Iran Honors Global Voices with ‘Right Side of History’ Medal
June, 10, 2026 - 13:56
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran awarded the “Right Side of History” Medal to a group of international activists, artists, and politicians during a ceremony in Tehran, highlighting themes of resistance, global awakening, and support for Palestine.
On June 9, Iran awarded its Right Side of History Medal to a diverse group of international activists, artists, and politicians during a ceremony in Tehran. The event took place on Keshvardoost Street, situated merely meters from the site where late Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei was martyred in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on February 28, 2026.
Organized by the Office for the Preservation and Publication of the Works of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, the event drew a crowd of international guests amid gatherings of mourners and members of the public who continue to honor the legacy of the martyred Leader. The ceremony opened with a welcome address by Mahdi Ebrahimzadeh, deputy and chief of staff of the Islamic Revolution Cultural and Research Institute.
The rapid awakening of global youth
Saeed Reza Ameli, representing the jury that selected this year's laureates, then took the stage, stating, "Imam Khamenei did not merely tell the youth to stand on the right side of history, but affirmed that they are standing on it. This rapid awakening is evident today, as American youth mobilized within three days to protest the US war on Iran and the killing of school students in Minab, a stark contrast to the years it took to build anti-war awareness during the Vietnam era."
Global voices of solidarity: Messages from abroad
Before the in-person presentations, the ceremony screened a montage of video messages from several recipients who were unable to attend, according to Khamenei.ir.
The heavy cost of moral courage: Professor Haim Bresheeth-Zabner, a British historian and filmmaker at SOAS, received the medal for his lifelong academic struggle against Zionism. In his video message, he reflected on the heavy cost of moral courage, noting, "To be on the right side of history has never been more difficult, as the people of Iran know from bitter, personal experience." He praised the Iranian people for being "foremost in remembering and caring about the suffering of the Palestinians," despite enduring decades of oppression and unjustified assaults from the US and Israel since 1953. Highlighting Iran's steadfastness, he observed that the nation stands "unbowed, and unbroken against the strong and brutal enemy while other nations bow and surrender to the imperial and colonial powers." Expressing hope that the eventual decline of Zionism will bring peace and justice to the region, he concluded that while being on the right side of history is difficult, "it also has its dividends."
Cinema as resistance: In her video message, renowned Syrian actress Sulaf Fawakherji spoke about her film Land of Angels, stating, "When we began this project, we wanted to make a film for Palestine, for Gaza, for its people. We worked with a fighting spirit, and whenever we felt tired, we remembered the people of Gaza living with far greater hardship."
Fawakherji emphasized that the film addresses stolen rights – the right to life, freedom, food, water, security, education, and play. "Laughter itself has been occupied," she said. Sending greetings to the people of Gaza, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and Iran, she added, "Our director told me: 'On Judgment Day, when God asks what we did for Gaza, we will hold up this film.'"
A living compass for truth: In his video message, Yemeni cartoonist Kamal Sharaf expressed deep gratitude for the award's "humanitarian and freedom-seeking criteria," stating, "This award encourages all free people to say 'no' to the criminals ruling over them and to stand with the oppressed and against the policies of the Great Satan (the US) and its allies." Reflecting on the site of the ceremony, Sharaf added, "Imam Khamenei’s martyrdom was a rebirth in the souls of many. He stood firmly against the Great Satan without any trace of fear." He described the award as a "living compass" that distinguishes right from wrong, with Palestine as its true north. "Whoever supports it stands on the Front of Truth; whoever fights it stands on the Front of Falsehood," he declared. Ali Naseri, an international documentary filmmaker, accepted the medal on behalf of Kamal Sharaf.
The duty of humanity: Tushar Gandhi, an Indian activist and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, also appeared via video message, stating, "It is the duty of everyone who is human to sympathize and empathize with the Palestinian cause. Judgment Day will judge us on where we stood, and it will judge those who remain neutral to be with the criminals." He also extended his gratitude to Iran for "bravely taking on not only the Zionists but also the Western powers that are siding with them."
