UAE PM under the eternal name of Persian Gulf

Open editorial - Kourosh Ziabari: According to UN regulations for the standardization of geographical places names, any attempt to alter or distort a historical registered name is denied and branded as “unlawful’. Every city, province, island, river, strait, mountain and gulf enjoys a special, exclusive name and each name narrates a story about the origins and history of its owner.

For example, the phrase “Indian ocean” tells us that the southeastern region of Asia was under the domination of Indian empire historically, or the name “Caspian sea” describes that the main inhabitants of Southern Russian and northern Iran region were the ancient tribe of “Caspi” historically. This shows that the originality and unity of geographical names must be kept and dispersion is not acceptable in this matter.

Let’s give a simple example. My name is Kourosh, but what happens if each of my friends decide to call me by his desired name? Maybe I would get 20 names if I had 20 friends, and clearly it is neither logical nor practical. In an upper level, imagine that we assign two or three names to every country and request of the media and people to call these destinations by all of the assigned names, or that the different states designate their arbitrary name to the neighboring countries. In this case, we would have a world with 200 countries and thousands of names for them. Would be the world livable in such circumstances?

However, I propounded all of the above topics to mention about a critical issue which is offending the international community these days, the project of Persian Gulf’s name distortion. According to the legal and historical evidences, the body water which separates Iran from the Arabian Peninsula is known as Persian Gulf since the ancient eras until now, lacking any synonym or alternative name. This name has been used in historical maps, articles and epilogues for more than 1 million times, a most prominent of them belonging to the Greek Herodotus.

The Greek historian in his book -History of Herodotus, 440 B.C- has repeatedly mentioned the term “Sinus Persicus” which is a Latin form of “Persian Gulf”, meanwhile he emphasized that the “Arabian Gulf” is a historical name which stands for the today’s “Red Sea”. Additionally, we find the term “Persian Gulf” referring to the body water separating the plateau of Persia from the Arabian Peninsula in the books and maps of numerous Arabian voyagers and scholars including Ibn-e-Battuta.

Regarding the history of Persian Empire which dates back to 5000 B.C and known as one of the first civilizations in the world’s booked history, Persian Gulf, Caspian Sea and the Gulf of Iran which is currently referred as the “Gulf of Oman” were all under the sovereignty of Persia, a great monarchy which was consisted of various states such as Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Emirates, Kuwait, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Armenia and Parts of India. All of these states separated from Iran during the past millennium and shaped their own, independent governments, the latest of them was UAE which toke independence from Iran in the year 1971.However, I am not looking to bother you by substantiating the historical and scientific legitimacy of Persian Gulf’s name.

Everybody knows that Persian Gulf is a simple geographical name like the other names for seas, gulfs, rivers and cities in the world and it is impossible to rename it. But it matters to us to find out why the mischievous actions are just being taken to counterfeit the name of “Persian Gulf” among the thousands of geographical names in five continents around the world. Why the name of “Mexican Gulf’ is not under the threat of distortion?

Why is the Persian Gulf region so important that Arab states and Israel agreed to lobby for dominance over and distort its name? How much is the distortion project linked to the political purposes and who is really charging and backing this project from outside? We know well that the western pressure is increasing on Iran over its nuclear program and the US-allies impose media pressure and economic sanctions on the country to halt its nuclear researches and projects, in the other hand they also know that 3 UN members have never signed NPT and currently holding their own nuclear arsenals to deposit military warheads, but no serious steps is taken for their disarmament and stopping them from pursuing genocide weapons.

Some of the Iranian journalists and cultural activists believe that the efforts to alter the name of Persian Gulf in the media and political figure’s speeches are taking place with the goal of enfeebling the wills of Iranian nation about the nuclear program although the west knows that Iran is facing electricity shortage.

Referring to the 2001 edition of world-renowned magazine National Geography, the Iranian media and people claim that it was dubious and skeptical that an American magazine altered the name of Persian Gulf for the first time which was followed by the English and Israeli magazines later. Iranians link the slyness of forging Persian Gulf’s name with the western pressures on Iran to suspend its nuclear programs after it came out that military threats, media black propaganda and economic sanctions are inefficient.

They believe that the Arabian and Western media altering the name of Persian Gulf are abusing of Iranian’s sensitivity about the cultural heritages and historical treasures. But to the contrary, some of the Iranian newspapers and journalists wrote in their reports right after the National Geography scandal that the hostile action of removing the name of Persian Gulf and replacing it with a forged term was not a part of US policies. It was simply a result of Arab states paying bribery to the American media.

