AhlulBayt News Agency: Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasized the critical role of mosques and local networks in organizing public participation, citing the experience of the recent war as evidence of this model’s effectiveness.
He made the remark during a Sunday meeting in Tehran focused on “neighborhood-centered and mosque-centered” approaches.
Also attending was Hojat-ol-Islam Mohammad Javad Haj Ali Akbari, head of Iran’s Policy Council of Friday Prayer Leaders, and Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian, the Governor of Tehran.
The gathering examined the executive and strategic dimensions of these two key models.
“The approach that has been emphasized since the beginning of this administration has shown its effectiveness in social mobilization, increasing resilience, and strengthening national cohesion during the recent war,” Pezeshkian said, referring to the US-Israeli aggression on Iran that began on February 28.
The president described mosques as central hubs of social life.
“These sacred institutions played an effective role in organizing the public’s presence on the ground, strengthening collective identity, and creating social cohesion during recent events,” he stated.
Pezeshkian highlighted the role of mosques in facilitating public participation, reducing social harms, and helping compensate for war damage at the neighborhood level.
The Iranian president also called the neighborhood the smallest but most effective unit of social governance.
“A purposeful connection between the mosque, the people, and local management can lead to the formation of a model of popular governance,” he said. “It can also significantly increase the efficiency of the decision-making system during crises.”
Reviewing field experiences from the recent war, Pezeshkian pointed to tangible achievements.
“In many areas, mosques became centers for organizing public donations,” he said. “The creation of local volunteer groups for relief operations, emergency shelter, and support for vulnerable populations are among the positive results of this model. These efforts must be strengthened with greater dedication and placed on the agenda.”
The president also addressed the role of religious platforms during national emergencies.
“The pulpits of mosques and Friday prayers should work to improve the psychological security of society,” Pezeshkian said. “They must avoid any divisive issues, combat rumors, and increase public awareness during the country’s special circumstances.”
He added that holding collective and cultural programs at these centers would help boost public morale and increase the sense of solidarity among the population.
“The recent experiences showed that wherever people entered the field in an organized manner, and centered around neighborhoods and mosques, tangible, rapid, and effective results were achieved,” the president said. “Therefore, strengthening this approach will be seriously pursued as one of the government's main priorities.”
The meeting also addressed the need to design clear mechanisms for targeted public participation in solving local issues, particularly in social, cultural, and crisis management fields.
........................
End/ 257
Your Comment