(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - In a press conference, Esmaeil Taba marked the recurring focus on issues related to the doom’s day and Mahdi’ism on the cinema, books and software programs and said, “The highest research capacity for issues about Mahdi’ism are placed in Qom and the city has the greatest potential to become the center of such studies both in national and international levels.

He went on to say that the first biennial conference for praising the best publications on Mahdi’ism will be held this year (on June 28, 2012) in the presence of representatives from institutes working on Mahdi’ism with support from the culture department of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

As he said the panel of judges of the conference screened all the works published in the past 10 years on the subject. The screenings were done in two phases and the select works will be honored in the ceremony.

He further presented more details about the select works as said, “among the submitted research works, 3 winners and 10 praiseworthy works, and in the category of children’s books, 3 winners and 6 praiseworthy works are selected.”

Moreover, he added, three winners and 5 praiseworthy works from literary works are chosen and among the screened journals, one journal is selected as a winner and another one is selected as a praiseworthy journal working on Mahdi’ism-related grounds.

He further added that publishers, translators and researchers of books and theses on Mahdi’ism will be honored in the conference as well.

“Two select publishers and two praiseworthy publishers will be lauded during the conference. One select translation and three praiseworthy works will also be honored in the conference.”

He went on to say the theses on the select Mahdi’ism will also be praised during the conference.

Furthermore, among general publications, three works will be honored as select works and 10 others will be praised.

He added that the conference will begin with a message from the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Mohammad Husseini.

Ayatollah Ostadi and Bahman Dorri, Cultural Deputy of Guidance Ministry, will be the keynote speakers of the conference. Ayatollah Moghtadaei will be the scientific secretary of the conference.

/SMH