Iranian researcher capabilities of media to boost Islamic solidarity

An Iranian university lecturer has highlighted the significant capacities of media to boost solidarity among Islamic countries.

Manoochehr Saber, researcher at the Imam Ali (PBUH) Research Center, said these opportunities include joint production of religious content, the launch of shared television networks, collaborative sports coverage, the development of educational digital platforms, and the creation of economic promotional content, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).

 
He added that establishing joint regulatory bodies, forming crisis-management committees, and implementing cultural exchange programs could help ease tensions among Islamic nations.
 
Emphasizing the importance of expanding joint media production, he explained that such efforts involve the development of programs, articles, documentaries, and other media formats produced through cooperation among institutions, artists, and experts from different Islamic countries.
 
According to Saber, this content is based on the shared religious, cultural, and civilizational foundations of the Islamic world and aims to strengthen solidarity and promote a unified Islamic media discourse. Examples include joint television programs, feature films funded by multiple Islamic countries, shared e-books, and collectively managed social media platforms.
 
He noted that expanding joint cultural initiatives—such as art festivals, international exhibitions, youth camps, scientific and cultural competitions, and academic exchanges—would contribute to strengthening unity within the Islamic Ummah. These programs are designed to enhance mutual understanding, advance cultural diplomacy, and lay the groundwork for sustainable cultural cooperation.
 
Saber also stressed the need to curb divisive content in cyberspace, describing it as a key strategic priority. He said this requires systematic measures to counter content that fuels sectarian or ethnic tensions and undermines Islamic unity, including smart monitoring of online spaces, media literacy training, counter-narrative production, and legal mechanisms to address inflammatory material.
 
He added that in today’s environment of information overload and intense media competition, the Islamic world—despite its vast civilizational and demographic resources—faces internal challenges such as sectarian divides, political rivalries, and ethnic tensions that are widely reflected in the media. However, he said Islamic teachings, including Quranic principles and the words of Imam Ali (PBUH), offer guidance for turning these media challenges into opportunities for greater convergence.
 
Drawing on themes from Nahj al-Balagha, book compiling sermons, letters and recommendations of Imam Ali (AS), he said Islamic media can play four key roles: reinforcing shared collective memory through common religious narratives; acting as a rapid information network that highlights crises across the Islamic world and fosters mutual responsibility; promoting justice by exposing injustice and amplifying the voices of the oppressed; and serving as a bridge for dialogue that helps reduce tensions and expand cooperation.
 
He also identified six major media threats to Islamic unity: hypocrisy, rumor-spreading, distortion of facts, systematic efforts to sow division, ethnic bias, and the promotion of materialism. He warned that addressing these complex challenges requires coordinated, strategic, and intelligent media policies.