Hawzah News Agency- The closing ceremony was held on Monday at the Consulate of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Karbala and was attended by senior religious, cultural, and diplomatic figures from Iraq, Iran, and several other countries. The event honored selected winners whose works reflected the spiritual, cultural, and humanitarian dimensions of the Arbaeen pilgrimage.
Among the attendees were Hojatoleslam Mohammad Mehdi Imanipour, head of the Islamic Culture and Communications Organization, along with scholars, intellectuals, artists, and media professionals active in covering and promoting the Arbaeen phenomenon at the international level.
Addressing the ceremony, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini, the representative of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, offered condolences on the anniversary of the passing of Hazrat Zainab (peace be upon her) and emphasized her enduring legacy. “We must learn from Hazrat Zainab (peace be upon her) how to remain firmly attached to guardianship and divine leadership, even in the most difficult circumstances,” he said.
Ayatollah Hosseini described the Arbaeen World Award as a valuable initiative that introduces the Arbaeen pilgrimage to global audiences through the universal language of art and media. Referring to contemporary developments, he said that although Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) was martyred in appearance, he achieved complete victory by realizing the fundamental objective of the Ashura uprising. “The result of that victory is that the message of Imam Hussein is still heard across the world today,” he noted.
He added that despite efforts by global arrogance and Zionist circles to suppress the voice of justice and resistance, the message of Ashura continues to resonate. Referring to recent regional developments, he said that while great figures were lost, the path of resistance remains victorious and alive.
Iran’s ambassador to Iraq, Mohammad Kazem Ale-Sadegh, also addressed the ceremony, expressing appreciation for the organizers of the International Arbaeen World Award. Referring to the anniversary of the martyrdom of General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, he highlighted the deep and enduring ties between the Iranian and Iraqi nations. “Our two peoples share profound cultural, religious, and historical bonds, and the days of Arbaeen are among the most beautiful manifestations of this unity,” he said.
Karbala Governor Nasif al-Khattabi, for his part, described Arbaeen as a unique civilizational and global event. “I consider myself merely a small servant of the pilgrims of the Master of the Martyrs (peace be upon him),” he said, adding that Arbaeen is not limited to Shiites alone. “It is a symbol of authentic Islam and carries a message for all free people of the world.”
Jaafar Safari, head of the Iranian consulate in Karbala, also praised the cooperation of Iranian and Iraqi institutions in organizing the event. He noted that at a time when many international media outlets seek to marginalize or censor coverage of the massive Arbaeen procession, initiatives such as the Arbaeen World Award play a crucial role in countering media blackouts. “These events create valuable opportunities for artists, media professionals, and global audiences to engage with the truth of Arbaeen,” he said.
Hojatoleslam Hosseini Neishabouri, head of the International Propaganda Center and secretary of the Arbaeen World Award, welcomed participants and provided details on the scale of this year’s event. He said more than 35,000 works from 47 countries were submitted to the award’s secretariat, marking a significant increase compared to previous editions. He called on all individuals and institutions working to amplify the message of Arbaeen to contribute to making the 12th edition of the award even more impactful.
The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of the official poster for the 12th Arbaeen World Award, signaling the continuation of efforts to promote the message of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), Ashura, and Arbaeen through creative, artistic, and media-based initiatives on a global scale.
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