Hojat al-Islam Reza Shakeri

The Scientific and Cultural Affairs Department

The Scientific and Cultural Affairs Department consists of four General Directorates:

Cultural Services and Publications, Studies and Research, Education, and Digital Media.

This department plays a key role in developing the teachings of the AhlulBayt (a), advancing cultural activities at the international level, producing scholarly and cultural content, providing specialized training, and utilizing modern communication tools.

General Directorate of Cultural Services and Publications

This directorate comprises four departments and has traditionally been active in translating books into various languages; printing, distributing, and sending publications worldwide; participating in international book fairs; supporting cultural activities in different countries; and collecting Shia written sources.

In its current phase, the directorate’s activities include the electronic dissemination of AhlulBayt (a) teachings through products such as the Naba application, production of audiobooks, development of the Rahnama portal, and creation of cultural packages.

1. General Directorate of Education

The General Directorate of Education consists of three departments: Educational Planning, Educational Services, and Curriculum Development.

Its mission is to enhance the educational level of the followers of AhlulBayt (a) worldwide, with a focus on delivering skill-based, managerial, specialized, and general training.

Its key activities include:

• Monitoring, needs assessment, and educational planning

• Implementing targeted training programs for developing Shia leaders, directors of cultural institutions, missionaries, and cultural activists

• Establishing and equipping educational centers

• Improving educational curricula

• Training local instructors

2. General Directorate of Digital Media

In line with the policies and mission of the AhlulBayt (a) World Assembly, this directorate pursues a governance-based approach to benefiting from digital platforms, emphasizing the role of grassroots capacities, local communities, missionaries, and media activists.

Its main areas of work include:

• Creating the technical infrastructure for managing, organizing, and networking the teachings of the AhlulBayt (a)

• Establishing a multilingual network of digital media activists

3. General Directorate of the WikiShia Encyclopedia

This directorate is responsible for the planning, policymaking, and scientific, content-related, and technical development of the online encyclopedia WikiShia.

WikiShia was established with the aim of promoting the teachings of the AhlulBayt (a) and introducing the history and culture of Shia Islam.

Through collaboration with researchers, academic editors, and specialized translators, it provides a reliable and well-documented body of content.

Launched in 2014, the encyclopedia now operates in 22 languages with over 42,000 active articles.

Office of Studies, Research, and Investigation

This office functions as the intellectual and research center of the AhlulBayt (a) World Assembly.

Its mission is to produce foundational knowledge, analyze the situation of Shia communities, and provide doctrinal defense against ideological threats.

Its structure includes three research groups—Fundamental Studies, Regional Studies, and Applied Studies—which work in the following areas:

• Foundational and theoretical research

• Situational analysis of Shia communities

• Monitoring threats

• Responding to intellectual and doctrinal doubts

• Foresight and future studies