According to the Public Relations Office of the International Arbaeen Narrative Festival, the unveiling ceremony of the poster for the Third International Arbaeen Narrative Festival, dedicated to students of the Islamic world, was held this morning in the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, with the presence of Dr. Alireza Zali, President of the University, Hojjat al-Islam Dr. Ali Khadivi, Representative of the Supreme Leader at the University, and members of the university board.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Hojjat al-Islam Dr. Khadivi emphasized the significance of the Arbaeen pilgrimage and its proper reflection in the media, stating:
“Today, the Arbaeen pilgrimage functions as a powerful medium and a symbol of geopolitical strength. Its correct representation in the media provides a new opportunity for the Islamic world and the Islamic Revolution.”
He further pointed out the unparalleled capacities of the Arbaeen march, adding:
“In recent years, we have witnessed the remarkable increase of youth participation in this unique global event. Pilgrims from diverse countries, religions, and cultures take part in this march, which creates a valuable opportunity for Jihad of Clarification (Jihad al-Tabyin), where lessons of sacrifice, resistance, service, solidarity, and unity within the Islamic world are learned.”
A Distinct Festival This Year
Dr. Khadivi stressed the necessity of documenting spiritual experiences of this great event and noted:
“This is the third consecutive year that Shahid Beheshti University’s Representative Office of the Supreme Leader is organizing this festival. Last year, over 1,450 works were submitted from Islamic countries; 514 were shortlisted, and 37 participants received awards. The remarkable growth in submissions demonstrates the extraordinary enthusiasm of students.”
He continued:
“Based on the jury’s recommendations, changes have been made in the regulations, themes, and categories of this year’s festival. Students can find detailed information on the official website.”
Special Focus on Palestine
The Representative of the Supreme Leader underlined:
“This year, the festival has a special focus on Palestine and Gaza, reflecting on the consequences of the recent tragedies in the Arbaeen march. Accordingly, the festival’s slogan corresponds with this year’s Arbaeen pilgrimage slogan: ‘Karbala, Tariq al-Aqsa.’”
He further stated:
“One of the new sections introduced this year is ‘Artistic Innovations,’ which encourages students to submit creative works, including those produced with artificial intelligence, as a manifestation of the artistic spirit of the Arbaeen epic.”
Dr. Khadivi also appreciated the contributions of media organizations and the social responsibility division of Hamrah Aval mobile operator, noting:
“Last year, Hamrah Aval supported the festival by sending 3 million free SMS messages nationwide, which was highly valuable. This year, with their continued cooperation and the participation of national and international media, we aim to achieve an even stronger communication campaign.”
In conclusion, he emphasized the pivotal role of individuals as active communication agents:
“The presence of social media activists and ‘human media’ as innovative elements of this year’s campaign will certainly enhance youth participation and raise the overall quality of the submitted works.”
