Velayat TV Channel

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The logo of Velayat TV Channel

Velayat TV Channel is a satellite TV channel that broadcasts programs in Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Hausa, and Azerbaijani languages. It is managed under the supervision of Nasir Makarim Shirazi, one of the Shi'a authorities in Iran. The Channel established in 2010. The objectives pursued by this channel include disseminating the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (a), defending Shi'a sanctity, elucidating and promoting Islamic values based on the culture and ideologies of the Ahl al-Bayt (a). This channel also presents its content online, and some of its programs are available in book form.

Objectives and Significance

Velayat TV Channel is a satellite TV channel that was established 2010 and is managed with the support and supervision of Nasir Makarim Shirazi, an Iranian Shi'a authority. The channel broadcasts programs in Persian, Arabic, Azerbaijani, and Hausa. The channel managers have also expressed their intention to add Swahili language programs.

The goals of the channel are to spread the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (a), defend Shi'a sanctity through theoretical means, promote Islamic values based on the culture and ideologies of the Ahl al-Bayt (a), address religious queries and doubts, and enhance knowledge and understanding of Islam.

Velayat TV Channel can be accessed through Hotbird and Galaxy satellites. These satellites cover a wide area, including North and South America, Europe, North Africa, Central Asia, Arab states of the Persian Gulf, South and Southeast China, India, Afghanistan, and some of the Commonwealth of Independent States. It is reported that some programs on this channel, such as debates and responses to doubts, have attracted up to forty million viewers. Additionally, the channel has around four thousand daily viewers who watch its online broadcasts. The channel's headquarters are located in Qom, Iran.

Chronicle

The Velayat TV Channel was founded on June 26, 2010, corresponding to the 13th of Rajab, 1431 AH. The organization has been registered as the "Global Wilayat Institute" in Iran and the "Global Wilayat Channel" in the United States and the United Kingdom. Sayyid Muhammad Hussayni Qazwini was appointed as the first manager of the channel. In 2017, Abbas Raf'ati was designated as the channel's manager by Nasir Makarim Shirazi's decree. Subsequently, in 2023, Sayyid Ja'far Alawi was appointed the new manager of the channel.

In 2017, following the broadcast of a program about Abd al-Hamid Isma'ilzihi, the Sunni Imam of Friday prayer in Zahedan, Nasir Makarim Shirazi reacted to this program. In a message, Makarim Shirazi stated that his support for this channel would be withdrawn if divisive programs were aired again.

Programs

The Velayat TV channel broadcasts a variety of programs covering a range of topics such as discussions, roundtable talks, documentaries, debates, and reports. The topics covered include Islam, Shi'a, cultural, social, and economic issues. A significant focus of the channel's content is to promote Wilayat and address any doubts or cultural issues.

The channel broadcasts its programs 24/7, covering a wide range of subjects produced by scholarly groups. These include interpretation and Quranic sciences, theology and Mahdism, religious teachings and ideologies, family matters, history and biography (sira), responses to doubts, Nahj al-Balagha, al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya, and special occasion programs. Some of the programs on the channel are available in book form.