According to the Public Relations Office of the International Arbaeen Narrative Festival, on the sidelines of the unveiling ceremony of the poster for the Third International Festival, Hojjat al-Islam Dr. Ali Khedavi, Head of the Office of the Supreme Leader’s Representative at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, responded to questions from attending journalists.
He stated that the purpose of holding this festival is to document students’ experiences and their narration of the Arbaeen pilgrimage, adding: “In the second edition, we witnessed a significant leap in students’ participation. Nearly 1,500 works were submitted, which clearly reflects the remarkable enthusiasm and special attention of students to play their role in the Arbaeen march.”
Active and Conscious Presence of Students as Narrators of Arbaeen
Dr. Khedavi emphasized that past media campaigns had broadly and professionally covered the festival, playing a vital role in conveying the political and cultural messages of Arbaeen. He said: “The artistic and media reflections of this event—especially through media productions, digital engagement, and social platforms—have provided a unique opportunity for narration. The active and conscious presence of students as narrators of Arbaeen has not only contributed to raising public awareness but also amplified and effectively disseminated the message of this global gathering internationally.”
Unique Features of the Festival
He underlined that students learn lessons of sacrifice, resistance, service, empathy, and unity of the Islamic world through this journey. He added: “With the help of students, we can document even a small part of this great event. The narratives we receive from Arbaeen are living narratives, and this vitality adds immense value to these records.”
Innovation and Creativity as Essential Requirements
Advising students eager to participate, he said: “In submitting works, students must pay special attention to innovation and creativity. By utilizing artificial intelligence and artistic creativity, they can produce unique and outstanding works. Our aim is not merely technical perfection, but to achieve works rich in content and impact.”
Invitation for Participation and Highlighting Palestine
Dr. Khedavi invited both students and the general public to promote the festival, stating: “Each student acts as a medium in clarifying the great movement of Arbaeen and reflects a unique narrative of its truths.” He added: “One of the key aspects we are focusing on in this edition is the issue of Palestine and Gaza, which will be specially addressed in the submitted works.”
Gaza and the Resistance: The First Issue of the Islamic World
He stressed the importance of Gaza and the resistance as the foremost issue of the Islamic world, saying: “During the Arbaeen pilgrimage, attention must be given to the crimes of the Zionist regime, which has martyred more than 40,000 oppressed and resilient Palestinians. The jihad and resistance of the Palestinian people in the face of these unprecedented massacres—and the support of Western countries for this genocide—must never be forgotten by the free people of the world. Along the path of Arbaeen, which represents the front of Imam Hussein (AS), this issue must be addressed, for Karbala is the path to al-Quds. The culture of resistance, sacrifice, and martyrdom embedded in the hearts of the youth and students of the Islamic world will soon lead them to victory.”
