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According to the Union for Integral Azerbaijan, hundreds of thousands of Azeris living in Iran gathered around the Babak castle outside the town of Kalaybar to mark the birthday anniversary of Azerbaijan's national hero, Babak, who fought the invading Arab Caliphs in the late 8th and early 9th centuries. Until recently, the site was one of the tourist sights in Iran. However, people have come here to commemorate Babak over the past few years.

This year's commemorations have been organized on the top level, as people were amusing themselves under open air, singing and dancing with recreation and shopping available.

Observers evaluate such commemorations as an improvement of national cognition of Azeris dwelling in Iran.*