Over 100 experts from more than 20 countries of the world are in Tashkent!

The international forum “Heritage of the Great Past – Foundation of an Enlightened Future” has started at the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan.

 

 

On September 26–27, 2025, the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, located in Tashkent, is hosting an international forum on the theme “Heritage of the Great Past – Foundation of an Enlightened Future”.

 

This prestigious event is attended by more than 100 experts from over 20 countries — renowned scholars, museum directors, librarians, and specialists in the field of cultural heritage. Among them are representatives of IRCICA, the World Muslim League, ICESCO, TURKSOY, national libraries and archives, the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the University of Oxford, the world-famous auction house Christie’s, and other leading organizations.

 

 

 

 

 

The international forum is aimed at supporting the efforts of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, to preserve the true humanistic essence of Islam and to promote intercultural dialogue.

 

Eight years ago, the Head of State, speaking from the rostrum of the United Nations, identified the task of conveying the genuine humanistic nature of Islam to the global community as one of the most important priorities. He emphasized that “Islam calls humanity to goodness and peace, to the preservation of true human virtues”. At the same time, he highlighted the invaluable services of the great scholars born in Uzbekistan in explaining the educational and enlightening role of Islam to humanity.

 

One of the significant steps in this direction was the decision adopted on June 23, 2017, by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to establish the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan under the Cabinet of Ministers.

 

The international forum that has begun today is the logical continuation of the spiritual and educational policy carried out in Uzbekistan and marks a new stage in scientific cooperation.

 

As President Mirziyoyev recently noted in his speech at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly:

“While consistently implementing the policy of tolerance in society, Uzbekistan will continue to deeply study the ideas of an enlightened Islam and widely promote them throughout the world. In the coming months, the unique Center for Islamic Civilization, the only one of its kind in the region, will open in Tashkent. A special event is planned at the United Nations to present the rich spiritual and scientific heritage of our great ancestors – Imam al-Bukhari, Imam al-Tirmidhi, and Imam al-Maturidi”.

 

This international forum, held on the eve of the Center’s opening, is aimed at supporting President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s efforts to preserve the true humanistic essence of Islam and to promote intercultural dialogue.

 

Forum participants are getting acquainted with the preparations for the opening of the Center and are discussing the final formation of the museum exposition, scientific and educational projects, new approaches to digitizing collections, opportunities for using multimedia technologies, and the transformation of the Center into a globally significant scientific, educational, and cultural hub.

 

International scholars participating in the event have also taken part in 10 thematic panel sessions within the framework of the Center’s exhibitions, sharing their views and proposals. These sessions covered the main areas of the Center’s activities, including the Holy Qur’an Hall, pre-Islamic civilizations, the history and spread of Islam, science and enlightenment in the First and Second Renaissances, the era of khanates, the library, the museum, the collection of manuscripts and artifacts, as well as the creation of a platform for international scientific and cultural projects.

 

 

Ahmad Abdul Basit, representative of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and manuscript specialist:

 

“First of all, I am glad to have visited the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan. I was very impressed. I listened to your President’s speeches at the United Nations. They were very interesting and meaningful, reflecting the Islamic Civilization at the highest level.

 

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized that Islam is a religion of tolerance and peace. This is an undeniable truth, for Peace is one of the beautiful names of Allah”.

 

 

Cengiz Tomar, Deputy Director of the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA):

 

“We hope for a new return of the Islamic-Turkic Renaissance, especially in Central Asia and the Middle East. Today, Central Asia is developing peacefully and steadily. Growth and progress are evident in the region. It is precisely during the era of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan that, as a specialist, I can say, initiatives are being taken to make the history and Civilization of Islam great once again. This is very important.

For this, first of all, we need peace and security. Then we must work a lot and intensively, because we have fallen a bit behind, and in order to compete with other nations, we must develop faster. Now we are in the age of the internet, the age of information technologies, the age of artificial intelligence. All of this has mainly developed in the Western world. But we, too, must strive rapidly forward based on peace and through regional cooperation and work together with Turkic and Islamic countries.

