On February 11, 2026, state‑organised rallies marking the 47th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran featured demonstrators burning a large statue described as “Baal,” a figure based on an ancient Canaanite deity. The effigy, depicted with horns and other symbolic elements, was set on fire in Tehran and other locations as part of mass demonstrations against perceived foreign adversaries.
Participants at the rallies chanted anti‑United States and anti‑Israel slogans, including “Death to Israel” and “Death to America,” while setting fire to the Baal figure. Officials and state media presented the burning as a symbolic rejection of what they called “imperial powers” and corruption. Alongside the Baal effigy, mannequins or images representing the flags or leaders of the United States and Israel were also burned by some protesters.
Organisers framed the use of the Baal image — a deity from ancient Levantine religion — as a way of portraying the United States and Israel as corrupt and satanic in modern political rhetoric. The rallies included other displays, such as symbolic coffins, downed drone wreckage, and demonstrations of military hardware. Iranian leaders participated in or oversaw parts of the demonstrations, using the anniversary as an opportunity to project unity and opposition to foreign influence.
The burning of the Baal statue received international attention online and in media reports due to its dramatic imagery and political messaging. Authorities described the events as a show of national resolve amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
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