SAEDNEWS: Ayatollah Ahmad Alamolhoda, the Supreme Leader’s representative in Khorasan Razavi, emphasized that Mashhad must retain its religious identity as Imam Reza’s city, warning against turning it into a commercial or recreational hub, and called for national-level decisions to resolve infrastructure and service challenges.
According to Saed News, members of the Article 90 Commission and the Parliamentary Faction on Islamic Rituals, Quran, and Pilgrimage, during their supervisory visit to Khorasan Razavi, met on Saturday with Ayatollah Ahmad Alamolhoda, the Friday Prayer Imam and representative of the Supreme Leader in the province.
Ayatollah Alamolhoda expressed appreciation for the formation of the faction, calling it a valuable and hopeful initiative. He said he expects their activities to address gaps in parliamentary attention to religious values and to foster efforts in promoting virtue and preserving religious principles.
He emphasized Mashhad’s unique position: “Mashhad is not just a city or provincial center; it is a national phenomenon. Unfortunately, so far, the city has been approached only with a provincial mindset, which has hindered major projects and national decisions.”
Noting visitor statistics, he said: “More than seven million foreign pilgrims visit Mashhad annually, potentially reaching ten million. During peak seasons, up to thirty million people enter Mashhad, a number unmatched by any other city in Iran. Yet, Mashhad is still treated as an ordinary city.”
Highlighting infrastructure issues, he noted: “Daily waste collection for pilgrims costs 7,000 to 8,000 tomans, a burden on local residents. Flight tickets from Mashhad to Najaf cost 5.4 million tomans, while Mashhad to Tehran tickets reach 8.5 million tomans. Trains are inadequate, and travelers must use poorly maintained roads.”
He also criticized the incomplete “Harim to Harim” road project, which could have alleviated some of these problems.
Stressing the city’s sacred identity, Alamolhoda said: “Honoring pilgrims is valuable, but honoring Imam Reza is paramount. Mashhad’s identity must remain centered on Imam Reza. Sadly, some aim to turn the city into a recreational and revenue-generating center, which is contrary to his stature.”
He warned that superficial measures cannot preserve this identity and called for national-level decisions and oversight for cultural programs. Mashhad must remain exceptional, and every film, music, or cultural activity should be approved and supervised specifically for the city.
Referring to Imam Reza’s historical isolation, he noted: “Even at his funeral, only rural women were permitted to participate. This historical loneliness persists today, and we have a duty to end it with correct decisions.”
Finally, Alamolhoda urged the Parliamentary Faction on Islamic Rituals to firmly establish Mashhad’s national position, emphasizing that restoring its religious identity will benefit the Razavi shrine, the Iranian people, and the wider Islamic world.