They have also published articles revealing the Google Earth managers had some financial affairs with Arab statesmen to change the name of Persian Gulf in their new publishing maps. Eventually, regarding all of the aspects and dimensions described above, altering a historical name would not exclusively lead to the desired political results. It would cause irretrievable damages to the history of science and the efforts of geographers, archaeologists and voyagers.

Alongside all of the world’s historical sites and places, Persian Gulf belongs to the ancient times and must be protected for the next generations. Neglecting the historical facts and ignoring geographical documentations to reach some political purposes is the worst type of altercating with a nation that is notable globally for its peacemaking and cultural background.

Simply Google Earth, Arab states, Bribery, Persian Gulf’s name distortion!

Kourosh Ziabari - OhMyNews: Despite long-standing tradition, there’s a fight among the international community over the name of the Persian Gulf. That’s the body of water that separates Iran from the Arabian Peninsula.

Among the thousands of geographical names around the world, why are mischievous actions being taken to change the name of the Persian Gulf? Why not target the Gulf of Mexico? Why is the Persian Gulf region so important that Arab states and Israel agreed to lobby for a change of name? What political purposes will it serve? Who is backing this endeavor?

We know well that the West is increasing the pressure on Iran over its nuclear program. We know, too, that three UN members have never signed the Nonproliferation Treaty and that they currently have nuclear arsenals. No serious steps are being taken to disarm those states or to stop them from pursuing weapons of mass destruction.

Some Iranian journalists and cultural activists believe that the effort to change the name of the Persian Gulf is taking place with the goal of enfeebling the will of the Iranian nation about the nuclear program even though the West knows that Iran is facing an electricity shortage.

When the National Geographic added “Arabian Gulf” in parentheses after the label “Persian Gulf” in the latest (2004) edition of its Atlas of the World, Iranians were understandably upset.

Iranians link the slyness of changing the name with the West’s desire to pressure Iran to suspend its nuclear program, another tactic to go with the military threats, propaganda in the media and economic sanctions. They believe that the Western media in adopting the change are of their sensitivity toward their cultural heritages and historical treasures.

Some Iranian journalists wrote right after the National Geographic scandal that the hostile action of changing the name had nothing to do with the West’ or the United States’ policies. Rather, it was the work of the Arab states, which bribed the American media.

Some articles reveal that the managers of Google Earth had some financial arrangements with Arab political leaders to change the name in their maps.

But really, altering a historical name will never create the desired political results. It will just cause irretrievable damage to the history of science and the efforts of geographers, archaeologists and voyagers.

Together with all of the world’s historical sites and places, the Persian Gulf’s name must be protected for future generations.

Neglecting tradition, historical facts and records such as Herodotus’ History and Ibn Battuta’s Travels to serve some political purpose is a terrible way for a nation to act, especially the United States, which is known globally for its peacemaking and cultural background.

Iranian government repeatedly announced there is not any compromise about the territorial integrity

 With the powerful leadership of Iranian authorities in the Persian Gulf region, Lesser Tunb, greater Tunb and Abu Mousa will remain inseparable parts of Iran; never to be removed off the country.
By grudgingly misuse of the friendly and peaceful approach of Iranian government toward the issue of triple Islands, state of UAE showed it needs more harsh and cutting reaction despite of being warned so many times from Iran.
Because of the neighborhood considerations and religious brotherhood adjacency, the Iranian governments indulges the Arabic states counterfeiting the name of Persian Gulf and their claim of sovereignty on the Persian islands, but the political analysts say its likely that Tehran takes a serious action against the disturbances.

Protesting Iranian holding up the slogan: “Great Persia including UAE under the flag of Islamic Republic of Iran”

Iran had also regularly condemned the Russian and American intervenes to the controversy and warned against the aftermaths.
The triple islands of Persian Gulf (lesser Tunb, greater Tunb and Abu Mousa) were historically definite parts of Iran under the ownership of Islamic Republic of Iran but the young state of Emirates which is still a small province of Iran, made some tumults about the Iranian administration, being motivated by the western powers such as US and Canada.
Iranian government frequently states strongly that there will be no withdrawal and negligence about the historical rights of Iran, Persian Gulf and triple islands.
Last week, a large crowd of Persian youth and students held up a protesting demonstration in front of the UAE embassy in Tehran, conveying the message of national anger toward the hostile actions, carrying banners with the slogan: “O you the Emirates, a tiny land of 37 years old!!”

