Google Maps Image Sparks International Debate In Iran

Some in Iran are calling for the removal of a Star of David that’s still sitting atop the Iran Air headquarters in Tehran, some 30+ years after Iran broke off relations with Israel. The image above shows the Star on the building’s roof in Google Maps; the same image is apparently visible in Google Earth, too.

Spotted via Search Engine Watch, according to Israel’s Ynetnews, Iranian media published the image this past Saturday and reported that there are calls for the star to be removed because of its association with Israel. The two countries were friendly prior to the Iranian revolution in 1979, and it was Israeli engineers who reportedly built the airline’s headquarters. Ynetnews reports that a similar controversy occurred back in August when “hundreds” of Stars of David were seen in the design of a popular structure in Tehran.

If the star is removed from the top of the Iran Air building, it’ll be following a precedent set right here in the US back in 2007. That’s when the US Navy had to redesign a swastika-shaped building in California after people discovered it on Google Maps.

Be sure to also check out our classic compilation 20 Awesome Images Found In Google Maps.

Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land. Staff authors are listed here.

About The Author

Matt McGee

Matt McGee joined Third Door Media as a writer/reporter/editor in September 2008. He served as Editor-In-Chief from January 2013 until his departure in July 2017. He can be found on Twitter at @MattMcGee.