The Parsi community's battle to save their holy Atash Behrams (fire temples) gathered further heat yesterday, as the arguments shifted from the structural safety point of view to freedom of religion.

On Tuesday, as the community's lawyers challenged the proposed Metro III construction, stating that it violates their right to religious freedom. "Fire is the divine source of spiritual force, and Atash Behram is the highest grade of sacred fires," said Navroz Seervai, one of the lawyers representing the city's Parsis, along with advocates Shyam Mehta and Zerick Dastur.