Iran burger bar named after Bobby Sands

A burger bar named after hunger striker Bobby Sands might seem a bizarre combination but it’s proved a hit with locals in uptown Tehran.

The tiny Bobby Sands Burger Bar in the affluent suburbs of the Iranian capital features images of the late IRA prisoner taken from a famous Belfast mural dedicated to him.

Sands, who died aged 27 after a 66-day hunger strike, was elected to the House of Commons a month before his death.

The link between Sands and the Tehran fast-food outlet can be explained through Iran’s post-revolutionary government’s historic ties with Sands’ death.

Mohamed, owner of Bobby Sands Burgers, opened his kiosk in 1982 the year after Sands died. “Bobby Sands was a great man and I wanted to honour his memory. In Iran, we think highly of the sacrifice Bobby Sands made for his people. Our goal is to honour him and show respect for his courage.”

The dizzying array of burgers and condiments are juxtaposed with images of Sands and the menu featured a page dedicated to his life and politics.

Following Sands’ death, the Iranian government renamed Winston Churchill Boulevard, the location of the UK embassy in Tehran, Bobby Sands Street. The embassy then moved its entrance to parallel Ferdowsi Street to avoid using Bobby Sands Street as its official address. The street, inaccurately spelled ‘Babbi Sandz’, has since become a tourist attraction.

Sands’ anniversary is commemorated each year in Iran.

© Irish Examiner Ltd. All rights reserved