Activities during the International Expert Council Forum, Centre for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan

The inauguration of the splendid premises of the Centre for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan under the Cabinet of Ministers, Tashkent, was marked by an International Expert Council Forum convened on 26-27 September 2025 in the presence of representatives of cultural research institutions, international organizations, libraries, museums, universities’ departments involved in studies on Islamic history and culture, from various countries. The participants had the opportunity to receive first-hand information on the activities, visit its departments and exhibition halls, and exchange views on cooperation in their respective common fields of interest. IRCICA was represented by the Chief Advisor/Head of Research and Publications Prof. Dr. Cengiz Tomar. Following the opening ceremony addressed by Mr. Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, keynote addresses were delivered by Mr. Homidjon Ishmatbekov, First Deputy Chairman of the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan and Mr. Azimjon Gofurov, Researcher and Coordinator, Centre for Islamic Civilization. Then, the participants got acquainted with the collections and activities of the Centre through the specialized exhibitions displayed, on “Civilizations of the Pre-Islamic Period,” “Spread of Islam,” “Science and Enlightenment – Hall of the First Renaissance,” “Hall of the Second Renaissance,” “Era of the Khanates,” “Library of the Center for Islamic Civilization,” “Museum of the Center for Islamic Civilization,” “Collection of Artifacts and Manuscripts,” “International Platform of the Center for Islamic Civilization.” Representatives of countries (Azerbaijan, France, Germany, India, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Türkiye, U.K., and Uzbekistan) and institutions, including scholarly research centers and universities in Uzbekistan (the Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, the Imam Bukhari, Imam Termizi, Imam Maturidi scientific research centers), made interventions at each session, contributing ideas and experiences on the study and management of manuscript sources in general and the Centre’s museum to be opened in two months’ time, in particular. Prof. Cengiz Tomar spoke during the session on the “Spread of Islam,” and also gave interviews to media about the long-standing cooperation between IRCICA and the Centre for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan which covers different areas of studies on written sources of history.