Mosque Cultural Centers’ Reading Circles
According to the Iran Book News Agency (IBNA), quoting the public relations of the Headquarters for Coordinating Cultural and Artistic Centers of Mosques nationwide, Hamid Neili, in an interview with this headquarters, referring to the 33rd Iran’s Book Week, elaborated on the activities of the Mosque Cultural Centers Headquarters for this week: Based on this year’s Book Week slogan, ‘Read for Iran,’ the Libraries Department of the Cultural Deputy of the Mosque Cultural Centers Headquarters has prepared various programs for the general public, especially for mosque children.
The Cultural and Artistic Deputy of the Mosque Cultural Centers Headquarters continued: The first special task that received attention this year is ‘registering reading circles to promote the culture of books and reading’ at the level of mosque cultural centers; these circles are established to develop and promote reading culture and in line with popularizing culture and cultural justice at the level of cultural centers and mosque libraries nationwide, with the aim of implementing a reading movement among children and teenagers affiliated with mosques.
He added: Another goal of these reading circles is to create a suitable environment for transforming book reading into a virtuous habit; the important issue is that to turn reading into a habit in society, it must be presented in a simple, attractive, and effective format; with this approach, reading circles are held by instructors; in these gatherings, an attractive environment is provided for the audience so that they can benefit from various services in the field of books and reading with a creative and innovative approach.
He clarified: Group reading, book exchange, book lending, book donation, discussion on book topics, summarizing, book criticism, book reading competitions, book introduction, book reading, good reading skills, good writing skills, book illustration, note-taking from books, storytelling, etc., are among the activities defined under the Mosque Cultural Centers’ Reading Circles project; consequently, members of mosque cultural centers can refer to the ‘Bachehaye Masjed’ (Children of the Mosque) system, specifically the ‘Ravagh-e Ketab’ (Book Portico) section, to register for reading circles.
The Cultural and Artistic Deputy of the Mosque Cultural Centers Headquarters also listed the implementation of the national book donation campaign to mosque libraries as another special task of this headquarters for the 33rd Iran’s Book Week, adding: In this campaign, institutions, organizations, and the general public will pledge and donate books to mosque libraries as cultural hubs of neighborhoods; furthermore, all provincial headquarters of mosque cultural centers operate within a systematic framework for organizing, categorizing, and issuing libraries, and in the first phase, urban libraries in provincial capitals will be organized.
He emphasized: On the other hand, it was decided that reading campaigns focusing on 11 books endorsed by the Supreme Leader would be implemented at the mosque cultural centers; these works include ‘The Last Chance,’ ‘Your Name is Mostafa,’ ‘Roosevelt Street Station,’ ‘Twenty Years and Three Days,’ ‘Pasiad, Son of Soil,’ ‘Autumn Came,’ ‘Ruhollah,’ ‘Majid Barbari,’ ‘The Underground Temple,’ ‘I Have You in Mind,’ and ‘The Soldier of the Ninth Day,’ with ‘The Soldier of the Ninth Day’ being particularly highlighted; furthermore, the production of plays based on these works will also be on the agenda of the Mosque Cultural Centers Headquarters nationwide. The performance of plays from these books in mosques will be carried out with limited actors, low cost, no decor, single-gender casts, and a short duration of 15 to 20 minutes. Regarding ‘The Soldier of the Ninth Day’ book, a call for short play production, plan and ideas has been made. So far, more than 20 works have been registered in the ‘Bachehaye Masjed’ system, and after judging, 3 selected works will be converted into plays by a mentor and published, and at the end, these 3 works will be honored. The deadline for submitting works is until the end of Aban 1404 (November 2025).
Neili continued: On the other hand, the production of book-related products such as podcasts, anthems, paintings, poetry, plays, calligraphy, painting, etc., are among the programs and goals of campaigns organized by the Mosque Cultural Centers Headquarters based on the 11 books endorsed by the Supreme Leader.
He said: An important point regarding these 11 works is how to purchase them for the ‘Bachehaye Masjed’; this means that the purchase of ‘The Soldier of the Ninth Day’ book for use in reading circles will be done at one level by the Mosque Cultural Centers Headquarters, and at another level, cultural benefactors can purchase with up to 50% discount from Rah-Yar Publications, so that the book easily reaches the ‘Bachehaye Masjed’.
Another important program in the field of books and reading is delegating specialized activities to specialized cultural centers. In this regard, activities in this area, with the focus on one of the specialized centers active in the field of books and reading, will be guided, supervised, and supported by the central headquarters nationwide.
The Cultural and Artistic Deputy of the Mosque Cultural Centers Headquarters further stated: Based on the defined special tasks mentioned earlier, programs for the 33rd Book Week have been presented in several formats; in the first step, the implementation of the national project ‘Mosque Book Saturdays’ is intended, which has been ongoing in mosques since 2019, and through it, cultural and artistic centers are dedicated to introducing useful and needed books to audiences in mosques.
He added: Another program is the performance of artistic groups at the mosque cultural centers; in fact, since art is considered the most effective method in promoting reading culture, these groups will perform their activities in the form of theater, plays, anthems, calligraphy, painting, etc., with the theme of books and reading, at mosque cultural centers across the country.
Neili said: Holding neighborhood-based book exhibitions in mosques with the presence of authors and experts; honoring activists in the field of books, including top librarians, active library members, benefactors, writers, book promoters, and active congregational imams in this field; holding special training courses for mosque librarians to empower and update their library information; donating books and library equipment to mosques; organizing nationwide book reading campaigns and competitions by the Mosque Cultural Centers Headquarters (14-Star Book Reading Competition); and opening libraries in mosques are among other actions that will be implemented this week.
The Cultural and Artistic Deputy of the Mosque Cultural Centers Headquarters further clarified: The presence of librarians at Friday prayer venues, Martyrs’ Cemetery, meeting with political and cultural figures of the province in the form of promotional and outreach activities; holding book review and discussion sessions; and unveiling authored works and cultural and artistic productions with the theme of books and reading are also among other activities; in fact, works published with the support of the Mosque Cultural Centers Headquarters or cultural productions on the theme of books will be unveiled during this period.
He concluded: Our endeavor at the Headquarters for Coordinating Cultural and Artistic Centers of Mosques nationwide is to realize the aspirations of the Supreme Leader in the field of books and reading; he stated: ‘Today, reading and acquiring knowledge is not only a national duty but also a religious obligation. More than anyone, young people and teenagers must feel this responsibility’; based on His Holiness’s statements, our approach is to be able to develop and promote reading culture at the level of mosques, which are places for various segments of society, and especially at mosque cultural centers, whose primary audience is the adolescent and youth age group.
