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Conveying the Islamic religion’s message of peace, tolerance, and knowledge to the international community is becoming not merely the responsibility of a single country, but a shared mission of the entire Muslim world. Uzbekistan is emerging as a leading initiator of this international cooperation. One of the most significant expressions of this vision is the First International Islamic Civilization Forum, held from 7 to 11 July at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the cities of Tashkent, Samarkand, and Termez. Bringing together nearly 300 statesmen, public figures, ministers, muftis, distinguished scholars, academics, researchers, museum and library directors, and representatives of international organizations from more than 40 countries, the forum serves as a global platform promoting peace, tolerance, and enlightenment. Renowned scholars and religious leaders from around the world have praised this forum as a landmark initiative. Among them is Mahmud Erol Kılıç, Director General of the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA).

Mahmud Erol Kılıç, Director General of the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA):

This remarkable initiative sheds new light on the great civilizational achievements that emerged within the historical geography of Uzbekistan and opens new avenues of cooperation to preserve and carry the core ideas and values of this rich heritage into the future.

The forum offers us another opportunity to journey intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and geographically through this extraordinary historical region. For centuries, Transoxiana, Khorasan, and the broader Central Asian region have been among the world's great centers of civilization, where numerous branches of knowledge flourished and invaluable contributions were made to human intellectual development. In these lands, where diverse cultural traditions converged, Islam’s call to knowledge and learning, together with the support extended by rulers to scholars, fostered progress across every field of human endeavor. This process began during the early centuries of Islam with the khanates under the Caliphate and continued through the great empires that emerged after the thirteenth century, including the Golden Horde, the Timurid Empire, and their successors.

Throughout these periods, the region became a major center of scholarship and advancement. Despite complex historical transformations and changing eras, it maintained uninterrupted ties with the outside world. Consequently, the cultural history of this region occupies a distinguished place in the collective memory of Muslim peoples. This heritage also holds a central position in the work of IRCICA, the intergovernmental research and cultural institution operating under the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which I have the honor to lead.

Our cooperation with Uzbekistan has been highly productive. Indeed, the history of Islamic civilization cannot be imagined without the legacy of the great scholars who lived and worked in this land, including Imam Bukhari, Imam Tirmidhi, Imam Maturidi, Farabi, Biruni, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Zamakhshari, Khwarizmi, and many other outstanding figures.

We are committed to studying their scholarly legacy, publishing their works, developing educational programs, and sharing this knowledge with the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as well as with the wider international academic and cultural community.

Within this framework, our cooperation with the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan has entered a new stage.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who organized this remarkable forum.

For reference: IRCICA is an intergovernmental research and cultural institution operating under the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Its primary mission is to study and promote the history, art, and cultural heritage of the Organization’s 57 member states across four continents.

Central Asia is one of IRCICA’s foremost areas of activity. We are implementing numerous academic cooperation projects, particularly with institutions in Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, as well as with scholarly communities in neighboring countries.