Oman today_ UNESCO has officially registered the miniature art of Behzad under the name of Afghanistan. The nomination, which was submitted by Afghanistan in 2021, was approved at the 20th session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in India. This decision has sparked reactions in Iran, where officials have emphasized that registering historical schools of art, such as the Herat Behzad School, requires coordination and the consent of all relevant parties.
Behzad, also known as Sultan Muhammad Behzad, was one of the most prominent Iranian painters of the Timurid era, living during the 15th century (9th century AH) and the early 16th century. While the miniature art style he developed has Iranian roots, a significant portion of his artistic work took place in Herat, in present-day Afghanistan.