Roj Bash Kurdistan

[14:22] 12/May/06
[Google Map's missing Gulf angers Iranians]


PNA-Iranians have been complaining that Google Maps now has no name on the body of water they call the Persian Gulf and is also known as the Arabian Gulf.

The issue has stirred controversy in recent years between Iranians and Arabs, who each say their name is the only one that should be used.

A Google representative told the BBC it did not name every place in the world.

He said the company also did not want to take any political stance in response to the angry Iranian reaction.

He was unable to provide an example of a similar case of a missing landmark.


'No historical justification'

The fact that the blue space between Iran and Arab Gulf states is now nameless on Google Maps shows just how heated the issue has become.

Iranians say there is absolutely no historical justification for calling it anything but the Persian Gulf.

But there has been increasing pressure from Arab sources to call it the Arabian Gulf - or at least to use both names.

Several years ago, Iranians launched an internet offensive after National Geographic did just that.

As a result, anyone searching for the Arabian Gulf on Google found a website saying it did not exist.


Still on Google Earth

A number of Iranians have posted on twitter a link to Google Maps with the question: "Where's the Persian Gulf?"

They could look at Google Earth - another interactive world map provided by the internet giant.

It still appears there - as does the alternative, the Arabian Gulf.

at least in Iraq it has historically been called:

"Basra Gulf" - for over a 1000 years

during sumerian/akkadian/babil period it was called the

"south sea" - before anything called persia was even known.


I say we call it either Basra gulf or south sea. Both have historical precedent for common use, and "South Sea" is even older than anything called "persia".

sheytanElKebir wrote:at least in Iraq it has historically been called:

"Basra Gulf" - for over a 1000 years

during sumerian/akkadian/babil period it was called the

"south sea" - before anything called persia was even known.


I say we call it either Basra gulf or south sea. Both have historical precedent for common use, and "South Sea" is even older than anything called "persia".

Well Persians have claimed it has always been Persian gulf. I wouldn't worry too much about Persians, they make an awful lot of fuss, but no action. I mean this in general terms.

jjmuneer wrote:

sheytanElKebir wrote:at least in Iraq it has historically been called:

"Basra Gulf" - for over a 1000 years

during sumerian/akkadian/babil period it was called the

"south sea" - before anything called persia was even known.


I say we call it either Basra gulf or south sea. Both have historical precedent for common use, and "South Sea" is even older than anything called "persia".

Well Persians have claimed it has always been Persian gulf. I wouldn't worry too much about Persians, they make an awful lot of fuss, but no action. I mean this in general terms.

so the sumerians called it "persian gulf"? I'm pretty sure there's plenty of evidence from that period which indicates otherwise. And that is the first WRITTEN RECORD for the name of the gulf.

what is amazing is that the persians in iran are the smallest ethnic group opposed to the others and yet they control and run the whole country and have forced other ethnicity to speak their language , wow. a federal iran is sooooo urgently needed , let everyone run its onw affairs under a federal rule , optionally with the right of self-determination for future.

bit off topic though but yeah my 2 cent thoughts .