Session at the forum. Photo: Center for Islamic Civilization press service
The working sessions of the International Expert Council concluded at the “Heritage of the Great Past — Foundation of an Enlightened Future” forum held at the Center for Islamic Civilization in Tashkent.
Council members took part in ten thematic sections, each devoted to one of the Center’s key areas: the Hall of the Holy Quran, pre-Islamic civilizations, the history of Islam’s spread, science and education of the First and Second Renaissances, the khanate period, the library, the museum, collections of artifacts and manuscripts, and the creation of an international platform for collaborative projects.
Experts heard reports from Center staff and project coordinators, asking follow-up questions. More detailed feedback will be provided at the plenary session the next day and in subsequent exchanges among scholars.
The discussions brought together more than 200 specialists from Uzbekistan and abroad, including representatives of IRCICA, the Muslim World League, TURKSOY, national libraries and archives, the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Oxford University, Christie’s, and other leading institutions.
“First of all, we express our gratitude to the president of the Republic and the head of the Center for this invitation and for the creation of this great Islamic complex. The Islamic heritage is truly vast. We expect that the opening of the Center will be truly significant and give it international prominence. The forum is excellent, with delegates from different countries around the world. We hope it will generate valuable knowledge that will be put to use in the Center for Islamic Civilization,” said Salah al-Addwani, a representative of the Muslim World League from Saudi Arabia.
The two-day forum “Heritage of the Great Past — Foundation of an Enlightened Future” was organized at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. More than 200 scholars and experts from over 20 countries are participating. Among the contributors are representatives of national and international academic organizations, including TURKSOY, ISESCO, IRCICA, and Al-Furqan. Coverage is being provided by more than ten international media outlets, including Euronews, Al Jazeera, and Mir.
The Center for Islamic Civilization was built in the Uzbek capital next to the Khast-Imam complex. Its architecture reflects the style of medieval monuments, with four portals 34 meters high and a central dome rising 65 meters. The building houses a Quran Hall, a 460-seat conference hall, and a museum whose exhibitions will cover the entire history of Uzbekistan — from pre-Islamic times to the present. The Center is designed as a platform for studying and reinterpreting the legacy of past generations in cooperation with the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan and academic and educational institutions worldwide.
