Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian deliberately avoided mentioning the “Balkhi” title when honoring Abu Ali Sina (Avicenna) at a commemoration ceremony in Hamadan on Tuesday, August 26th.
This approach, also seen in his previous messages, has sparked widespread reactions among Afghan activists who view it as cultural appropriation
On August 23rd, Pezeshkian similarly omitted the Balkhi title when celebrating Ibn Sina’s birthday on his X account.
Iran’s embassy in Kabul followed the same pattern.
This occurs despite Ibn Sina’s birth in Balkh and his family’s roots tracing back to this historic city in present-day Afghanistan.
Najib Baror responded to the controversy, noting that while Ibn Sina was born in Afshana near Bukhara, his parents had Balkhi origins.
He emphasized that these great scholars considered themselves belonging to all humanity, arguing against unnecessary disputes over their legacy.
