According to the Public Relations Office of the International Arbaeen Narrative Festival, the closing ceremony and awarding of the winners of the First International Arbaeen Narrative Festival was held at Avicenna Hall of the Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, with the presence of Hojjat al-Islam Dr. Ali Khedavi, Head of the Office of the Supreme Leader’s Representative at the University, and Dr. Alireza Zali, President of the University, coinciding with the days of mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (AS).
In his address, Dr. Khedavi referred to the statements of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution regarding the “battle of narratives” in today’s era. He emphasized: “Throughout the history of Islam, we have always witnessed a battle of narratives, just as we see it today. Our enemies have entered the field with the weapons of superstition and rumors, attempting to present a distorted narrative of the Islamic Revolution.”
He added: “Our media must confront this trend by conveying true narratives to society with realism, using the tools of art and media.”
Dr. Khedavi further stated that Arbaeen is “the most unique and largest human, spiritual, and moral gathering in the world,” which seeks to spread compassion and goodwill throughout humanity.
Elaborating on the goals of the festival, he explained: “The Office of the Supreme Leader’s Representative at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences aims, through this festival, to collect people’s narratives of the Arbaeen pilgrimage, to process and reproduce them through artistic and media formats that can influence society.”
In another part of the ceremony, Dr. Zali, President of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, emphasized the multiple dimensions of Arbaeen, saying: “Today, the Arbaeen pilgrimage is not merely a spiritual ritual; it is a significant global event. Cultural diplomacy is of great importance, and Arbaeen represents a clear manifestation of it.”
He stressed: “The Arbaeen pilgrimage is the world’s largest peaceful cultural march and human gathering, unparalleled by any other.”
He added: “In today’s bitter climate of Islamophobia, highlighting the Arbaeen pilgrimage constitutes a powerful response to hostility against Islam.”
During the ceremony, the distinguished artwork “Entry into Sham” by Professor Mohammad Niazi was also unveiled.
The event was attended by officials, medical teams active in Arbaeen health camps in Najaf and Karbala, as well as staff, students, and participants. In appreciation of the tireless efforts of Shahid Beheshti University’s health teams, awards were presented to Ms. Mitra Pakatchi, Mr. Hossein Nikcheh Farahani, and Mr. Mohammad Hassan Vaziri from the University’s Basij Medical Society. Recognition was also given to Haj Rasoul Ayvazadeh, veteran servant of Ahl al-Bayt (AS), and to Mr. Mohammadreza Ahmadi and Mr. Hossein Zakeri from the Arbaeen medical support team, with plaques of appreciation and gifts.
Mr. Hamed Pashaei, representative of the jury panel, highlighted the importance of a dedicated media perspective on the Arbaeen event, stating: “We owe 1,400 years of media debt to the school of Shi’a. In a world saturated with Western technology and entertainment, Arbaeen presents a new model of Mahdavi lifestyle. Amid this unprecedented media assault, Arbaeen is our point of strength.”
He stressed that collecting authentic oral memories from pilgrims of Aba Abdillah (AS) and producing content from people’s narratives are among the least that cultural and artistic figures can do in service to Imam Hussein (AS).
At the end of the program, the jury announced the winners as follows:
1️⃣ Ms. Batoul Zahra Akyol – First Place in Travel Writing
2️⃣ Ms. Khatereh Sheyvandi – Second Place in Travel Writing
3️⃣ Ms. Shakiba Shirdastzadeh – Third Place in Travel Writing
4️⃣ Mr. Mojtaba Khorsandi – First Place in Poetry
5️⃣ Mr. Mohammad Niazi – First Place in Illustration
6️⃣ Mr. Mehdi Khosh – Honorable Mention in Illustration
7️⃣ Ms. Mehri Tehraniyan – Honorable Mention in Photography
8️⃣ Mr. Mehdi Kamasi – Honorable Mention in Short Clip
9️⃣ Mr. Mohammad Meysam Anousheh – Honorable Mention in Short Clip
🔟 Mr. Seyed Mohammad Mahdi Rokni – Honorable Mention in Podcast
1️⃣1️⃣ Ms. Khatereh Sheyvandi – Honorable Mention in Mobile Photography
2️⃣1️⃣ Mr. Mohammad Amin – Honorable Mention in Mobile Photography
The winners received cash prizes along with certificates of appreciation and the festival’s special statuette.
