News

On August 26, the second day of the international media forum “Islamic Civilization: New Perspective — New Discoveries” is taking place in Tashkent. The forum has brought together around 300 journalists, media executives, experts, and representatives of the creative industries from nearly 50 countries. The main events are being held at the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, while master classes led by international media professionals are being held simultaneously at higher education institutions across the capital.

Today, the Center will host the third plenary session, titled “Heritage connecting the centuries: the spiritual essence of Islamic civilization.” Its programme will focus on the Qur’anic heritage, ancient manuscripts, calligraphy, documentary filmmaking, and the use of artificial intelligence in the study of historical sources.

Participants will be presented with “114 Qur’ans: 114 masterpieces of calligraphy from the Islamic World,” “The Katta Langar Qur’an: facts and legends,” the documentary film “Mosque,” the publishing project “The 99 Names of Allah,” and the technology project “Artificial Intelligence — a digital key to reading ancient manuscripts.” An international discussion will also be held on the role of the media in overcoming stereotypes and Islamophobia, while a World Calligraphy Competition to create the unique “World Qur’an” will be announced.

The fourth plenary session, titled “From historical heritage towards a new renaissance: Uzbekistan’s role in advancing the ideas of Islamic civilization,” will focus on New Uzbekistan’s international initiatives, educational projects, and publishing initiatives. In particular, the projects “New Uzbekistan” and “New Uzbekistan through the eyes of the world: an era of transformation,” as well as the book “Shavkat Mirziyoyev: An Enlightened Leader,” will be presented. The session will conclude with an international discussion on engaging modern society in educational and enlightenment initiatives.

At the same time, meetings and master classes will be held at higher education institutions in Tashkent with representatives of CNN, BBC Studios, TRT World, Report.az, Mueller & Schindler, the “1001 Inventions” project, the National Centre “Russia,” and other international media organizations. The sessions will cover digital journalism, artificial intelligence, television production, publishing, engagement with global audiences, and modern formats for promoting historical and cultural heritage.

One of the day’s central events will be the official closing ceremony of the forum’s main business programme at the Islamic Civilization Center. Government officials, members of the Organizing Committee, and representatives of the international media community will deliver remarks, while the outcomes of the plenary sessions and discussions will be summarized.

As part of the ceremony, the final documents of the international media forum are expected to be adopted, including the Forum Declaration and an address by the participants to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

In the Declaration, participants propose establishing an International Media Alliance, holding the “Voice of civilizations” International Media Competition annually, developing educational programmes and professional exchanges for journalists, expanding the scope of joint media projects, and establishing ongoing cooperation between leading global media outlets and the Islamic Civilization Center.

The document will also note that around 20 memoranda of cooperation were signed within the framework of the forum and will propose transforming the Tashkent international media forum into a permanent platform for regular international media dialogue.

Following the adoption of the final documents, the main business programme of the media forum will be officially declared closed, followed by concluding remarks.

On August 27, the forum programme will continue in Samarkand. Participants will visit the Imam Bukhari Memorial Complex, the School of Hadith Studies, the Imam Bukhari Innovation Museum, and the city’s historical and cultural heritage sites.