International Conference of AhlulBayt (a.s.) Media Narrators Held by ABNA
An international conference organized by ABNA gathered media activists and scholars, especially from Africa, to promote AhlulBayt (a.s.) teachings. Highlights included Ayatollah Ramezani’s keynote, Sheikh Zakzaky’s message, unveiling of ABNA’s 27-language website, and the launch of the International Union of AhlulBayt (a.s.) Media Activists.
The third International Conference of “AhlulBayt (a.s.) Media Narrators” commenced Thursday morning, May 1, 2025, in Qom, coinciding with the Ten Days of Dignity (from the first day of Dhu al-Qadah marked as Lady Masoumeh’s (a.s.) birth anniversary, to Dhu al-Qadah 11, coinciding with Imam Reza’s (a.s.) birth anniversary). The event was held at the conference hall of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, with the participation of media professionals and intellectuals from Iran and several African countries.
The conference, organized by the AhlulBayt (a.s.) International News Agency (ABNA), was attended by Ayatollah Reza Ramazani, Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly; Dr. Sayed Mohammad-Amin Aghamiri, Secretary of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace and Head of the National Center for Cyberspace; Mohammad-Reza Soghandi, the newly appointed Director General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Qom Province; along with several deputies and directors from the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, the National Center for Cyberspace, other related institutions, and academic figures from the African continent who participated as special guests.
At the beginning of the event, the editors of ABNA’s Swahili and Hausa websites delivered brief welcoming remarks in their local languages. They described the AhlulBayt (a.s.) Media Narrators Conference, held with the participation of African activists, as a new beginning for interaction, cooperation, and synergy. A video message from Hojat al-Islam Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, was also broadcast during the ceremony.
This conference is the 1st step toward identifying media activists’ capacities
Ayatollah Reza Ramazani, Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly and the event’s keynote speaker praised ABNA’s initiative in organizing the conference and highlighted the necessity and importance of such gatherings. He stated that media narrators of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) possess exceptional capacities, and the first step must be to recognize and define these potentials. These capacities are the fruits of the miracle of the Qur’an—that is, the Islamic Revolution of Iran, which has sparked a global transformation. The Islamic Revolution enabled Islam to emerge as the central pillar in confronting the global hegemonic order. The most significant characteristic of this revolution is its AhlulBayt-centered discourse.
He continued by emphasizing that today, striving in the realm of media and cyberspace is no less important than physical jihad. All those present at the conference are working in a spirit of sacrifice, and it is hoped that positive outcomes will emerge through media narrators in their respective countries. “We are rich in content,” he said, “and this richness must be effectively reflected in the digital space.”
Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky Emphasizes the Role of Media in Promoting AhlulBayt (a.s.) Teachings
In a message to the conference, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, Secretary General of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, highlighted the importance of social media in promoting the teachings of the AhlulBayt (a.s.). He stressed the necessity of utilizing media platforms to convey the message of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) to the people, emphasizing that this responsibility lies with media outlets such as ABNA, which have created a suitable platform for transmitting these teachings.
He expressed his gratitude for the foresight of the Supreme Leader in establishing the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly and commended Ayatollah Ramazani’s efforts in facilitating the organization of the conference. Sheikh Zakzaky voiced hope that similar conferences would be held in the future and that the momentum of media activities affiliated with the AhlulBayt (a.s.) would continue to grow stronger.
Modern Technologies: A Tool for Disseminating AhlulBayt (a.s.) Teachings
Dr. Sayed Mohammad-Amin Aghamiri, member of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace and head of the National Center for Cyberspace, also addressed the gathering.
He discussed the significant transformations in the field of media and cultural management over the past five years. He noted that language had once been a serious barrier to content dissemination; however, today’s digital tools allow for near-instantaneous translation and republication of content in multiple languages. This shift, he stated, is an opportunity to spread the teachings of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) across the globe, though it also presents a threat, as it opens the door to content that conflicts with Islamic values.
