Dear Sir/Madam:

It has become a trend of falsehood for museums, universities, publications, and the like to refer to medieval Iranian arts and architecture post-Arab Muslim invasion of 7th century up to the Safavid dynasty (1501-1736) -- all of which were a continuation of its ancient civilization (Achaemenid, Seleucid, Parthian and Sasanian dynasties covering 550 BCE-651 CE) – as the nonsensical “Islamic arts and architecture.”

According to an important scholar in the field of historiography, the 14th century Tunisian-born Andalusian historian Ibn Khaldun, in his book entitled The Muqaddimah: An Introduction to History: “Islam had no sciences or crafts, because of the simple conditions and the desert attitude.” Further, Ibn Khaldun states that most scholars, writers, linguistic experts, philosophers, intellectuals and artisans (religious or secular) were non-Arabs (Persians).

The fact that Islam had no arts or architecture prior to Arab Muslim invasion of Sasanian Persian Empire and Byzantine Empire is sufficient to render such categorization as false and baseless. Further, being a Muslim is not tied to a racial or national identity, and as such, labeling the arts and architecture of the peoples of the Middle East such as Iranians as “Islamic” robs them of their heritage and contribution to human civilization. Mislabeling the Iranian arts and architecture as “Islamic” is prejudicial to the Iranian people, who have lived in the Middle East for thousands of years, and have contributed greatly to human civilization starting with the formation of the first world empire, the Achaemenids (550-330 BCE), and first known human civil rights decree, “The Cyrus Cylinder” – an unprecedented document that acknowledged and respected different peoples as well as their identities and beliefs without imposing its own on them!

The ancient arts and architecture of Iran are categorized by respective dynasties, and for its modern works, they are correctly labeled “contemporary” and “post-modern,” as applicable. However, there is a huge injustice and prejudicial behavior on the part of the academia in labeling the works of the Iranian people in the middle ages as a generic and biased term “Islamic.” This behavior appears to be an extension of Western “orientalism” which is a view point no longer valid or acceptable with respect to that region.

Looking at the West, scholars and museums do not refer to medieval Western works as “Christian arts and architecture” despite the fact that majority of the works are religious-based, and completed and paid for by religious individuals or institutions. Instead, Western arts are divided either by periods such as Gothic, Baroque or Renaissance; or by national identities such as French, English, or the like. Further, when dealing with individual medieval Middle Eastern scholars, the academia usually labels them as “Muslim” without any reference to their identities creating assumptions that they were of Arab descent when in fact that is not the case. Additionally, what a person has accomplished in the arts and sciences is irrelevant to religious affiliations or lack thereof, as seen in how Western medieval artisans and scientists are categorized – that is, they are not referred to as a “Christian artists,” but by their national identities. For example, medieval Middle Eastern scholar Omar Khayyam is often only referred to as a “Muslim polymath” which suggests his place of origin is unknown and that he is necessarily a religious person when in fact it is known that he is Iranian and that his writings are critical of religion and the hypocrisy of the clergy.

Overall, it has remained prevalent among the Western media and professional outlets to refer to the entire Middle East as the “Islamic World” or “Muslim World” which is a gross misrepresentation of some 350 million people many of whom are not Arab and/or not Muslim. Today after centuries of Arabization -- post-emergence of Islam -- only about 60% of the Middle East speak Arabic and regard themselves as Arab, all of whom are not of Muslim faith. Although religious domination in a region is irrelevant to the arts of a people or their identities, an accurate statistic does not exist as far as religious affiliations in the Middle East rendering the assumption that majority are Muslim given apostasy is met with harsh retaliation. Finally, the same media and professionals do not refer to the West as the baseless and prejudicial term “Christian World.”

In short, we, the undersigned, respectfully request that all educational institutions and publishers including those affiliated with such organizations stop referring to medieval Iranian arts and architecture as the prejudicial and nonsensical term “Islamic.” Such works should be “Medieval Iranian Arts and Architecture” or categorized by various dynastic eras as in its ancient times. Iran’s heritage and history may not be usurped or redacted.

Respectfully submitted,

ēvakdāt – educational & consultation services on Iran’s affairs
persepolis3D.com - virtual reconstruction of ancient sites
Azadegan Foundation – struggle for democratic change in Iran