Winners of ‘Martyred Imam’ World Poetry Award Honored
The award, held by the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO), features poems by poets from different countries about martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.
Addressing the ceremony, ICRO chief Hojat-ol-Islam Mohammad Mehdi Imanipour said this award was the first event after the funeral of the martyred Leader, and according to predictions, there is a possibility of holding such an event in other countries as well.
He emphasized that the attention the martyred Imam paid to poetry does not need explanation and he believed that message is better conveyed through poetry.
Hojat-ol-Islam Imanipour added that the martyred Leader considered the Persian language and literature to be the beacon of the authority of the Iranian-Islamic civilization, which is a unique view.
“Almost two years ago, I had a trip to Moscow for interfaith dialogue and I had a conversation and meeting with the Russian Archbishop, who said that you should convey your leader's vision in different forms and expand it in different dimensions,” he said.
He stressed that there should be no lack of knowledge about the martyred Imam.
Referring to the number of poems submitted to the Poetry Award, Hojat-ol-Islam Imanipour said that at a press conference a few days ago, the number of poems was 2,000 and today it has reached 3,000 poems, which indicates the widespread reception of this event.
Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, the head of the Saadi Foundation, was another speaker at the ceremony.
He said that the martyred Leader believed that a poet cannot be indifferent to the pain and suffering of the people or witness oppression and remain silent, but rather, he should use the power of influence of his art to confront enemies and oppressors.
Haddad Adel added that the martyred Leader considered poetry essential for human values.
He went on to say that writing poems for the martyred Leader is writing poems for the clear symbol of human values.
Meanwhile, Alireza Qazveh, secretary of the world poetry award, in his speech appreciated the poets, cultural institutions, and those involved in organizing this event, and hailed the widespread reception of Iranian and foreign poets.
He said the number of works received is very large, and there is still the possibility of completing and expanding the collection of poems by Iranian and world poets.
Referring to the publication of the first collection of works of this event, Qazveh said in the first stage, a collection in 10 volumes has been prepared in cooperation with various literary groups.
He added: Various sections of this collection, including Persian, English, Arabic poetry, Afghan poetry, subcontinental poetry, and children's and youth poetry, have been compiled with the participation of a group of poets, researchers, and literary experts.
Seyyed Abbas Salehi, Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, also addressed the ceremony, describing the martyred Leader as “the father of the free people of the world, the Islamic Ummah, and the Iranian nation.
The literary community and poets are more than anyone else grieving the loss of a personality who devoted his life to supporting Islamic and Iranian poetry, literature, and culture, he added.
Salehi expressed his gratitude to the organizers, domestic and foreign guests, and those involved in organizing this cultural event, and stated: “The wise Leader of the Islamic Revolution was one of the few contemporary leaders in the world who had such a deep affinity and love for poetry and literature.”
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