{"id":160937,"date":"2026-02-08T20:20:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T16:50:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/?p=160937"},"modified":"2026-02-08T20:20:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T16:50:07","slug":"behzad-miniature-recognized-as-afghan-and-samanu-as-tajik","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/?p=160937","title":{"rendered":"Behzad Miniature Recognized as Afghan and Samanu as Tajik!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Once again, Iran\u2019s heritage has been claimed by its neighbors while national authorities remain silent. The miniature art of Kamal al-Din Behzad\u2014a masterpiece born in the heart of Iran\u2014has been registered internationally under Afghanistan\u2019s name, and Samanu, the ancient sweet of Iran\u2019s Nowruz table, has been listed as a traditional food of Tajikistan. This is no longer mere oversight; it reflects chronic inaction, lack of cultural strategy, and the quiet surrender of Iran\u2019s heritage.<\/strong><\/p>\n

These recent UNESCO decisions underscore how inattentive we have been in protecting our spiritual and cultural treasures. Every Iranian has the right to ask why Iran\u2019s historical and cultural heritage is being registered under other countries\u2019 names, and why officials have not taken action against this clear cultural appropriation.<\/p>\n

Behzad Miniature\u2014An Iranian Treasure\u2014Registered to Afghanistan<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s difficult to know whether to be frustrated by our own naivety or by the assurances of Iran\u2019s cultural heritage officials, promises that ultimately proved ineffective. When news surfaced that Kamal al-Din Behzad\u2019s miniature\u2014a pinnacle of Iranian art\u2014might be registered internationally under Afghanistan\u2019s name, many were stunned. How could a masterpiece by one of Iran\u2019s most celebrated artists be officially recognized solely as Afghan?<\/p>\n

Alireza Izadi, Director General of the Office for Registration of Historical Monuments and Preservation of Intangible and Natural Heritage at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, had confidently told reporters: \u201cIf Afghanistan wants to register a school of art as the \u2018Behzad\/Herat School,\u2019 they must obtain Iran\u2019s consent.\u201d He referenced the rebab instrument case: \u201cWhen we registered the rebab, UNESCO asked us to involve Afghanistan. After negotiations, Afghanistan agreed to joint registration.\u201d<\/p>\n

Izadi added that Iran had already registered the \u201cIranian painting\u201d dossier with UNESCO, and any claim by Afghanistan would require justification of origin and geographical roots.<\/p>\n

Yet, despite these assurances, the unexpected occurred: during the 20th session of UNESCO\u2019s Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee (20 Azar 1404 \/ December 11, 2025), Behzad\u2019s miniature was officially listed under Afghanistan.<\/p>\n

This situation raises urgent questions for Iran\u2019s cultural heritage authorities: what becomes of Iran\u2019s rightful claim to Kamal al-Din Behzad\u2019s legacy? Once again, Iranian cultural heritage has been claimed by a neighboring country, highlighting the consequences of inaction and misplaced trust.<\/p>\n

In reality, this is not a matter of \u201cIran\u2019s share.\u201d Kamal al-Din Behzad\u2019s miniature is entirely Iranian, and the reasons are clear. During Behzad\u2019s lifetime, there was no country called Afghanistan. Herat remained part of Iran until just a couple of centuries ago, and its culture and heritage were fully Iranian. Behzad developed his artistry and innovations in Tabriz, under the guidance of Tabrizi masters, and his tomb is located in Tabriz\u2014further evidence of his Iranian roots.<\/p>\n

Given these facts, how could an Iranian-born artist, whose work reached its peak and immortality far from his birthplace, have his masterpiece internationally registered under Afghanistan instead of Iran?<\/p>\n

It is still unclear how Iran\u2019s cultural heritage authorities responded. Did they protest? Did they request Iran\u2019s rightful recognition? If UNESCO\u2019s justification is based solely on Behzad\u2019s time in Herat, then by the same reasoning, figures like Rumi, Avicenna, or Biruni could be claimed by Turks or Arabs, and even Nowruz could be reassigned. This exposes a clear double standard in UNESCO\u2019s approach.<\/p>\n

Reports suggest that the dossier for Behzad\u2019s miniature has been under consideration at UNESCO for six years. The question remains: what actions have Iran\u2019s officials taken during this time? Some news outlets have described Afghanistan\u2019s registration of Behzad\u2019s miniature as \u201cThe Kabul Theft of Iranian Masters\u201d (Rouydad 24)\u2014a description that seems fitting, as there is little else to call it but the appropriation of Iran\u2019s cultural heritage.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Samanu, Iran\u2019s Traditional Delicacy\u2014Registered to Tajikistan!<\/strong><\/p>\n

While we were still grappling with the shock of Behzad\u2019s miniature being registered under Afghanistan, another UNESCO announcement added to our dismay: Samanu, the traditional sweet of Iran\u2019s Nowruz Haft-Seen table, has been officially registered as a \u201ctraditional food of Tajikistan.\u201d Every Iranian knows Samanu as an essential part of Nowruz, and nearly all have tasted this age-old treat. Yet now it is formally associated with another country\u2014Persian-speaking, yes, but beyond Iran\u2019s borders\u2014without acknowledgment of its Iranian origins.<\/p>\n

This latest registration underscores once again our passivity and lack of initiative in protecting Iran\u2019s cultural heritage. Neighboring nations actively document, register, and promote their cultural elements to strengthen national identity, while we continue to neglect these responsibilities. The resources that Arab countries, Turkey, and Azerbaijan devote to claiming and institutionalizing heritage are vast\u2014far beyond what we invest. Our inaction in this field is inexcusable.<\/p>\n

As one source aptly noted: \u201cTajikistan\u2019s registration of Samanu is not a threat; it is a mirror. A mirror showing that heritage fades without visibility, traditions are forgotten without cultural strategy, rituals are claimed by others without documentation, and a country that possesses rich heritage but does not present it hands over its narrative to competitors. If Iran wishes to preserve its cultural identity globally, it must act, not just rely on historical roots\u2014it must actively recreate, showcase, and globalize its traditions. In today\u2019s competitive cultural world, authenticity alone is not enough; active engagement is essential\u201d (Payam Azerbaijan, 21 Azar 1404 \/ December 12, 2025).<\/p>\n

Simply claiming that Iran is the birthplace of many traditions is insufficient. It must be demonstrated through action and documented proof, ensuring that the cultural heritage of Greater Iran is rightfully registered under Iran\u2019s name on the global stage.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Once again, Iran\u2019s heritage has been claimed by its neighbors while national authorities remain silent. The miniature art of Kamal al-Din Behzad\u2014a masterpiece born in the heart of Iran\u2014has been registered internationally under Afghanistan\u2019s name, and Samanu, the ancient sweet of Iran\u2019s Nowruz table, has been listed as a traditional food of Tajikistan. This is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":160938,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[1470,1471],"class_list":["post-160937","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-zoroastrians","tag-behzad-miniature","tag-samanu"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160937","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=160937"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160937\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/160938"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=160937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=160937"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.amordadnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=160937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}