Kerman's historic Christian hospital "Merselin" on the verge of complete destruction

The historic Christian hospital "Merselin" in Kerman is on the verge of complete destruction due to lack of adequate supervision and care.

The "Merselin" Hospital, located in Kerman, is considered one of the most valuable and oldest historical monuments in the city, which was founded by Christian missionaries during the Qajar era and in the early 20th century.

When Christian missionaries arrived in Kerman in 1897 as a military group led by Dr. Dadsan, a British army physician, they decided to establish a hospital. The group included many Christian doctors, nurses, and paramedics who, a few years after their arrival in Kerman, succeeded in obtaining permission from Mozaffar al-Din Shah Qajar to establish a hospital and chose the name "Mersalin" for this hospital. 

The hospital's name, "Merselin," is derived from a Christian word meaning "messengers," and refers to the center's connection with English medical missionaries. The hospital was established to provide medical services to the people of Kerman and the surrounding areas, making it one of the first modern medical centers in southeastern Iran at the time.

The services provided by this hospital to the people at that time included surgery, treatment of infectious diseases, and childbirth. Unfortunately, over time and due to changes in the healthcare system, this hospital was no longer used for medical purposes and fell into disrepair due to lack of funds for its restoration and maintenance.

Due to its age and historical value, Murselin Hospital was registered in the National Monuments of Iran in 1997 with number 1767. Unfortunately, in the past few years, due to a lack of supervision and adequate care, in addition to parts of the hospital gradually being destroyed, it also became a gathering place for homeless people and addicts, and as a result, many problems arose for the people living around this building.

Due to the destruction of parts of the walls and rooms of this hospital, it became easier for people to pass through the hospital building, which caused this historical monument, which is a symbol of the country's cultural heritage, to be on the verge of complete destruction after many years. In recent days, news and photos of the destruction of this historical monument were published, which greatly concerned cultural heritage activists and the people of Kerman.

Morteza Nikroo, head of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Kerman Province, stated in an interview about this historical monument: "The damage to the historical Murselin Hospital was caused by natural erosion and recent rainfall, and no human factor was involved in its destruction."

"But we are ready to take the necessary measures with the Endowment and Charity Organization in the field of tourism of Mursalin Hospital. I request all executive bodies that own historical sites to accompany us in preserving this valuable heritage. I personally request the governor to bring all relevant bodies to work to participate in the restoration and revival of Mursalin Hospital and other historical monuments."

Morteza Nikro's statements come at a time when concerns have increased not only about the condition of the Mursalin Hospital, but also about the condition of other historical monuments in the province, leading cultural heritage activists to call for immediate action to prevent further destruction of historical monuments.