what they say is valid, they will stand by their words and not let the assembly approve it.
Ardeshir Kyoumarsi: “I am speaking generally and do not want to go into details. The system should be transparent and show everything and if it cannot they should resign. Our first task is to provide for the future of our children.”
Is the case of Dr. Mortaz still ongoing or not?
Faramarz Pourrostami: On the whole yes, we have come to a conclusion. The result is in our favor and the expenses were paid to us. Ardeshir Khosraviani, member of the board of directors: “Mr Kyoumarsi, Mr Studian and all fellow Zoroastrians present in this gathering. I will speak in short: I stress and promise that we are all one. I only see division in all our meetings. Do you have documents? Why don’t you come to our office and discuss matters with support of documents? We want our community to progress. I am sorry that the community and the Association are facing each other. Let’s talk like brothers and with document.
In order to reopen Yeganegi clinic, can we speak with Zoroastrian doctors and by asking them to buy shares, use heir services.
F.Pourrostami: Yeganegi clinic can become a public entity, but the service commission will answer the rest.
Mehrdokht Shahriyari, head of the service commission: we have requested several times, Zoroastrian doctors to cooperate with us. We have invited them many times to come and open the clinic. Regarding the kindergarten bus service, some issues were raised, “why don’t you give subsidy? This year, our service contract is two billion and 600 million Tomans, small part of it our fellow community members pay. From where should the Association pay the rest? Mr Sotudian: Please take a look at the contract, but for some we have asked members of the community to pay 7 million toman each. Those who informed that they are not able to pay this amount, are referred to the welfare commission and give their reasons, but the subsidy was not paid. But a few donors used to pay. Please keep in mind: from where should the Association pay this amount? If you say that the Association should sell a piece of land and do proper management; you all should cooperate and get the land sold, otherwise how can we pay?
Farmarez Pourrostami: “I will give you an example of where it all goes. Only in 1401 (2021022) (the accounts of which have been completed and closed) the cost of repair was more than 3 billion toman because the building is old. After all the donors of the building only gave the building, not cost of maintenance. We need to spend money from wherever we can get it. It is not “financial discipline” in theory; in practice, it is “financial necessity.”
Sassan, please explain about Parsai Hostel because 8 persons have asked the same question. Sassan Niknam, head of the construction and endowment commission: “This hostel has been closed since 1398 (2019) because the roof of one of the rooms collapsed; fortunately at that time no one was in the room and so no one was injured. The 44th cycle decided, towards the end of 1398 (2019) to close this hostel and not to accept guests any more.
Afshin Namiranian: I am right here announcing that on 30th Ordibehesht, the 80th anniversary of this building will be celebrated. Please attend and we can bring up this issue.”
Sasan Niknam continued: The roof has wooden beams and tiles. At the beginning of the year, a benefactor from India said that he would invest in this hospital, but nothing has happened yet, and with the correspondence that we have had constantly, they say that this work should be done, but no funds have been received yet. At the beginning of the 45th cycle, there was difference of opinion. Some said this place is repairable and we should reconstruct it, but many said this 80-years-old building has no strength and may put our guests in danger, in the coming years. Two months ago, we invited construction experts to give their opinion; they said that this building could not be reconstructed; two weeks ago, we received a map order and the municipality notified that this land with such a building is not clear for them because in their files it shows that they had plans for building a park, so this whole area was very unclear. Finally, towards the end of the last year was changed to zone M which means office/business space, and now we started the phase for rebuilding the hostel in this same place or change the whole plan. In this regard we started our negotiation with the municipality. We informed that we want to demolish the whole building and build it from scrap. From two weeks ago we have started the process. In the absence of a hostel, we have replaced it with a building in the form of an apartment hotel, regarding which we have had some criticisms. We hope that our fellow community members will help generously, in order to complete the hostel.
Babak Shahriari, Chairman of the Financial Commission: “Ms. Kaviani, we are going to build a dormitory for boys and girls this summer, and the cost estimate has been made and will be announced soon so that the benefactors can help.”
Babak Shahriari: Right now, the press is sitting in front of me and writing away. I announce here, and I have said this in the assembly also, that we plan to build these buildings and will give estimate for the expenses. We invite benefactors to contact us and we are at their service. In the next question and answer meeting I will inform you how many benefactors have volunteered.
Someone has written this question: Virtual space is not a safe space. Can the Association have control over this space?
Faramarz Pourrostami: “No, it can’t be. We have no control over Amordad; we have no control over inspectors; we have no control over Hamazour and Barsad. It depends on them, but sometimes the result is an expansion of space! Now, let’s not say much. An atmosphere that is not positive does not help empathy. One of those who just started working with the Association is leaving because of an undocumented article that the author did not know the difference between a proposal and approval. Who will fill his place? I can also write anything and be like by readers. Please do self-controlling.”
In response to one of the questioners, Afshin Namiranian said: “Firouzgar Hospital was never part of the Zoroastrian Association. The land of the Firouzgar Hospital was dedicated to a hospital by the late Arbab Ghoshtasb of Firouzgar, which is unrelated to the Association, and the trustee of the endowment was the Minister of Health at the time. and it was assumed that the Ministry of Health would build a hospital, that is all, and a person selected by the Zoroastrians Association of Tehran would be introduced as a waqf supervisor, but for 40 or so years, that waqf supervisor was never appointed by the Association and the Association has not recorded it either. In the previous cycle we officially appointed a supervisor for endowments and have given him a letter of appointment. In this endowment letter there is no mention of Zoroastrian patients. I see no need to publish the dedication letter on the website. Of course, there is nothing wrong with it; but my dear Ardeshir, come once to the Association’s office and read the dedication letter. It has only explained that if there is going to be recruitment, the staff of Zoroastrian doctors can be prioritized, but in Corona, the reality is that we didn’t have any problems with the consultation. We would admit our patients out of turn in the ICU.
