TEHRAN- The first edition of the "Service to Martyrdom" poetry festival, a commemoration of the 40th day after the martyrdom of President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions, is set to take place in Robat Karim, Tehran province, in July with international participation; the organizers have announced. 

During a press conference held in Tehran on Wednesday, Milad Erfanpour, the secretary of the event said that participants from the Arab World, particularly from neighboring Iraq, have already submitted their works to the festival.

The festival, organized by Robat Karim Municipality and the Art Bureau of the Islamic Ideology Dissemination Organization, aims to bring together poets from around the world to express their feelings and thoughts about martyrdom. 

The festival will be held in seven sections and three parts, with over 500 poems already submitted. The deadline for submission is still open. "Our nation has shown that it can overcome even the toughest challenges and create opportunities from crises," Erfanpour emphasized. "We are constantly seeking to utilize the capacity of our literary community to produce creative works."

Erfanpour highlighted that this festival is distinct from other literary events as it is not merely a gathering of artists but a call to action for poets to come together and express their feelings. He noted that many poems were written spontaneously after the martyrdom of President Raisi and his companions.

Awards worth $800, $500, and $300 will be given to international poets, while Iranian poets will receive prizes worth 200 million rials ($360), 150 million rials ($270), and 100 million rials ($180). International guests from various countries, especially from Arab nations, are expected to attend the festival. The evaluation process will be conducted by prominent Iranian poets.

Despite being a memorial event, Erfanpour stressed that the focus of the festival is on themes related to revolutionary ideology, pursued by Haj Qassem Soleimani. He concluded by saying that "Service to Martyrdom" is not just a tribute but also a call to action for poets to express their feelings and thoughts about martyrdom.

The "Service to Martyrdom" poetry festival will be a significant cultural event in Iran, bringing together literary enthusiasts from around the world to pay homage to those who have sacrificed their lives for the nation's cause.

President Ebrahim Raisi was returning from a ceremony to officially open a new dam on the border between Iran and Azerbaijan on May 19 when his helicopter crashed in Varzaqan, northwestern Iran.

The tragic incident claimed the lives of not only the President but also Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and several high-ranking provincial officials, who were among those on board.

The loss of life has sent a wave of grief across Iran, with many government officials and ordinary citizens alike paying tribute to the victims of the crash. 

As news of the tragedy spread, condolences poured in from around the world, with leaders from various countries expressing their sympathy and support for the Iranian government and people. 

SAB/