Comparative Discourse Analysis of Media on the Arbaeen

In recent years, the Arbaeen ritual of Husseini has become a phenomenon beyond religious and Shiite rituals and has spread widely at the regional and global levels. This ceremony, as a social, political, cultural and media mega-event, has been the subject of attention and analysis by various news organizations. It is important to examine and understand the way this event is represented in various media. This research was conducted using the critical discourse analysis method of Fairclough and Van Dyke. Its theoretical foundations are based on the examination of linguistic structures, discursive strategies and ideologies governing the media's news and analytical texts regarding Arbaeen and are based on three levels of description, interpretation and explanation in discourse analysis and the use of the theories of Hall and Gramsci. The findings indicate that the news coverage of Arbaeen in the media, rather than being a close reflection of reality, is an active discursive representation that seeks to influence public opinion and shape the audience's perception. Finally, the four discourses of Persian-speaking media abroad with a negative and controversial approach, mainstream media with a moderate approach and relative neutrality, Arab media with an independent approach and sometimes in the form of regional competition, and aligned media with a spiritual, epic, and unifying approach have been identified, and an attempt has been made to explore and criticize the hidden layers of these discourses through textual and discursive analysis.