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The First International Islamic Civilization Forum “Islamic Civilization: The Path of Peace, Tolerance, and Enlightenment” was organized under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and held from 7-11 July 2026 in three cities of Uzbekistan: Tashkent, Samarkand and Termiz. The forum was coordinated by the Centre of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan in collaboration with the Committee on Religious Affairs, the Imam Maturidi, Imam Bukhari, and Imam Termizi International Research Centers, the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan and the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan.
IRCICA was one of the international partners of the forum. The events brought together 300 guests from more than 40 countries including government and public figures, ministers, muftis, scholars in Islamic studies, manuscript heritage specialists, representatives of international organizations, museums, libraries, and the media. Its program included a variety of conference sessions, cooperation agreements, book launches, visits to museums, historical sites, and cultural and diplomatic encounters. Conferences were dedicated to major topics such as “Imam al-Bukhari’s Al-Jami al-Sahih,” “The Heritage of Imam Maturidi – The Foundation of Moderation and Reason in Islamic Civilization,” and “The Termez Hadith School: The Heritage of Scholars and Modern Research,” each comprised of sessions addressing different aspects of research, information and methodology, and highlighting the contemporary relevance of these topics. The overall goal of the forum was to project a true image of Islamic civilization and its contributions to science and culture; reflect Uzbekistan’s historical role and scholarly heritage in this respect, and widely promote the ideas of peace, tolerance and enlightenment in the modern world.
At the opening session in Tashkent, the Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Speechwriter Mr. Khayriddin Sultonov read out the welcoming address from the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the forum participants. The conferences, spread over three cities, focused on the history of culture and sciences, highlighting the scholarship that emanated from the Mawarannahr region and wider Central Asia throughout the centuries of Islam and its contemporary developments in all fields, including religious sciences and philosophy; manuscript heritage studies; archaeology, museology; cultural heritage preservation; digital processes; cultural diplomacy; advances in research and publications.
IRCICA Director General Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç, together with Chief Advisor/Head of Research and Publications Prof. Cengiz Tomar, and the Advisor for Central Asian Studies and International Relations Prof. Ashirbek Muminov, presented papers in various conferences and also gave specialized lectures. IRCICA signed/renewed memoranda of cooperation with Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Centre (Samarkand) and Imam Termizi International Scientific Research Centre (Termiz). 
