The Islamic Civilization Center became the focus of attention at the 1st International Manuscripts Symposium in Istanbul

The 1st International Manuscripts Symposium held in Istanbul brought together scholars from different parts of the world in one intellectual forum. Within this setting, the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan drew particular attention for its rich heritage, modern scholarly approaches, and innovation-driven experience.

The international manuscripts symposium, held in Istanbul, Türkiye, gathered more than 100 specialists, historians, and manuscript scholars from over 20 countries. In this context, the Islamic Civilization Center stood out as one of the key participants, distinguished by its strong academic potential and its open approach to international cooperation.

The main objective of the symposium was to strengthen international collaboration in the preservation, study, and digitization of manuscripts, and to discuss ways of transmitting historical and cultural heritage to future generations.

At the opening ceremony of the symposium, a congratulatory message from the President of the Republic of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was read out to the participants. The message emphasized the importance of expanding cultural and scientific cooperation, preserving manuscripts, and passing them on to future generations.

Within the framework of the event, a presentation by the Islamic Civilization Center was held. The Scientific Secretary of the Center, Rustam Jabborov, provided detailed information on manuscript preservation and research activities at the Center, ongoing projects, scientific expeditions, digitization processes, and the system of international cooperation.

Rustam Jabborov emphasized that special attention to manuscripts occupies an important place in the state policy of Uzbekistan:

“In New Uzbekistan, the fields of science, education, and culture are being supported at an unprecedented level. Preserving cultural heritage and promoting it widely to the world has become a priority direction of state policy.”

He also recalled that the Islamic Civilization Center was established on the initiative of the President, and highlighted the President’s statement made during the cornerstone-laying ceremony in 2018: “The purpose of this Center is to deeply study Islamic enlightenment and knowledge, and to convey the heritage of our ancestors to our people and to the world.”

As part of the event, a video presentation showcasing historical manuscripts and exhibits held at the Center was screened.

The Scientific Secretary also noted that the establishment of the Imam Bukhari, Imam Tirmidhi, and Imam Maturidi research centers has further strengthened the ecosystem for manuscript studies in Uzbekistan.

During the symposium, participants exchanged views on working with manuscripts, preservation technologies, modern research methods, the digitization of manuscripts, and the implementation of metadata systems.

The participants also undertook practical visits to the Rumi, Suleymaniye, and Beyazid libraries, where they became closely acquainted with the condition of ancient manuscripts preserved in Türkiye, as well as restoration and conservation practices.

In addition, meetings were held on bilateral and multilateral cooperation projects between Uzbekistan and Türkiye involving specialists in this field.