Uzbekistan’s Educational Initiatives in Turkey and Riyadh: The Islamic Civilization Center on the International Stage

 

 

A group of Uzbek scholars visited the Republic of Turkey, where they took part in several conferences, roundtable discussions, presentations, and exhibitions. The central event of the trip was the international symposium held in Istanbul dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Turkish National Palaces Administration. It brought together more than 50 speakers and nearly 300 participants from 37 countries to discuss modern approaches to museum work and the preservation of cultural heritage.

 

The opening ceremony featured a video address by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, National Palaces Director Yasin Yıldız, and other officials welcomed the participants. It was noted that the transfer of Ottoman imperial palaces to state ownership at the initiative of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1925 laid the foundation for the formation of the National Palaces system.

 

 

At the symposium, Uzbekistan was represented by scholars including Firdavs Abdukhaliov, Director of the Islamic Civilization Center; Jannat Ismoilova, Director of the State Museum of the History of Uzbekistan; Sherzod Sodiqov, Deputy Director of the National Agency “UzArchiv”; and senior researcher Nasriddin Mirzaev. They delivered presentations on Uzbekistan’s efforts to preserve and promote cultural heritage.

 

Uzbekistan’s presentation: an innovative museum for the new generation

 

The Islamic Civilization Center’s Director and Chairman of the World Society for the Study, Preservation and Popularization of the Cultural Heritage of Uzbekisyan, Firdavs Abdukhalikov, delivered Uzbekistan’s official address. He spoke about the mission of the Center, the concept behind its museum exhibitions, and the international scientific research currently underway within the major educational project initiated by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

 

“The Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan was established on the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Its primary mission is to study Islamic enlightenment and to convey the heritage of our ancestors to our people and the international community. The museum exhibitions at the Center are designed according to modern standards and enriched with scientific research and innovative projects. The exhibitions are created jointly with local and foreign experts, and the museum uses artificial intelligence to recreate the images of our great ancestors,” said Firdavs Abdukhalikov.

 

A video presentation about the Center’s activities was shown at the symposium, offering detailed information on its recent development, research projects, museum exhibitions, and collaborations with local and international experts.

 

“Thanks to the initiatives of our respected President, significant work is being carried out in Uzbekistan to showcase our nation’s substantial contribution to world history and culture. Studying the experience of foreign countries is of great importance in this process. In this regard, our current visit to Turkey has been highly beneficial and memorable. By closely examining the exhibits related to Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage in Turkish museums and libraries, we gained deeper confidence that the culture, history, and destiny of our two nations are closely intertwined,” said Jannat Ismoilova, Director of the State Museum of History of Uzbekistan.

 

 

During the visit, representatives of the Center also met with IRISCA Director Mahmud Erol Kılıç. He emphasized that Uzbekistan holds a leading position among 57 countries in preserving Islamic culture and heritage, and noted that the Center, established on the initiative of the President, is a major mega-project of great significance for the entire Islamic world. It was also announced that IRISCA is preparing a special book-album dedicated to Uzbekistan’s recent spiritual and educational reforms, reflecting recent transformations, joint events, and upcoming projects.

 

A key part of the trip was the delegation’s visit to the rare manuscript collection at the Süleymaniye Library. According to Coşkun Yılmaz, Director of the Turkish Manuscripts Directorate, the library houses more than 200,000 manuscripts preserved under modern conditions, many of which are related to Uzbekistan’s historical heritage. Uzbek and Turkish experts have long maintained fruitful cooperation in studying and promoting manuscript collections.

 

 

After the events in Turkey, the Center’s Director, Firdavs Abdukhalikov, visited the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia at the invitation of the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL).

 

In Mecca, the Center’s Director participated in the presentation of MWL’s newly launched electronic platform. The platform aims to digitize Islamic heritage, strengthen scientific cooperation, and deliver resources and research related to Islamic civilization to a global audience. Representatives of numerous international scientific and religious organizations attended the presentation.

 

 

Firdavs Abdukhalikov also met with the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Abdulkarim Al-Issa. During the meeting, the parties discussed bilateral cooperation between the Islamic Civilization Center and the MWL, including joint research, digitization of sources, organization of international conferences and exhibitions, and expert exchange.

 

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides expressed readiness to expand strategic cooperation and elevate mutually beneficial projects to a new stage.

 

The events held in Turkey and Saudi Arabia further strengthened the international standing of the Islamic Civilization Center. The meetings in Istanbul enhanced opportunities for scientific and practical cooperation, joint projects, and information exchange, while the launch of the MWL electronic platform in Mecca marked a new stage in the digitization of Islamic heritage and global scientific integration. Both visits reinforced Uzbekistan’s educational diplomacy, scientific cooperation, and strategic efforts to present the heritage of Islamic civilization to the world.