Tehran to Convert 700 Mosques into Crisis Shelters

Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian, the Governor of Tehran, announced that 700 mosques across the capital’s 22 districts have been identified for use in crisis conditions, intended to serve as housing and support centers in the event of “severe scenarios.”

Referring to crisis management plans, he stated that these mosques are to be equipped with resources such as solar panels, generators, and other energy sources, as well as water reserves and facilities for nutrition and emergency shelter, to be utilized during critical times, such as war. According to the Governor of Tehran, this plan has been developed “within the framework of increasing urban preparedness” to face emergency conditions, with the goal of “providing infrastructure for a rapid response during a crisis.” However, he did not provide further details regarding the implementation timeline or the specific methods for fully equipping these mosques.

These remarks come as the lack of secure crisis infrastructure, such as shelters in Iranian cities, has been a recurring concern in recent years. During both the 12-day war with Israel and the current war with the U.S. and Israel, reports indicated that the Islamic Republic had not established standard public shelters for citizens in many cities. Furthermore, during those same conflicts, numerous reports emerged suggesting the frequent use of public spaces such as schools, stadiums, and universities as human shields. The current proposal to shift emergency functions and gatherings to mosques has been raised without any evidence being presented regarding the structural safety of these buildings against airstrikes.