From Emphasis on Media Jihad to Reflecting the Concerns of Activists
Later in the event, three media activists spoke on behalf of the African participants, sharing their concerns and perspectives.
Salati Balou, a media activist from Nigeria, underlined the importance of media in today's world. He quoted the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, who once said that if he were not responsible for leadership, he would choose to work in media, highlighting the elevated status of media in the Islamic worldview.
Ms. Balqees Salihu, also from Nigeria, emphasized the role of media in everyday life and called for greater attention from followers of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) in Africa, especially women, toward engaging in media-related activities.
Ibrahim Abu Aqil, another Nigerian media activist, spoke about the significant role of media work in spreading the teachings of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) and authentic Islam. He stressed the need for proper planning to effectively deliver these truths to the public. He identified several obstacles in this path, including a lack of awareness about media management, insufficient religious knowledge, and the absence of institutions to train and support media activists.
Registration Process for the International Union of AhlulBayt (a.s.) Media Activists
In another part of the event, Hassan Sadraei Aref, Director of ABNA News Agency, welcomed the guests and described the international conference as an occasion to unveil the new multilingual website of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) News Agency, now supporting 27 languages. He stated, “ABNA is the home of AhlulBayt (a.s.)-oriented media activists.”
He added that unity and cooperation are essential for promoting the teachings of the AhlulBayt (a), and in this context, the registration process for the International Union of AhlulBayt (a.s.) Media Activists, which had been announced during the second conference, has now officially begun. The union will formally commence its activities upon reaching a membership of 1,000.
Unveiling of ABNA’s New 27-Language Website and Pilgrimage Draw Conclude the Event
One of the other highlights of the ceremony was the presentation of an honorary press card to the President of the African Students’ Union in Qom. Ayatollah Ramazani presented the ABNA honorary journalist card to Hojat al-Islam Mohammad Amin Sajo, the union’s president.
In the final segments of the event, the new ABNA website supporting 27 languages was officially unveiled, and a draw for a pilgrimage trip was held to conclude the program.
An international conference organized by ABNA gathered media activists and scholars, especially from Africa, to promote AhlulBayt (a.s.) teachings. Highlights included Ayatollah Ramezani’s keynote, Sheikh Zakzaky’s message, unveiling of ABNA’s 27-language website, and the launch of the International Union of AhlulBayt (a.s.) Media Activists.
The third International Conference of “AhlulBayt (a.s.) Media Narrators” commenced Thursday morning, May 1, 2025, in Qom, coinciding with the Ten Days of Dignity (from the first day of Dhu al-Qadah marked as Lady Masoumeh’s (a.s.) birth anniversary, to Dhu al-Qadah 11, coinciding with Imam Reza’s (a.s.) birth anniversary). The event was held at the conference hall of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, with the participation of media professionals and intellectuals from Iran and several African countries.
The conference, organized by the AhlulBayt (a.s.) International News Agency (ABNA), was attended by Ayatollah Reza Ramazani, Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly; Dr. Sayed Mohammad-Amin Aghamiri, Secretary of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace and Head of the National Center for Cyberspace; Mohammad-Reza Soghandi, the newly appointed Director General of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Qom Province; along with several deputies and directors from the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, the National Center for Cyberspace, other related institutions, and academic figures from the African continent who participated as special guests.
At the beginning of the event, the editors of ABNA’s Swahili and Hausa websites delivered brief welcoming remarks in their local languages. They described the AhlulBayt (a.s.) Media Narrators Conference, held with the participation of African activists, as a new beginning for interaction, cooperation, and synergy. A video message from Hojat al-Islam Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, was also broadcast during the ceremony.
This conference is the 1st step toward identifying media activists’ capacities
Ayatollah Reza Ramazani, Secretary General of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly and the event’s keynote speaker praised ABNA’s initiative in organizing the conference and highlighted the necessity and importance of such gatherings. He stated that media narrators of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) possess exceptional capacities, and the first step must be to recognize and define these potentials. These capacities are the fruits of the miracle of the Qur’an—that is, the Islamic Revolution of Iran, which has sparked a global transformation. The Islamic Revolution enabled Islam to emerge as the central pillar in confronting the global hegemonic order. The most significant characteristic of this revolution is its AhlulBayt-centered discourse.
