Dr Fatemeh Tabatabaei, head of the Iranian Association of Islamic Mysticism, said establishing an international communication network to share Imam Khomeini’s spiritual teachings beyond political rhetoric was an important way to attract young people.
Recalling her visits to various countries, Tabatabaei said audiences had shown considerable interest in learning about the Imam’s personal character, ethics and family life. She cited her experiences in Africa and Japan as examples of the appeal of his spiritual teachings, adding that the contemporary world, increasingly weary of materialism, was searching for spirituality.
Former Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said Imam Khomeini should be understood through four dimensions: as a religious jurist, statesman, mystic and philosopher. He argued that introducing Islam primarily through religious legal practices, while neglecting love, affection and mysticism, had contributed to younger generations becoming alienated from religious teachings. Shared spiritual values, he said, could provide a more effective connection with young people.
Hojjat al-Islam Ali Komsari, head of the institute, said more than 400 titles comprising Imam Khomeini’s books and works about him had been translated into 26 languages. The institute has published nearly 2,000 titles, he added, while selected works have also been made available internationally, including through Amazon.
Tabatabaei proposed using digital platforms, in cooperation with Iranian diplomats and the institute, to connect with interested individuals and groups worldwide and introduce the Imam’s spiritual and religious ideas. She also called for former ambassadors’ experiences to be documented in her travel memoirs to provide younger generations with a better understanding of international interest in Imam Khomeini.
Former ambassadors attending the gathering shared their experiences and recommendations for promoting the Imam’s legacy abroad. Suggestions included establishing regional and thematic working groups, expanding English-language publications, documenting historical accounts and presenting the Imam’s mystical teachings alongside his political legacy.
The meeting also featured the unveiling of a pilot version of “Dalil,” a fact-checking platform designed to counter fabricated statements and misattributed quotations concerning Imam Khomeini. According to Amir Mohammad Adelani, head of the institute’s monitoring centre, the platform will verify frequently circulated quotations against the 22-volume Sahifeh-ye Imam and other reliable documents. Its official launch is expected within two months.