TEHRAN -- A cultural and literary gathering titled “Hafez, the Pinnacle of Persian Ghazal” was held in Stockholm to mark the commemoration day of renowned Persian poet Hafez Shirazi, bringing together writers, poets and Hafez scholars from across Europe.
According to IRNA, the event took place at the Ibn Sina Hall of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Sweden, with participants of Iranian, Afghan, Tajik and Uzbek backgrounds. 
The gathering explored Hafez’s enduring place in Persian literature, the influence of his poetry on mysticism and culture, and the role of the Persian language in connecting peoples who share a common cultural heritage.
Iran’s ambassador to Sweden, Hojjatollah Faghani, welcomed the participating poets and researchers and highlighted Hafez’s international influence. 
Referring to the impact of Hafez on thinkers such as Goethe, Nietzsche and Emerson, he attributed the enduring appeal of the poet’s work to its artistic combination of love, mysticism, Qur’anic teachings and linguistic elegance. 
He said Hafez’s message continued to inspire humanity beyond geographical and historical boundaries.
Faghani also drew parallels between the hypocrisy criticized in Hafez’s era and what he described as double standards in the contemporary world regarding human rights, democracy and the rule of law. 
He referred to the Minab tragedy and threats against Iran’s ancient civilization, criticizing what he characterized as a gap between Western countries’ moral claims and their actions. He identified resistance to hypocrisy, resilience