Mahdi Vaghari's 'No one can take my Soul' wins 2025 Peace Image of the Year award

Iranian photographic artist Mahdi Vaghari received the Peace Image of the Year 2025 honor at the Global Peace Photo Awards. His work "No one can take my Soul" was selected from 24,189 entries submitted from 132 countries. The award ceremony took place on March 30, 2026, marking the thirteenth presentation of the Alfred Fried Peace Medal. Omar Al-Rawi, representing Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig, delivered a welcoming address emphasizing the importance of creating forums for peace dialogue. He stated that only liberal democracies capable of addressing differing viewpoints without marginalization can provide frameworks to overcome current wars. The Global Peace Photo Award recognizes photographers who use their lens to "put their finger on the wound." Vaghari's winning photograph earned the main prize of 7,000 euros. The competition jury selected his work as the standout entry among thousands of international submissions.