Faramarz Pourrostami: “One of the biggest debtors to this Association is the doctor’s building of Firoozgar Hospital, and we cannot convince them. Because it is a health center, several questions were entered as accusations, which were not read; they only said they were accusation questions.”
Complaints written to the Association, for various reasons, are not dealt with. What is your answer? You say we should refer to higher authorities?
Afshin Namiranian: We have several complaints which are minor and relates to services, which we have resolved. Now-a-days, one of the complaints is about the gravestones of Qasr Firoozeh. The contractor for the stones, who would work under his father (who had made the gravestone for Arbab Keykhosrow Shahrokh) is old and not working as we want him to. And he does not care about money. The good news is that an executive group has been established for Qasr Firoozeh and they are busy managing this issue. I apologize to all who have complaints regarding the gravestones. I promise that this issue will be solved soon.
Regarding endowments and letters of intent, why aren’t they updated?
Faramarz Pourrostami: “Right now, we have letters of intent that were effective at that time but are not effective now, but the association cannot interfere with the letter of intent, and religious opinion is necessary. As a Zoroastrian, not as a member of the association, I believe that many of these letters of intent should be changed and updated, but we should change carefully and cautiously so that we don’t face the same problems again in ten years.”
Jamshid Nikdin, the questioner, said: the endowment is in my name and passed down from my ancestors. Why is this not by the current system? Recently, someone has been wanting to do something in this endowed land. Until this date I haven’t given them permission, but well, if according to the endowment letter it has been transferred to one of the children, and this has been done for 137 years ago.
Namiranian: “This is a personal matter, and the endowment cannot be done.”
The question about nursing home was asked by many in the meeting.
Afshin Namiranian: The nursing home was built based on a letter of intent, and in the 40th cycle the overtaking group decided that the board of trustees continues their work according to the same letter of intent and have same management; there were ups and downs, such as the country’s economic situation and the laws. But it is still operating. It was managed very well during the coronavirus, but for some reason, the number of older adults living there is minimal. They expect their elderly patients to be admitted there, but we cannot do this according to the permit. Now the decision is to be a board of trustees rather than to do administrative work, but we asked that these boards of trustees remain for the time being. They are proposing changes and transformations. To enforce our own rules.”
Farshad Khorshidian, inspector of the Association said: “I will tell my opinion in the assembly, and this will be a question-and-answer session with the Association.”
Mehrdad Kaviani, another inspector of the association, went to the stand and introduced himself as follows: I am Mehrdad Kaviani, legal inspector in the 45th cycle of the Zoroastrian Association of Tehran. We all are working for our community, without any expectations, but at what cost? Is our efforts benefiting the Zoroastrian society, or not? The Association consists of three branches: the general assembly, the board of directors, who manage the association’s affairs. I must say here that the two branches do not have the necessary cooperation with the board of inspectors. Mr Pourrostami tells us to attend the meetings and speak out. Before I became an inspector, as a real person, I made an appointment with Dr Namiranian and the Association, and there I spoke about the menu price at Khosravi hall. I asked on what basis have they increased the rate of the basic menu from 300 thousand tomans to 500 thousand tomans. They said, in the presence of the then legal inspector, that they are giving subsidies to the young people, and it is not profitable for them. I guarantee that all that I have written is true and I swear by my statements. In the presence of the board of directors I said that many families cannot afford and are sending their children off to their new lives without a proper celebration. I will post my price sheet in the group, and you can show it to any expert to see if it corrects or not.
You came to Ahrestan land and sold it legally; you came where the amount is 12 billion tomans, and on the paper signed by four people, the president and the vice president and two others. Sir, this office does not have real estate. Do you follow the legal procedures that have regulations for your purchase? The case that the past inspectors refer to the new inspectors. The purpose of auditors is to inform shareholders and not to report. The report is for the assembly, not the shareholders. If we do not notify, we have sinned and are guilty. We are an independent pillar. In the meeting, they assigned us a task to vote on whether they could be inspectors. We are your representative. If the legislator did not want the inspector, why did he define it? So, he knew that an inspector was necessary.
I’m sorry; I know the work will take a long time. I declare in this place that we have gone through all the humanitarian ways, spoken orally and written. I swear to this Adorian; I never said that I want pensioners’ leaves; otherwise, I am not so low as to come when billions of Tomans are being lost to the association, close my eyes and go and, for example, instead of you giving one million eight hundred to this person or to I’ll tell you why! Even Mr. Sirousi is a witness. I went to get the insurance list to see who was on the insurance list. I returned the list and said I don’t want to see it. As an inspector, I am satisfied with the performance of the respected board of directors and some commissions. They misbehave. They need to be more transparent. Let’s be clear: I have no right to go to accounting as an inspector!
Afshin Namiranian: There is a difference between speaking accurately and imprecisely. This difference is based on the position.
Mr Kaviani introduced himself as the legal inspector of the 45th cycle while he was the legal inspector of the fiscal year 1401 (2022). Our point is that we never voted for having or not having an inspector in the board of directors. The association”s vice president gave his comment: “There was some mention about him in a meeting and it was intended that it would be done.” Namiranian continued: You gave me a letter asking me for the list of pensioners. Say yes or no.
Kaviani: I don’t know. Namiranian: in that letter you asked for the list in writing, and I said I would not give it. legally I am supposed to give it but I won’t. But I can show it to you.
Mehrdokht Shahriari, chairman of the service commission: We must make the right decision in the forum; issues must be raised to be corrected. The decision must be made known to the people. Many right and wrong things are said in the discussion, but we must get the correct conclusion. What comes out as a resolution is valid, different from what is displayed.
