Construction by law enforcement authorities has begun in the courtyard and surrounding area of the historic Tonekabon Police Headquarters, a building officially registered as a national heritage site in Iran. This move not only breaches heritage protection laws but also raises public concerns about whether those responsible for enforcing the law are safeguarding cultural heritage or violating it.
Field reports and satellite imagery indicate that the alterations to the site are irreversible, undermining previous plans to convert the building into a museum. The development has drawn a response from the Director General of Mazandaran’s Cultural Heritage Office, yet critical questions remain regarding the future of the site and the unauthorized structure being built on its grounds.
According to ISNA, the construction constitutes a clear violation of national heritage laws and has sparked public debate about the authorities’ role in protecting—or disregarding—the country’s cultural treasures.
ISNA field reports reveal that the Tonekabon police have begun construction within the historic Police Headquarters, erecting a multi-column structure in apparent violation of national heritage laws. Comparisons of satellite images before and after the work confirm irreversible changes to the courtyard and grounds of this heritage site.
The Tonekabon Police Headquarters, dating back to the Pahlavi I era, is located near the historic Cheshmeh Kileh Bridge on Dr. Fatemi Street. It was registered as a national heritage site of Iran on September 24, 1974 (2 Mehr 1353) under registration number 1522. Currently, part of the building houses the local police intelligence and conscription units.
Previously, plans were announced to convert the historic building into a museum. The head of Tonekabon’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Office stated that during a recent visit by the Director General of Cultural Heritage and Handicrafts, together with the mayor, they proposed submitting the building to the Ministry to secure funding for its conversion into a museum.
Dariush Rahim-Mashaei added that with parliamentary support and the necessary funding, the building and its land could be acquired, the police units relocated, and the site transformed into a cultural hub for Tonekabon.
Plans to transform the historic Tonekabon Police Headquarters into a museum have not advanced beyond paper, while in practice, construction has begun within the site and its buffer zone—a move that prompted a reaction from Mazandaran’s Cultural Heritage Director.
Hussein Izadi, the province’s Cultural Heritage Director, told ISNA on Wednesday, 16 Mehr, that he preferred the matter remain out of the media. He added that “the project has been halted, and we are negotiating with the provincial police command to resolve the issue through cooperation.”
Notably, Izadi admitted he was unaware of construction at this scale and stressed that such work should have been conducted under heritage supervision.
This is significant because, under the law, any construction within the grounds or buffer zone of a heritage site violates the regulations of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage. The “grounds” of a site refer to the area defined in its national registration file, while the “buffer zone” is designated to protect the site’s integrity, encompassing its physical, functional, and symbolic elements essential to the survival of the heritage property.
A buffer zone around a historic site refers to the designated area surrounding a building or complex that is protected to ensure its physical and cultural preservation. Any unauthorized construction or alterations within this zone are strictly prohibited.
The Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Handicrafts determine the buffer zone for each historic site. These zones are typically established to preserve the site’s landscape, provide suitable space for visitors, and, most importantly, prevent potential damage to the heritage property.
Under Iran’s Law on the Protection and Restoration of National Monuments, any construction within a heritage buffer zone requires prior approval from the Ministry. This regulation is legally binding and aims to prevent negative impacts on the historical and cultural value of the site.
Several laws reinforce these protections, including the Statute of the Cultural Heritage Organization (1988), the Law on Preservation of National Monuments (1930), and the Islamic Penal Code (1996). Violations can result in one to three years of imprisonment and payment of damages. For instance, Article 564 of the Islamic Penal Code states that anyone who, without permission from the Cultural Heritage Organization and contrary to approved regulations, repairs, alters, renovates, expands, or decorates registered cultural–historical buildings may face six months to two years in prison and be liable for damages.
According to the Director General of Mazandaran Cultural Heritage, it appears that the Tonekabon police carried out construction without obtaining the necessary permits. Operations so far have included setting up the worksite, laying foundations, stockpiling materials and steel, and constructing columns to heights not visible from outside the site’s enclosure.
The scale and foundations of the columns in the ongoing construction at the Tonekabon Police Headquarters suggest that height regulations and other protections for the historic site have been ignored. According to heritage laws, any construction on adjacent properties cannot exceed the roofline of a registered national monument.
Article 11 of the Plan for the Protection and Restoration of Historic–Cultural Fabrics requires municipalities to demolish any unauthorized construction or buildings that violate height limits or other heritage regulations within the buffer zones of historic sites.
ISNA’s inquiries with local authorities indicate a similar approach to that of the Mazandaran Cultural Heritage Director: keeping the matter out of public attention. Nearly two months after the Director claimed the project had been halted, ISNA’s field reports show that construction continues discreetly.
This raises two key concerns. First, when and why did this project evolve into a clear violation of heritage laws? Second, how could an institution tasked with enforcing the law and maintaining order carry out such an action?
Ultimately, pressing questions remain: Will the unauthorized structure be removed and the site restored to its original state? Most importantly, will this historic building—an emblem of Tonekabon’s and Iran’s cultural heritage—be preserved as a lasting legacy for future generations?
