Ahmadinejad asked to save academic city

• Tweet

TEHRAN, April 30 (UPI) -- The Khuzestan Cultural Heritage Lovers Society says Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad should save the academic city of Jondishapur.

The Tehran Times said Thursday the heritage group asked Ahmadinejad in a recent letter to stop farming efforts thought to be threatening Iran's first academic city.

The land under which Jondishapur, which was founded in 271 in western Iran, is buried has been the focus of farming efforts during the last nine years that have already resulted in numerous ancient mounds being flattened.

"Neither sentence nor expression can describe the catastrophe under way at Jondishapur, the academic pride of ancient Iran," the Khuzestan group said in its letter to the president.

"For what crime is Jondishapur being punished? Is this not the city that recalls our victory against the Roman Empire, in which we take pride? Is this not the city that was one of the greatest scientific centers of the world during ancient times? Is this not the city that played an indisputable role in the development of Islamic civilization?"

The Tehran Times said the society asked Ahmadinejad to create a rescue committee to protect the historic site and prevent the farmers' contract regarding the land's use from being extended.