1. Introduction

The Cultural Section of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, together with an Iranian delegation led by Hojatul-Islam Dr. Mahad Mahadipour, Representative of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Head of the Waqf Organization of Iran, visited Imam Ridha Islamic Schools in Kiteezi to participate in the Minab Essay Writing and Awarding Ceremony.

The ceremony was organized to commemorate the tragic incident at Minab School and to encourage students to reflect on issues of peace, humanity, solidarity, and the protection of students and educational institutions. Students participated in essay writing and painting activities based on the Minab incident.

The delegation was warmly welcomed by Sheikh Bashir Zubair Kayongo, Director of Imam Ridha Islamic Schools, together with teachers and supporting staff.

2. Welcome Remarks by the School Director

In his welcoming remarks, Sheikh Bashir Zubair Kayongo expressed appreciation to the Cultural Section of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its continued engagement with and support for Imam Ridha Islamic Schools.

He noted that the school had benefited from support provided through the Iranian Cultural Section, which had contributed to the continuation and implementation of various school programmes.

Sheikh Bashir further explained that, despite the challenges faced by the school and the changing circumstances within the education sector, the school continues to strive to meet the standards and requirements of the Ministry of Education and Sports. He therefore appealed for continued support and assistance to enable the school to strengthen its facilities, programmes, and educational standards.

He expressed optimism that, through cooperation and the presence of supportive partners, solutions to the challenges facing the school could be found.

He concluded by thanking the delegation for visiting the school and wishing them safety, success, and continued strength in their work.

3. Remarks by the Cultural Counsellor

Mr. Rezaei D. Ali Asghar, Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, addressed the gathering and explained the purpose of the programme.

He noted that the Embassy and the school had been engaging students on issues surrounding the Minab incident, including its background and the importance of remembering the students affected by the incident.

As part of the programme, educational materials were presented to the students to provide a brief background and context regarding the Minab incident. The students were encouraged to express their understanding and reflections through essay writing and painting.

The Cultural Counsellor emphasized the importance of engaging young people in discussions concerning global peace, humanitarian values, solidarity, and the protection of educational institutions.

The competition provided students with an opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings creatively while learning about an incident that had affected fellow students.

4. Remarks by the Representative of the Supreme Leader

Hojatul-Islam Dr. Mahad Mahadipour, Representative of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, conveyed greetings and messages from the Supreme Leader and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He expressed appreciation for the solidarity, sympathy, and respect shown towards the students affected by the Minab incident.

He also commended the pioneers and leadership of Imam Ridha Islamic Schools for providing an important educational environment for the Muslim community and for their continued commitment to education.

Particular appreciation was expressed for the late Supreme Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Zubair Kayongo, who was recognized as an important religious leader and a strong supporter of relations and cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Dr. Mahadipour also thanked all stakeholders, including the school administration, teachers, staff, and other supporters, for standing with the school management and contributing to the fulfilment of its educational mission and objectives.

He further commended the Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran for his efforts and leadership in engaging students in discussions on global peace, humanitarian concerns, and awareness of international events.

He described the essay and painting competition as a meaningful way of helping students remember the Minab incident while encouraging them to reflect on peace, education, humanity, and solidarity.

5. Essay and Painting Competition

As part of the programme, students of Imam Ridha Islamic Schools participated in an essay-writing and painting competition based on the Minab incident.

The activity enabled the students to:

• Learn about the background of the Minab incident;
• Reflect on the importance of peace and human solidarity;
• Express their views and emotions through writing and art;
• Develop awareness of international and humanitarian issues; and
• Promote a culture of remembrance and empathy among young people.

A total of 15 students participated in the essay-writing activity.

The best essays and paintings were selected for recognition, and the winning students were presented with prizes during the ceremony.

6. Award Presentation

At the conclusion of the programme, the winning students were invited to receive their prizes.

Mr. Mahdavi was invited to come forward and present the gifts to the students on behalf of the delegation.

The presentation was conducted in the presence of the school administration, teachers, students, members of the Iranian delegation, and representatives of the Cultural Section of the Embassy.

The award ceremony provided an opportunity to recognize the students’ creativity, participation, and commitment to learning about issues of peace and humanitarian concern.

7. Conclusion

The Minab Essay Writing and Awarding Ceremony at Imam Ridha Islamic Schools, Kiteezi, was successfully conducted with the participation of the Iranian delegation, the school administration, teachers, and students.

The programme strengthened educational and cultural engagement between the Cultural Section of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Imam Ridha Islamic Schools. It also provided students with an opportunity to learn about the Minab incident and to express their reflections through essays and artwork.

The event highlighted the importance of engaging young people in conversations about peace, solidarity, humanity, education, and global awareness.

The organizers expressed appreciation to the school administration, teachers, students, stakeholders, and the Iranian delegation for their participation and support.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of prizes to the winning students and expressions of appreciation to all those who contributed to the success of the programme.