TEHRAN – Following the martyrdom of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, during U.S.-Israeli airstrikes that targeted his office in central Tehran on Saturday, cultural bodies in the country offered condolences in separate statements.

The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance stated in its statement: “The news of the martyrdom of the wise Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, by the criminal countries, the U.S. and the Zionist regime, plunged Iran into a great and historic mourning; a mourning that is not only the sorrow of a nation but a deep wound on the body of the free people of the world”.

“Today, Iran is grieving, but not bowed. A man from the lineage of faith and steadfastness, who dedicated his life to the cultural, political, and spiritual jihad for the glory of this land and lived a life of struggle for many years, finally reached his Beloved's promise,” the statement continued.

“The enemies imagined that by targeting one person, they could halt the course of history; unaware that the Islamic Revolution stands not on the shoulders of one individual, but on the shoulders of a faithful and aware nation. The blood of martyrs is not the end of the road, but the beginning of a new chapter of awakening and steadfastness,” it added.

The Islamic Culture and Relations Organization also issued a statement on the occasion of the martyrdom of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

“The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Imam Khamenei was martyred by the most wicked enemies of Islam and humanity after years of struggle in the path of God and sincere and wise protection of the integrity of Muslims.

Imam Khamenei lived a pure life filled with knowledge and struggle in the path of God, and tireless effort in serving the Islamic Ummah. He was a manifestation of patience in the face of hardships, and with this steadfastness, he enabled the country and the revolution to overcome several obstacles.

In another message, the Art Bureau condoled the martyrdom of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution and wrote: “This great loss engulfed all of us with infinite grief, but the nation is awake as always and will pass through this divine experiment with great success”.

Iran Cinema Organization, Iran Public Libraries Foundation, the General Culture Council of Iran, and the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic School of Thought also issued similar statements.

A number of artists and cultural managers have reacted to the martyrdom of the Supreme Leader too, by posting various contents in cyberspace.

Mohammad-Mehdi Dadman, the director of the Art Bureau, posted a photo of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei who received a group of young girls two years ago to jointly cherish the Taklif Celebration and wrote: “Maybe it’s the Taklif Celebration of Minab girls”.

Taklif Celebration is held to celebrate the age at which young girls and boys come of age in terms of observing religious obligations. In Islam, this age is 9 for girls and 15 for boys.

By posting the photo, Dadman was referring to the primary school girls in the city of Minab, Fars Province, who lost their lives in a brutal attack by the U.S. and Israel to their school on Saturday.

About 150 people have been martyred in the attack and another 100 been injured. Among the martyrs, in addition to the students, there were also their parents and a number of educational staff.

Renowned cartoonist Masoud Shojai Tabatabai posted a photo of the Supreme Leader on his personal page in cyberspace and wrote: “My dear leader, congratulations on the martyrdom. We will follow your path until the total annihilation of the bloodthirsty Zionist regime and Trump”.

Veteran graphic designer Massoud Nejabati designed and published the typography titled “Martyr Leader” that has been reposted by many artists and cultural and artistic activists in cyberspace.

The new typography by the revolutionary artist is to be used in many graphic works and posters. He previously designed the tomb of the martyred Lebanese resistance leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and the “Martyr President” typography for the former President Ebrahim Raisi.

Photo: “Martyr Leader” typography designed by the veteran graphic designer Massoud Nejabati

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