Through the initiatives of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the leaders of other Islamic-Turkic countries, we will once again show the world the glorious days of our history, our Civilization, and our art”.

 

 

Salim Ezer, Head of the Information and Communications Department of the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY):

 

“My first impression, I can say, is astonishing. It is a very beautiful place. As an art enthusiast and a person who follows such museums all over the world, I can say that this place is unique and unparalleled.
The Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan is, in fact, the signature of your President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. And this signature will live on for years, developing with each passing year. In my opinion, this center is a very important step towards presenting the richness of Islamic culture to the world.

The Center is not only a reminder of the past but also speaks about the future, giving the new generations the opportunity to feel themselves as the heirs of the heritage presented here. Another remarkable aspect is that the rarest works, manuscripts, and exhibits have been returned to Uzbekistan after many centuries. This constitutes a valuable part of tangible cultural heritage”.

 

 

Damir Mukhetdinov, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia:

 

“In his speech from the prestigious rostrum of the United Nations, the Honorable President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, expressed very important ideas for Islam and Muslims.

First of all, your President announced the forthcoming opening of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan and spoke about the need to develop enlightened Islam.

In our view, today there are 8 billion people in the world, of whom 2 billion are Muslims. How Islam should be, how we should teach it, how we should study it in schools and universities, how we should preach it from the pulpits of mosques, how we should shape the perception of Islam in the minds of young people – these are very important issues.

If the President of a major country draws attention to such ideas and delivers to society, the Muslim world, and the entire civilized world the message that “the future belongs to Islam”, and emphasizes that there is a special place for culture, science, and education, this is of great significance. The Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan is a vivid example of this. Bringing together two millennia of Muslim culture and civilization, this center demonstrates the depth of Islamic culture and can convey the beauty of Islam to visitors in a modern, engaging way.

I also believe that the theme of the Renaissance is very appropriate. Because when we speak about the First, Second, and Third Renaissances, this defines the directions for the future: it shows how a person should build his own life and the lives of his children and grandchildren in a changing world. Preserving such a central place for Islam – both through the speeches of the Honorable President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and through the very existence of the Center for Islamic Civilization – is clear evidence of this.”

 

 

Alikber Alikberov, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences:

 

“People say we should not look back, only forward. But in fact, only those nations with deep cultural and civilizational roots can truly see the dynamics of progress and develop sustainably. That is why the words of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the 80th session of the UN are so important: history and culture are the fundamental foundation that makes successful and confident development possible in the future. This is also the guarantee that the processes of modernization will be strong and consistent.

Any development proceeds by leaps from one stage to the next. Today, the path chosen by Uzbekistan the path of modernization, creativity, and progress will be further strengthened and implemented effectively. Here the link between history and modernity is clearly visible: by relying on the past, it is possible to implement future strategies with even greater confidence. Not all countries have such a strategy. Uzbekistan is fortunate because its President looks to the future and sets development in the interests of the people as a goal.

I congratulate you on this unique monument built in the center of Tashkent, in historic Shosh. The Center for Islamic Civilization will become a place where cultural heritage is collected, preserved, and studied in depth. Most importantly it will be protected and understood”.

 

 

Berik Abdigaliuly, Director of the National Museum of History of Kazakhstan:

 

“This is a mega-project that covers all stages from the first, second, and third ‘revolutionary stages’ up to the present day. Uzbekistan is truly taking the initiative here, presenting a chronological sequence of historical events from ancient times to the modern era.

There is a certain logic in this, and in my opinion, it is very interesting and deserves special respect. This is not a local or ethnic project it is an initiative of international scale. Traditionally, the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan has been associated with the Middle East, but now Central Asia is also making its significant contribution. This commands respect and admiration.

 

Within the framework of the International Forum’s program, it is planned to sign memoranda of cooperation, adopt the final Declaration of the Forum, and hold a ceremony for the handover of artifacts to the Center.

 

At the conclusion of the Forum, concrete recommendations for the development of the Center will be worked out, and the implementation of international exhibitions, research, and digital projects will be outlined.