Martyred Leader founded ‘Revolution and Resistance Poetry’ school: Minister
Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Abbas Salehi on Tuesday described martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei as the founder of the "school of Revolution and Resistance Poetry," praising his longstanding engagement with Persian literature and poets.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the inaugural ‘Imam Shahid’ International Poetry Award, Salehi said the late Leader had played a central role in promoting poetry as a pillar of the 1979 Islamic Revolution's cultural identity.
"Our insightful Leader believed that a revolution without poetry is incomplete and lacks a medium to endure," Salehi said, according to the state news agency IRNA.
Salehi said the martyred Leader had developed a deep appreciation for literature from an early age and possessed an extensive knowledge of Persian, Arabic and Turkish, as well as an exceptional memory for poetry. He added that the leader not only wrote poetry himself but also mentored generations of poets through regular meetings, including annual gatherings during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
The minister said Ayatollah Khamenei maintained close ties with prominent Iranian poets from the early years of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, arguing that poetry was essential to preserving the revolution's ideals.
Salehi said the Ministry of Culture's responsibility following the martyred Leader's loss was to safeguard and reinterpret his cultural legacy for new generations.
"Our greatest responsibility is to preserve the legacy of the Martyr Imam and present it in the language of today," he said.
The remarks came during the closing ceremony of the inaugural ‘Imam Shahid’ International Poetry Award, an international literary initiative organized by the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization in cooperation with several Iranian cultural institutions.
According to organizers, the annual competition invites poets, writers and literary figures from around the world to submit works inspired by the late Leader's legacy. Winners receive a commemorative statue symbolizing resilience and growth, while selected honorees are invited to participate in the Arbaeen pilgrimage, one of the world's largest annual religious gatherings that marks the 40th day after Ashura, the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the third Imam of the Shiite Muslims.
The poetry award was established after the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei, whom Iranian officials and state media refer to as the "Martyr Imam" or the "Martyr Leader."
Ayatollah Khamenei was assassinated, alongside some of his family members, on February 28, the first day of the 40-day illegal war of aggression waged by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran.