Oldest mosque in Shiraz exposed to damage
The Atiq Mosque is considered to be the oldest mosque in the city of Shiraz in Fars Province. It is also among the most beautiful mosques in Iran.
Also known as Adineh (Friday) Mosque, Atiq Mosque is believed to have been an important and strategic center for formulating plans and making political, social and cultural decisions in the past. It also had a special status among the people of Shiraz, ISNA reported.
The 9th-century mosque was built during the reign of Yaqub Laith Saffari, the founder of the Saffarid Empire. It was rebuilt, restored, and expanded various times thereafter. The mosque is located east of Shah Cheraq Shrine.
However, the destruction of the structure around this mosque and surrounding spaces under the guise of development projects have exposed it to serious damage.
Last year, a team of experienced restorers and cultural heritage experts carried out a restoration project on parts of the tilework on the entrance gate of the mosque.
Shiraz is home to some of the country’s most magnificent buildings and sights. It also attracts a large number of foreign and domestic tourists every year.
Shiraz was one of the most important cities in the medieval Islamic world, and was the Iranian capital during the Zand Dynasty, from 1751 to 1794 CE.