 
This expressive cartoon tells the whole story about Persian Gulf renaming

Everyone knows that it is not possible to alter the historical registered names and falsify the recognized geographical facts for the sake of states or political lobbies.
What happens if for example Spain greases the France’s palm in order to forge the name of Andorra and call it Basque anyway? Or what if India recognizes Kashmir as an Indian province unilaterally and without solving its dispute with Pakistan?
And finally, what if Portugal invades Macau with the pretext that Macau is a Portuguese colony again and the role of Chinese government is removed there?
What the UAE and other Arab states are conducting to counterfeit the name of Persian Gulf could be sorted into the same rank.
But this childish effort that seems to be a kid play rather than being a governmental mission is likely to have three main radices:

1- Arabs are being bribed by the White House and UK government to rename the Persian Gulf in the books, public places, media and maps. These investments help the economy of Arab states especially UAE and Qatar to elevate their towers and escalate the hotels. They are not browbeaten by their call of conscience with this immoral action because the American dollars help their finance!

2- White house and European countries are being fortified by Arab states to participate in this treachery project which perfidies the ancient history irretrievably.
They buy the oil barrels of UAE and Qatar with under price discounts and show their gratitude by renaming the Persian Gulf in Google, National Geographic and CNN. This deal is too simple to fuddle anyone!

3- Arabs are searching for their lost and mixed identity this way. The application of Arabic language in Arab countries (except Saudi Arabia) is being overthrown and English is becoming their official language. Furthermore, the new generation of Arab youth has not a clear view of its history, having not any affection with the Arabic national heritage and origin.
Renaming the world’s third largest gulf and sticking its essence with a fabricated patch may help the Arab world to regain their lost dissolving identity and thrust their children some national zeal and the sense of proud.

But it seems that they are choosing the wrong way to struggle. Internationally pilfering the national heritage and pillaging the cultural treasures of other countries will not improve their noxious situation; Arab must seriously look for an innovative solution for their identical problems instead of being united with western states and assisting their impure purposes.

 The modern Iran of 21st century that is best known for its Mevlana, Nezami and Ferdowsi as national poets and Persepolis as a ceremonial building, consists of 30 provinces while Guilan, Tehran, Fars, Khorasan (Balkh) and Isfahan are the most important of them.

As a multi-ethnics country, there are several cultural and lingual tribes located in Iran such as Persians, Turks, Afghans, Arabs, Kurds, and the Azeri therefore many sociology researchers say that it has not been observed such an ethnical diversity in any part of the world. Also there are many active religious minorities in Iran such as Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians who perform their special costumes liberally without any restriction.

If you take a look of the former map of Ancient Persia, you can simply discover the greatness and majesty of Iran that even remains until today. All of these small states that own their exclusive government today such as Turkey, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Armenia, Jordan, Syria, Emirates and Kuwait were the common provinces of Iran during the Achaemenidan, Sassanid and Safavid dynasties. Also the borders of Ancient Persia were spread from the western parts of China to the eastern parts of Egypt and it is not an exaggeration if we claim that Iran has been shaping almost the half of world.

Although Iran is ranked as the 14th largest country of the world today, but its largeness and glory has not been lost even after that humiliating treaties between Qajar dynasty and Russia or Britain were been signed.
Perhaps Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman have their own government, president, king and diplomacy today but you can easily find the evident footsteps of Persian culture inside their daily life, language, religion, economy and politics.

At first, the most predominant language in all of these countries is Persian. Secondly, the strongest economical partner of these governments is Iran and if the Tehran headquarters decide to impose sanctions on the neighbor countries for any reason, there will be no doubt that a shaking crisis will occur in the region.

Also a simple search shows that Persian names are being used in a wide range among the people of neighbor countries.
Besides these, using of Persian and Iran-made merchandise is increasing in the Middle Eastern and Asian countries considerably where the people count on Iran as their motherland and former home.

By taking our mind to the clear historical facts and avoid concentrating on the black propaganda of “mercenary media” who try to falsify truth and reality just for the sake of their lords, it will not be difficult to understand that Iran has more than just 30 provinces so we will try to claim the definite rights of our country as soon as possible and make these provinces back to Iran. All of the countries that have common borders with Persian Gulf and Iranian Sea (that is mistakenly being called Oman Gulf) have a history of less than 200 years and it shows that they were formerly parts of Iran and separated temporarily because of some reasons…