Need for Iran to protect Persian rug treasure from inroads

Iran's carpet has always been a global hallmark of exquisite craftsmanship, due to its timeless elegance which embodies the rich heritage of the country’s cultural legacy.   

However, US sanctions against Iran have significantly impacted the Persian carpet industry, leading to a decline in exports and the emergence of parallel markets in neighboring countries.

Officials are now raising concerns over the unauthorized reproduction of Persian carpet designs by Afghan immigrants, and a surge in counterfeiting and mislabeling of Iranian products abroad.

The influx of Afghan refugees and migrants into Iran is a complex issue with a long history, which is influenced by political events in Afghanistan. The Taliban's return to power in 2021 led to a sudden surge in the number of Afghans seeking refuge in Iran.

The Afghan community in Iran is currently estimated at 8-10 million individuals, which accounts for roughly 10% of the total population of the country. The situation is characterized by some Afghans having temporary residency or work permits, but a large number of them are undocumented.

The influx has placed a strain on Iran's resources, including education, healthcare, and employment, leading to social tensions.

The concentration of immigrants in some areas has led to intense competition over limited employment resources, public services and housing, and in some cases to local tensions and collective discontent.

The lack of transparent and fair immigration policies has complicated the situation, threatening the job security of local workers more than before.

The first and most tangible effect is the weakening of the Iranian workers. Employers who are faced with cheap and undemanding labor prefer to use foreign workers, even with lower quality and skill.

This has caused a decrease in wages, a drop in job standards, and increased pressure on Iranian workers, who have to adjust their demands to compete unequally with immigrants.

Work owners generally prefer migrant workers, simply because undocumented migrants do not seek insurance and legal protections. The situation has put many Iranian workers at risk of being removed from the market and replaced by cheap labor.

Afghan immigrants are now employed in manufacturing industries and factories. In Tehran, Khorasan, Isfahan and Kerman, they have overtaken construction, agriculture and urban services sectors, where their share in some construction projects reaches more than 60 percent.

One of the arguments used by some employers to recruit Afghans in jobs is that Iranians generally refrain from tasks that involve strenuous labor, complex tasks, or high-pressure situations.

Mohsen Bagheri of the Supreme Labor Council dismisses the claim, arguing that no Afghan works in Iranian mines which are one of the most labor-intensive sectors.

Instead, they have overtaken mostly luxury jobs in the upscale northern Tehran, where the high number of Afghans mostly marked by their complexion is ubiquitous.

Some Afghan immigrants have even opened their own shops, practicing tasks which are typical of Iranian artisanship deeply rooted in the country’s culture and history, with techniques and styles passed down through generations.

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Persian carpets have always been highly valued as a symbol of Iranian art both domestically and internationally for their intricate designs, vibrant colors, and the high quality of materials and craftsmanship used in their production.

Prior to the sanctions, Iran was a leading exporter for decades, where Western tourists and others passing through the country would pick up rugs as gifts and take back home.

But the restrictions have made it difficult to export carpets, and with fewer tourists coming and difficulties rising in making international transactions, Iranian rugs are going unsold.

Making things worse, Afghans have been pulling the rug out from under Iran’s traditional carpet weavers, copying them in ways that are sometimes difficult to find out even for experts.

In the underground workshops of Afghanistan, artisans copy Iranian designs and sell rugs in the world markets in the name of Iran. They even make minor changes to Iranian patterns to make possible litigation in international tribunals difficult.

Even inside Iran, Afghan rugs are sometimes passed for Persian carpets – a phenomenon which has only recently got the public worried.

Officials and experts say the real solution is to register Iranian carpets. This includes providing information on the number of patterns, type of fibers, weaving technique, time of production, and the name of the manufacturer to help distinguish genuine Iranian rugs from fake products.

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