ABNA24 - The Director-General of Iran's Public Libraries has confirmed the total destruction of the Seyyed-al-Shohada Public Library, located within the historic Hosseinieh Azam complex in Zanjan. The announcement follows a site visit to assess the extensive damage caused by recent airstrikes.
Tehran (ISNA) - During a visit to the site on Saturday, April 4, Azadeh Nazarboland met with the Governor of Zanjan to assess the catastrophic damage. The library, which served as a vital cultural sanctuary, has been reduced to debris. "This library is entirely destroyed, but with the support of the Board of Trustees and the Provincial Government, it will be restored to the service cycle," Nazarboland stated.
The official highlighted the immense loss of cultural capital, noting that the library housed over 50,000 volumes, including a highly specialized collection of 15,000 books dedicated to the history and philosophy of Imam Hussein (AS)—one of the most unique collections of its kind globally.
"We are pursuing international legal channels to prevent attacks on cultural centers," she added, confirming that a formal grievance has been submitted to the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).
The Governor of Zanjan, Seyed Mohsen Sadeqi, emphasized that the library contained rare manuscripts, out-of-print books, and unique single-edition copies that are now lost or buried under rubble. He called on international media to cover this "cultural crime," asserting that while the physical structure has fallen, the social resilience and cultural identity of the people of Zanjan remain unshakable.
Restoration efforts are set to begin immediately as a testament to the fact that "culture cannot be annihilated by destruction."
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