Hafez gathering in Stockholm highlights Persian cultural ties
Writers, researchers and cultural figures of Iranian, Afghan, Tajik and Uzbek descent gathered in Stockholm, Sweden to honor Persian poet Hafez and discuss his literary legacy and the role of Persian in connecting communities beyond borders.
The event, titled ‘Hafez at the Summit of Persian Ghazal,’ was held at the Avicenna Hall of the Iranian Embassy to commemorate Hafez of Shiraz. Speakers examined his place in Persian literature, the mystical dimensions of his work and the language’s role in sustaining cultural ties.
Iranian Ambassador to Sweden Hojjatollah Faghani attributed Hafez’s enduring appeal to his blending of love, mysticism, Quranic teachings and linguistic subtlety. He also highlighted the poet’s influence on German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Ataollah Mohajerani, a writer and former Iranian culture minister, discussed the Quran’s influence on Hafez’s poetry and worldview, focusing on the religious and mystical concepts woven into his verses.
Afghan poet and former diplomat Abdolghafour Arezou described Persian as a lasting bond among communities that extends beyond modern political borders.
Minoo Shams, an Iranian children’s literature writer based in Sweden, stressed the need to introduce the younger generation of Iranian migrants to Persian poetry and literature to help preserve their cultural heritage.
The program also featured poetry readings by writers from Afghanistan, Tajikistan and other Persian-speaking communities. Participants closed the gathering with discussions on Hafez’s enduring legacy and literature’s role in maintaining cultural connections among Persian speakers.