Iranian authorities are intensifying efforts to recover several stolen handwritten Qurans and historical coins taken from the Shah Nematollah Vali Museum in Mahan, following a theft that occurred on Thursday, May 25, Iranian news sites report.
According to Asriran, the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Mahan County, Sina Bani Asad, announced that a judicial case was formed to pursue the theft, and necessary judicial orders were issued to identify and arrest the perpetrator or perpetrators. "Identifying and arresting the perpetrator or perpetrators of this theft and returning these historical and valuable artifacts to the museum is the top priority of the Mahaan Prosecutor's Office in handling this case," Bani Asad stated.
He added that the theft was placed under special investigation by judicial and security agencies and was being pursued in a special and priority manner. "The surveillance camera footage is under special review," Bani Asad said. "The face of the main perpetrator of the theft has been identified, but his exact identity has not yet been clarified, and he is still at large."
The manager of the museum and two guards were arrested. "The weakness of protective infrastructure and the lack of updating of security systems have created the grounds for such a theft, and investigations to identify the factors involved in these shortcomings are underway," noted Bani Asad according to Asriran.
He stated that the lack and malfunction of surveillance equipment in the museum was one of the main reasons for the theft. "Any negligence and shortcomings of the responsible organizations in preserving and protecting this precious and valuable collection will also be taken into account," Bani Asad said. "If negligence is established on the part of the responsible institutions in preserving and protecting this historical complex, a complaint will also be filed against them."
On the same day of the theft, representatives of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization of Kerman Province were present at the site to examine and announce the exact number and value of the stolen manuscripts and properties.
The Shah Nematollah Vali Museum, located in the city of Mahan, 30 kilometers east of the center of Kerman Province, houses a collection of historical artifacts. The shrine and tomb of Shah Nematollah Vali are regarded as national heritage in Iran. The area of the tomb complex is 35,000 square meters, and it serves as both a cultural and religious site.
Shah Nematollah Vali, a prominent Iranian mystic and poet, died in 1433 or 1435 CE and was buried in Mahan among a garden. The first building of the tomb complex, which is the dome chamber, was built in 1441 CE during the time of Shah Rukh Timurid. The complex has undergone several expansions, with the last one in 2005 CE. The Endowments Organization is the custodian of this historical site.
Bani Asad emphasized that in this case, merely punishing the perpetrator or perpetrators of the theft will not be sufficient. "The weakness of protective infrastructure and the lack of updating of security systems have created the grounds for such a theft," he stated. Investigations are ongoing to identify the factors involved in these shortcomings.
The preparation of this article relied on a news-analysis system.