Inside the factory that makes flags for Iranians to BURN: Business enjoys a booming trade creating US, UK and Death to Israel banners to be set alight by protesters
- The small Iranian factory produces more than 1.5 million flags each year for the domestic market
- Many of the flags are burned by demonstrators who are opposed to the policies of Britain, the US and Israel
- Other flags which are not burned are produced to show support for Iran or groups such as Hezbollah
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These fascinating photos show inside the largest flag factory in Iran where US, UK and Death to Israel flags are made for burning in protest at Western sanctions.
As tensions with Iran have intensified in recent weeks, the factory is doing a roaring trade in flags for destruction.
Photographer Farhad Babaei was allowed to see the production line which produces hundreds of thousands of flags a year.
An Iranian flag manufacturer is busy creating US and British flags for people to burn during heated demonstrations
The factory is in Khomeini City, about four hours south of Tehran. As well as British and US flags, the manufacturer produces Israeli flags
Many of the flags produced by the factory are used in demonstrations in Tehran to protest against the UK and the West
In the West we have grown used to images of Iranians burning national flags in rallies against the UK, US and Israel.
In Khomeini City, the birthplace of Ayatollah Khomeini, a four hour drive south of Tehran, a building houses a production line.
One flag, a customisation of the national flag of Israel is particularly popular. It features the Star of David with the words ‘Death to Israel’ in Persian alongside it.
As these images show the factory produces US, British and other flags from scratch and not all are destined to be burned.
The Iranian and Hezbollah flags are for hanging in homes or for rallies supporting the government.
One flag, a customisation of the national flag of Israel is particularly popular. It features the Star of David with the words ‘Death to Israel’ in Persian alongside it
Each flag is painstakingly printed on the stone with templates by hand before being hung to dry and later washed
The Diba Parcham Khomeini factory produces flags to order and the owner said a lot of them are made for those who participate in Islamic Republic of Iran demonstrations
Both men and women work inside the factory which employs 42, and it produces nearly 1.5 million square feet of flags a year.
Each flag is painstakingly printed on the stone with templates by hand before being hung to dry and later washed.
The Diba Parcham Khomeini factory produces flags to order and the owner said a lot of them are made for those who participate in Islamic Republic of Iran demonstrations.
He said: ‘They burn them or walk on them because we have economic problems because of the sanctions.
‘Khomeini City is the birthplace of Ayatollah Khomeini, Islamic republic of Iran’s founder, so it is good we make the flags here.’