Humiliating the imperial core: In her video message, Charlotte Kates, a Canadian human rights lawyer and coordinator of the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network – who was expelled from the United States due to her political activism – opened by invoking the martyred Leader’s words to American youth: "As the page of history is turning, you are standing on the right side of it." Detailing the ongoing assaults across the region, Kates emphasized that "it is clearer than ever that the Resistance is on the right side of history." Highlighting the Islamic Republic's stance, she stated, "It is the Resistance in Iran and in the Islamic Republic that has shown the world that the United States can be humiliated." Calling on those in the "imperial core" to mobilize, Kates pledged unwavering solidarity, stating it is their responsibility "to stand with the Resistance in Palestine, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen, Iraq and around the region... and to bring an end to genocide, Zionism and imperialism once and for all, for a free Palestine and for a free humanity."
"To resist is to live": Condemning Western imperialism
The first recipient to address the crowd in person was Mick Wallace, the former Irish Member of the European Parliament, recognized for his independent foreign policy and advocacy for social justice.
A global fight for humanity
He remarked that understanding the present requires reading history, pointing out that Western colonialism and imperialism have been brutal for hundreds of years and did not simply start on October 7. Wallace condemned Western powers, particularly the US, for ignoring international law and using global institutions strictly to further their own interests. He sharply criticized the deep-rooted racism and white supremacy of European politicians, noting that while 90% of them side with Zionism, the vast majority of European citizens support the Palestinian cause. Additionally, Wallace highlighted the stark hypocrisy of the European Parliament, which "frequently complains about the hijab in Iran but remained silent when Israel killed 20,000 Muslim Palestinian women in Gaza." Commending Iran's remarkable resilience against decades of sanctions, infiltration, and the latest US-Israeli attacks, Wallace declared, "What we have learned more than anything in the last couple of years is the importance of resistance. To resist is to live". He concluded by affirming that the fight against Western imperialism is a global fight for humanity, adding that "Zionism is finished" and truth and justice will ultimately prevail.
The radiant spirit of a nation
Following Wallace's remarks, Ali Baqeri, Deputy Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, delivered a keynote address emphasizing the profound historical and spiritual transformation of the Iranian nation. He observed a stark contrast at the site of Tuesday’s ceremony: the dark, ugly reflection of US and Zionist crimes on one side, and the radiant, vibrant spirit of a great nation that found new life and historical purpose through this sacred blood on the other.
"The United States is defeated today"
Baqeri strongly condemned US President Donald Trump’s explicit admission of seeking "peace through force," describing it as the complete trampling of logic, dialogue, and rationality in favor of savagery and murder. He stated that because the enemy has so openly revealed its dark nature, there is no longer any need for deep analysis to recognize the right side of history, underscoring that the path illuminated by the martyred Leader's blood is vividly clear to the entire world.
Baqeri went on to highlight that under the martyred Leader's guidance, Iran’s steadfast resistance against the savagery led by Trump and Netanyahu has proven that standing on the right path can break the world's most powerful army. Baqeri emphasized, "We are proud that we defeated America, and America is defeated today". He added that Trump's continued aggression actually stems from his own strategic frustration and failure – a reality now openly acknowledged and vocalized even by informed political figures within the US.
The living Quran in action
Algerian writer and journalist Yahya Abou Zakaria also spoke at the event. "Avenging the martyred Leader’s blood is the duty of all freedom-seekers across the globe, not just Iran," he stated. "Here in Iran, we are witnessing the living Quran in action. We have borne witness to how the United States and Israel aimed to overthrow the Islamic Republic in a mere three days, yet they failed."
The critical battle of global narratives
Prominent filmmaker and screenwriter Babak Lotfi Khajeh-Pasha was also invited on stage, where he spoke about the critical role of media in shaping global narratives. "There is a profound tragedy unfolding in the world that the media fails to adequately convey to us," he emphasized. "We must work in the field of media with everything we have, otherwise, the West will outperform us, because they have mastered the art of concealing their operations within the media framework."
The ceremony concluded with the medals being handed out to the recipients and the representatives of those unable to attend the event.
The Right Side of History Medal originates from a letter by Martyr Khamenei to American university students in May 2024, in which he praised their political awakening and support for Palestine. The event on Keshvardoost Street is one of several ceremonies held worldwide to honor those who have formed a branch of the Resistance Front and taken part in this activism to voice their opposition to the brutal crimes of Zionism and Global Arrogance. Previously, the medal was presented to recipients in Tehran, Caracas, and Ghana.
https://www.tasnimnews.ir/en/news/2026/06/10/3613567/iran-honors-global-voices-with-right-side-of-history-medal
