By Virtue of the Minister of Science’s Decree, the Head of SAMT was appointed.

The Minister of Science, Research and Technology decreed Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Dr. Hamid Shahriari as the Head of SAMT.

The Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Science reported that the decree of Dr. Hossein Simaee Sarraf, the Minister of Science, addressed to Dr. Shahriari stated:

‘Given the level of commitment, specialization, and valuable experiences of Your Excellency, by virtue of this decree, you are appointed as the “Head of the Organization for Researching and Composing University Textbooks in Islamic Sciences and the Humanities (SAMT)”. You are expected to supervise that organization, relying on God Almighty, based on the laws, the approved policies, and programs and the Islamic University Document. It is hoped that you will properly fulfill the assigned duties by following Islamic teachings, scientific foundations, the strategy of the Government of National Accord, and by enlisting the cooperation of academics and experts. I ask God Almighty for Your Excellency’s increasing success and pride.’

In a separate letter, the Minister of Science appreciated the services and efforts of Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Dr. Dawood Mahdavizadegan, the former head of SAMT.

Dr. Hamid Shahriari received his PhD in Comparative Philosophy from the University of Qom. Philosophy of Ethics is his academic field of specialization. He is also a graduate of Qom Seminary with a level-4 certificate and a degree in Ijtihad from the Leadership Experts.

Ethics in Western Thought: MacIntyre’s Point of View (2002), as the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Book of the Year in Philosophy in 2006 and as the best academic book at the University of Tehran is the result of Dr. Shahriari's one-year study as a visiting student at the University of Manchester. He authored 14 books and 27 research articles and translated Alasdair MacIntyre’s Three Rival Versions of Moral Enquiry to Persian. His master's thesis in the field of theology and Islamic studies, entitled "The Council on Fatwa" (1995) was awarded as the best research in the field of religion.