WANA (Oct 15) – A ceremony marking the 2,550th anniversary of the world’s first declaration of human rights was held Tuesday evening at the Russian State University of Cinematography (VGIK), attended by ambassadors, university professors, and admirers of Iranian culture. The event drew attention when Iran’s ambassador to Russia made a pointed remark toward those who had referred to former U.S. President Donald Trump as “Cyrus the Great.”

 

Kazem Jalali, Iran’s ambassador to Moscow, emphasized in his speech that the ancient Persian Charter of Human Rights—issued 2,550 years ago—embodied values such as freedom, tolerance, human dignity, and peaceful coexistence.

 

He added, “These principles were recognized in Iranian civilization centuries before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948.”

 

Highlighting the historical gap between Eastern and Western approaches to human rights, Jalali said, “At a time when Iranians acknowledged religious, cultural, and social freedoms, the world today still struggles with extremism, aggression, injustice, and inequality—signs that remind us of the need to return to civilizational and moral traditions.”

 

In a pointed reference to claims equating Trump with Cyrus, Jalali stated: “One cannot call someone who supports the killing of tens of thousands of people in Gaza a defender of human rights or liken him to Cyrus the Great. Eastern civilization has always been founded upon tolerance and respect for human dignity.”

A ceremony marking the 2,550th anniversary of the world’s first declaration of human rights. Social media / WANA News Agency

A ceremony marking the 2,550th anniversary of the world’s first declaration of human rights. Social media / WANA News Agency

The ambassador also noted the peaceful coexistence of religions in both Iran and Russia, saying, “In our culture, respect for both individual and collective human rights is deeply rooted. In Iran, Muslims, Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians live together peacefully—just as the Abrahamic faiths coexist harmoniously here in Russia.”

 

Jalali further underscored the importance of strengthening cultural and civilizational ties among nations of the region: “We must use gatherings like this to enhance unity among ancient nations and counter efforts aimed at creating division between peoples with deep-rooted civilizations.”

 

During the same event, Tajikistan’s ambassador to Moscow praised Cyrus the Great’s legacy, saying: “The Cyrus Charter stands as a symbol of humanity and justice. Cyrus, the Persian king, united people across three continents and laid down principles of democracy, justice, and human rights—values that remain relevant in the modern world.”

 

On the sidelines of the ceremony, a joint Iran–Tajikistan cultural exhibition was held, showcasing Iranian handicrafts, exquisite books, and photographs of historical monuments, which drew considerable interest from visitors.

 

Before attending the event, Ambassador Jalali met with Vladimir Sergeyevich Malyshev, President of VGIK, to discuss expanding cultural and cinematic cooperation between Iran and Russia. Both sides expressed readiness to strengthen bilateral artistic relations and joint film productions.