He continued by emphasizing that today, striving in the realm of media and cyberspace is no less important than physical jihad. All those present at the conference are working in a spirit of sacrifice, and it is hoped that positive outcomes will emerge through media narrators in their respective countries. “We are rich in content,” he said, “and this richness must be effectively reflected in the digital space.”
Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky Emphasizes the Role of Media in Promoting AhlulBayt (a.s.) Teachings
In a message to the conference, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, Secretary General of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, highlighted the importance of social media in promoting the teachings of the AhlulBayt (a.s.). He stressed the necessity of utilizing media platforms to convey the message of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) to the people, emphasizing that this responsibility lies with media outlets such as ABNA, which have created a suitable platform for transmitting these teachings.
He expressed his gratitude for the foresight of the Supreme Leader in establishing the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly and commended Ayatollah Ramazani’s efforts in facilitating the organization of the conference. Sheikh Zakzaky voiced hope that similar conferences would be held in the future and that the momentum of media activities affiliated with the AhlulBayt (a.s.) would continue to grow stronger.
Modern Technologies: A Tool for Disseminating AhlulBayt (a.s.) Teachings
Dr. Sayed Mohammad-Amin Aghamiri, member of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace and head of the National Center for Cyberspace, also addressed the gathering.
He discussed the significant transformations in the field of media and cultural management over the past five years. He noted that language had once been a serious barrier to content dissemination; however, today’s digital tools allow for near-instantaneous translation and republication of content in multiple languages. This shift, he stated, is an opportunity to spread the teachings of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) across the globe, though it also presents a threat, as it opens the door to content that conflicts with Islamic values.
From Emphasis on Media Jihad to Reflecting the Concerns of Activists
Later in the event, three media activists spoke on behalf of the African participants, sharing their concerns and perspectives.
Salati Balou, a media activist from Nigeria, underlined the importance of media in today's world. He quoted the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, who once said that if he were not responsible for leadership, he would choose to work in media, highlighting the elevated status of media in the Islamic worldview.
Ms. Balqees Salihu, also from Nigeria, emphasized the role of media in everyday life and called for greater attention from followers of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) in Africa, especially women, toward engaging in media-related activities.
Ibrahim Abu Aqil, another Nigerian media activist, spoke about the significant role of media work in spreading the teachings of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) and authentic Islam. He stressed the need for proper planning to effectively deliver these truths to the public. He identified several obstacles in this path, including a lack of awareness about media management, insufficient religious knowledge, and the absence of institutions to train and support media activists.
Registration Process for the International Union of AhlulBayt (a.s.) Media Activists
In another part of the event, Hassan Sadraei Aref, Director of ABNA News Agency, welcomed the guests and described the international conference as an occasion to unveil the new multilingual website of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) News Agency, now supporting 27 languages. He stated, “ABNA is the home of AhlulBayt (a.s.)-oriented media activists.”
He added that unity and cooperation are essential for promoting the teachings of the AhlulBayt (a), and in this context, the registration process for the International Union of AhlulBayt (a.s.) Media Activists, which had been announced during the second conference, has now officially begun. The union will formally commence its activities upon reaching a membership of 1,000.
Unveiling of ABNA’s New 27-Language Website and Pilgrimage Draw Conclude the Event
One of the other highlights of the ceremony was the presentation of an honorary press card to the President of the African Students’ Union in Qom. Ayatollah Ramazani presented the ABNA honorary journalist card to Hojat al-Islam Mohammad Amin Sajo, the union’s president.
In the final segments of the event, the new ABNA website supporting 27 languages was officially unveiled, and a draw for a pilgrimage trip was held to conclude the program.