Khamenei Calls Shiraz Art Festival 'Trivial'; Users: We Will Hold It More Magnificently in 'Post-Islamic Republic Iran'

Statements by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic criticizing cultural activities during the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi and labeling the Shiraz Art Festival as 'trivial' sparked widespread reactions on social media, with users describing him as the leader of an 'occupying' regime, asserting that after his departure, the Shiraz Art Festival will be held annually again. Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, commented on cultural actions during the Pahlavi era, saying: 'Those who thought they could turn Shiraz from a sanctuary of the Ahl al-Bayt and a center of religion and faith into a point of corruption with trivial actions like the Shiraz Art Festival were mistaken.' In contrast, a group of social media users regarded the Shiraz Art Festival as 'one of the greatest events and movements in contemporary artistic and cultural history' and expressed hope that 'in post-Islamic Republic Iran, we will hold this festival more magnificently.' Mahmoud Abtahi, a political activist and member of the Iran Novin Party, reacted to the Supreme Leader's remarks on social media platform X, writing: 'When the Iranian people reclaim their homeland from Khamenei's occupying regime, the Shiraz Art Festival will resume with the annual presence of the best artists from Iran and the world.' Political activist and philosophy researcher Mohammad Izadi quoted a verse from Hafez, the famous Shirazi poet, stating: 'Hafez has already answered Khamenei's cursed remarks about the Shiraz Art Festival: 'Prepare the feast and tell the preacher to see my gathering and leave the pulpit.' Journalist Hediyeh Kimiai emphasized that 'Khamenei hates Iranian culture and art,' saying: 'He suffers from seeing that the Islamic community he envisioned, constructed through bullets, prisons, and arrests, continues to seek its Iranian identity. This is why he considers the Shiraz Art Festival, which introduced Iranian culture to the world, trivial and corrupt.' Behdad Mehrani, a contemporary history researcher and political activist, recalled previous statements by some supporters of the 1979 Revolution, referencing remarks by leftist writer Gholamhossein Saedi, who said about the time of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi: 'Every day in this country, they held parties, the Shiraz Art Festival, ridiculous entertainment...' He emphasized that 'after all these years, Khamenei has just now reached Saedi's words.' Another user on X pointed out the 'hypocrisy' of the Supreme Leader and his proxy forces, sharing videos and stating that 'when Khamenei and Sinwar went to seclusion, they did other things'; as in one image, 'the terrorist Sinwar' was seen 'taking a guitar to his underground hideout,' while 'Khamenei in his youth played the santur with leftist artists and writers.' Another user noted that 'by attacking the Shiraz Art Festival, exactly one day after the Nixon Foundation Peace Prize was awarded to Reza Pahlavi, Khamenei is effectively introducing the alternative' to the Islamic Republic, indicating that 'the Iranian people have taken another significant step forward in their bloody struggle to impose their will on the Islamist regime.' These remarks by Ali Khamenei, published by state news agencies, coincided with the annual 'Architect of Peace' award ceremony presented to Prince Reza Pahlavi at the Richard Nixon Foundation, during which the prince emphasized: 'Winds of war are blowing in our region, but this war is not the people's war; it is the war of a dictator, namely Ali Khamenei.' He also stressed that 'the people of Iran are seeking peace, security, and a future free from tyranny,' adding: 'I dedicate this award to the people of Iran, who are the true architects of peace, and I thank the Nixon Library for standing with the people of Iran.' The annual cultural and artistic event known as the 'Shiraz Art Festival' was held every summer from 1967 to 1976 in Shiraz and Persepolis, inviting figures from both traditional and modern music and literature worldwide. The festival during the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi represented both the most traditional and modern artistic aspects of Iran, playing a strategic role in cultural and artistic arenas at that time. The idea of holding an international festival aimed at 'developing art, honoring traditional arts, enhancing cultural standards in Iran, and introducing foreign artists to Iran while familiarizing the Iranian people with the artistic development processes in other countries' was formulated. Empress Farah Pahlavi, the wife of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, played an active role and had a significant presence in the Shiraz Art Festival, which was planned and organized under her office's supervision.