Islamic Unity Conference to Focus on ‘Martyr Imam’s’ Legacy

TEHRAN -- The World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought has announced that the 40th International Islamic Unity Conference, scheduled for September in Tehran, will center on the ideas and approaches of “Martyr Imam” in the field of Islamic unity.

Hojjatoleslam Hamid Shahriari, Secretary-General of the Forum, made the remarks during a meeting with members of Iran’s Parliamentary Cultural Commission. 
He noted that this year’s conference holds special significance as the first major gathering of the Islamic world following the martyrdom of prominent resistance leaders, especially Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. 
Shahriari confirmed that while topics such as interfaith rapprochement, Islamic unity, and war and peace remain on the agenda, this edition will feature a special focus on the late leader’s legacy.
Two new initiatives were unveiled. The first, “Decentralized Proximity,” will send international guests to various Iranian provinces before returning to Tehran for the main event, enabling direct engagement with local cultural and scholarly capacities. 
The second, “Proximity of Notables,” will invite not only senior clerics and religious affairs ministers but also influential social media personalities with millions of followers across the Muslim world—particularly those who have taken supportive stances on Gaza—to help amplify the message of Islamic unity globally.
Shahriari also outlined what he described as four campaigns led by global arrogance: Islamophobia, Iranophobia, Shiaphobia, and resistance-phobia. He stressed the importance of understanding opportunities and threats in the current landscape, where major Islamic powers—including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt’s Al-Azhar—each hold distinct approaches and capacities.
Meanwhile, members of the Parliamentary Cultural Commission voiced support for the Forum’s work. Lawmaker Hassanali Akhlaghi Amiri offered the city of Mashhad as a potential host for the 40th conference, citing its infrastructure and security. 
Other representatives called for expanding unity efforts beyond clerics to include artists, poets, and cultural figures across the Islamic world, and for monitoring works that promote sectarian division.
The forum also reported that regional conferences in Malaysia have helped ease sectarian tensions, and new provincial meetings are planned for North Khorasan and Sistan and Baluchestan provinces.