Honoring anti-oppression media heroes at 3rd International ‘Sobh’ Festival; Jebelli: The ‘spiral of silence’ must be broken

Pars Today – The 3rd International ‘Sobh’ Festival, honoring prominent anti-oppression figures from former members of the European and British Parliaments to a Palestinian journalist from Gaza, amplified the voice of resistance against global injustice.
According to Pars Today, the third International “Sobh” Media Festival was held in Tehran with the attendance of Peyman Jebelli, the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Ahmad Norouzi, the Head of the IRIB World Service, and a group of distinguished anti-arrogance personalities from around the world. 
This event, taking place from May 3 to 8, honored its selected awardees by presenting special prizes to Clare Daly and Mick Wallace (former members of the European Parliament), George Galloway (former member of the UK Parliament), Ahmad Sahmoud (Palestinian journalist for Al-Alam TV in Gaza), and Masoud Nejabati (Iranian graphic artist), in recognition of their efforts in supporting resistance and standing against oppression.
Peyman Jebelli, head of IRIB
In his speech, the head of IRIB emphasized the role of independent media in reflecting the voices of the oppressed and standing on “the right side of history.” Jabbari paid tribute to the martyrs of resistance, such as Ismail Haniyeh, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and Yahya Sinwar, while pointing out the growing convergence of independent forces against oppressive systems.
The head of IRIB criticized arrogant powers that target the children of Gaza with “weapons and bombs,” asserting that the honor of the Resistance Front lies in standing firm against suppression and expanding anti-Zionist popular movements across the globe, from East to West. 
Referring to the message of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution to students worldwide, Jebelli described anti-arrogance protests as part of the broader resistance movement. He stressed the duty of the media to break the “spiral of silence” and preserve historical memory. He described the symbol of “key” in Palestinian culture as a sign of “return to home,” adding that the Palestinian cause will endure as long as Palestinians exist.
Ahmad Norouzi, head of the IRIB World Service
Ahmad Norouzi, the head of the IRIB World Service, expressed pride in hosting international figures and praised the courage of reporters from Al-Alam and Press TV networks who covered Zionist crimes in Gaza and Lebanon. Referring to the inception of the Sobh Festival three years ago, Norouzi noted that following Al-Aqsa Flood operation, attention to Palestine has become inevitable in this event.
Norouzi also highlighted the shocking statistic of 8% of Gaza’s population—especially women and children—being martyred in Zionist attacks, and praised Iran’s support for Palestine. He also paid tribute to the souls of 200 martyred journalists who lost their lives in pursuit of truth.
Ehsan Kaveh, the Secretary of the Festival, mentioned that 4,160 works were submitted from 40 countries, with 533 focusing specifically on Palestine. Awards were presented in two main categories (“Media and New World Order,” emphasizing local identities, spirituality, family, and resistance) and a special category dedicated to Palestine.
Among the winners were the French documentary ‘A Father, A Son, and Sankara’, the news report ‘Voice of Life’ from Yazd, and the article ‘333 Days of Genocide in Gaza’. In the Palestine category, works like the documentary ‘Life Under Fire’ from Gaza and the animation Ceasefire’ from Australia received recognition.
Festival honorees
On the sidelines of this event, the first International Film Market of the Sobh Festival opened with over 30 media booths and 15 international buyers present. The IRIB Symphony Orchestra and Choir also performed musical pieces.
The Sobh Festival continues its mission to amplify the voices of independent media and support the oppressed, especially Palestine. According to the head of IRIB, the national media has a historical and ethical responsibility to convey the “voice of the voiceless” to the world.
 
MG/UR