The expert session “Who is Khamenei?”—centered on the theme “The Largest Funeral of the Century”—took place on Tuesday morning, July 7, at the Soureh Hall, with a group of prominent international media figures in attendance.
Among the participants were Patrick Henningsen from the United States, Tadhg Hickey from Ireland, Bushra Sheikh from London, Muhammad Ali Khan from Pakistan, Muhammad Shamas from Lebanon, Mack Blumenthal Jackson from the United States, Michael Walsh from Ireland, and others. The discussion focused on the media and international dimensions of recent developments, examining the worldwide coverage of the funeral, the assassination of the martyred leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and the contestation of narratives.
During the session, American journalist Patrick Henningsen, referring to his numerous visits to Iran, described the phrase “must rise” as the most fitting characterization of recent days, stating that what he has witnessed in Iran transcends a mere political event and stands as a testament to a nation’s resilience.
Tadhg Hickey, an Irish media activist, then emphasized that Iran is the only country standing firm against colonial powers, stressing that many freedom-seekers around the world align with Iran, and that the Irish people admire Iran’s resistance against two of the world’s largest military powers.
In the next segment, Bushra Sheikh, a London-based media activist, opened her remarks by offering condolences to the Iranian people on the martyrdom of the revolutionary Leader. She sharply criticized Western media, asserting that they have presented one-sided narratives of recent events. She noted that in the aftermath of war and the assassination of the revolutionary leader, Iran once again succeeded in introducing itself to the world and conveying the message of Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s martyrdom and the Minab crime to global public opinion.
Bushra Sheikh, a London-based media activist
Brazilian activist
Another participant
Tadhg Hickey, Irish media activist, speaking at the conference
Hossein Amiri - H.Hakimzadeh
