In a meeting with the Head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) in Imam Reza shrine in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad, the custodian of shrine, Hoj. Ahmad Marvi, said: “Given the large number of its audience, the national media plays a very central social role, particularly at a time when society is targeted with a heavy cultural invasion from hostile media”.

Referring to the significance of art in promoting Islamic ethics and teachings in society, Hoj. Marvi added: “The bond between religious concepts and different artistic fields is one of the most effective ways to spread religious teachings throughout society”.

The custodian of Imam Reza shrine also lamented lack of artistic aspects in religious programs aired by the IRIB, noting: “The national media needs to spread the Islamic teachings, which our Imams and religious leaders had strived hard to disseminate, and many had sacrificed their lives to protect”.

Expressing readiness to cooperate with the IRIB in production of artistic programs in various forms, Hoj. Marvi stressed: “Imam Reza shrine and the IRIB work as a team, and we are ready to make the best use of creative ideas by media experts in running cultural programs in the shrine”.

The custodian further suggested that a shrine-affiliated office should be opened in the national media in a bid to maximize mutual cooperation.

For his part, Peyman Jebeli, head of the IRIB, thanked the shrine organization for the close cooperation and lauded the great technical infrastructure in Communications and Media Center of the shrine, suggesting that a mobile media unit should be stationed in the shrine given the modern and advanced studios there.

“We have set our sights on adopting innovative and creative approaches to produce programs based on Quranic and religious teachings that are simultaneously entertaining”, added Jebeli.

“The IRIB is moving forward and the measures taken will end up in transforming the content of the programs, some of which have already been effected in our production”, continued head of IRIB.

Jebeli concluded his remarks by quoting the leader of the Revolution regarding the revolutionary reconstruction of the cultural fabric of the nation, saying: “The IRIB is one of the manifestations of this statement today.”