"Arbaeen Procession is a super medium," the Arbaeen Conference Scientific Secretary says

Report by the Directorate for International Academic Cooperation–

Source: atu.ac.ir

In a press conference held about the fifth International Conference in the Arbaeen Pilgrimage at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Professor Ali Entezari, the Scientific Secretary of the Conference, said, "It is the fifth event held in the series of international conferences revolving on the topic of the Arbaeen. The conference's main theme this year is the Arbaeen, Universalisation of Resistance, and Transnational Developments." Pointing to the censorship exercised by various foreign news agencies, he continued, "Despite the news censorship of various foreign media regarding the previous periods of the Arbaeen Procession, about which much news is still on the sidelines, the Arbaeen Procession acts like a super medium".

Dr Entezari said: "The Arbaeen Procession is an opportunity for different ethnic groups with different tastes to interact based on the love and affection prevailing in the Procession. This phenomenon has attracted numerous non-Shiites and non-Muslims, and they want to know why, despite luxury tours, people still want to walk on this difficult path and endure its hardships. Humanities and Social Science scholars are also investigating the Arbaeen Procession accordingly."

Stating that the principal aim of the conference is to acquaint the scientific community with this new and unique phenomenon, Dr Entezari added: "The Arbaeen procession has affected various aspects of human life and played an important role in it. The Arbaeen Conference examines the role of the Arbaeen Procession in intercultural communication and creating convergence among Muslims."

Pointing out that the fifth International Conference in the Arbaeen Pilgrimage will be held on 5 September 2022 both in person and online, he added: "The international conference's main themes include the Arbaeen: Transnationalization and Developments in the Islamic World; the Arbaeen and Lifestyle; the Arbaeen and Identity; the Arbaeen, Culture, Arts and Media; the Arbaeen, Groups, and Social Capital; Pathology of the Arbaeen; and the Arbaeen and Spiritual, Psychological, and Educational Needs."

He added, "The side programmes also include the establishment of a photo exhibition, short-term sessions in Karbala with scholars from different countries, and giving awards to selected works, theses and dissertations, and other research published in the area of the ​​Arbaeen."

At the end of the news conference, Dr Mohammad Taghi Karmi, Executive Secretary of the Conference, pointed to the unique nature of the event and said: "The young phenomenon of the Arbaeen has succeeded in creating a social trend. Several researchers are working in this area and studying it as a social phenomenon. Establishments like the International Arbaeen Association, the Arbaeen Think Tank, the National Arbaeen Headquarters, and the International Arbaeen Conference Secretariat, based in Allameh Tabataba'i University, are also interacting and collaborating on the same topic. Therefore, we expect that in the coming years, other institutions will be formed around this popular phenomenon to facilitate the civil and social movements conducted within the context of this social phenomenon."