More Than 2,500 Religious Groups Active in Mashhad

Mashhad – The head of Mashhad's Religious Groups Council announced the registration of some 5,000 religious groups in the city, saying more than half of them are active.

In a conversation with Mehr reporter, Mohammad Reza Safaei announced the registration of about 5,000 religious delegations in this city and stated: More than half of these delegations are active and the performance of licensed delegations is checked on various occasions using evaluation forms and field monitoring.

The head of the Council of Religious Boards of Mashhad stated: About 5,000 religious boards have been registered in Mashhad, and more than half of them are active. Also, about 2 thousand processions operate in this city, and efforts have been made to provide them with special support.

Referring to the monitoring of the performance of religious delegations, he added: The inspection committee of the council operates with about 150 volunteers, and the performance of the delegations that have received permission from the council is reviewed on occasions such as Muharram and Fatemiyya days, based on evaluation forms.

Safaei continued: The results of the evaluations are recorded in the relevant systems, and if a violation report or public complaint is received, the inspection committee will follow up on the matter. In case of ignoring the warnings and continuing the violations, the matter will be followed through judicial and law enforcement authorities.

The head of the Council of Religious Boards of Mashhad emphasized the social role of the boards and stated: the activities of religious boards are not limited to holding mourning ceremonies, but these groups are also present in cultural and social spheres throughout the year.

Referring to the actions of the delegations during the Corona era and their charitable activities, he said: distribution of livelihood packages in the holy month of Ramadan, helping the needy and holding easy marriage ceremonies are among the actions of the religious delegations in Mashhad. In one of these programs, 114 couples started their lives together in the form of an easy marriage ceremony at Shahid Beheshti Hall in Mashhad.

Safaei also pointed to the expansion of special programs for children in processions and processions and added: In recent years, the creation of special booths and spaces for children in processions and processions has been given attention and this part of the activities has been developed.

The head of the Council of Religious Boards of Mashhad, while explaining the programs of this year's Fatimiyah Days, stated: The planned programs include organizing processions, creating urban atmosphere, holding mourning gatherings and home prayers under the title "Every House, One Hosseiniyeh".

Referring to the gathering held on the morning of the martyrdom of Hazrat Fatemeh Zahra (pbuh), he added: this gathering will be held with the presence of mourning groups from Shahada Square, and efforts are being made to implement this year's programs with cultural and religious additions appropriate to the days of Fatima.

Safaei also said about the number of active processions during Fatimiyah days: Last year, about 800 processions were active during these days, but the final statistics of this year's processions have not been determined yet due to the continuation of the registration period.