Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism visits the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan
As part of these events, today a delegation headed by Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, visited the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, established on the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The distinguished guest was accompanied by Ozodbek Nazarbekov, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The guests were welcomed by Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan.
At the beginning of the visit, the guests were briefed on the mosaic arches featuring the Center’s “Gallery of Great Figures.” There, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, presented the Center with a rare manuscript copy of Alisher Navoi’s “Kulliyat.”
The manuscript was preserved under inventory number R. 808 in the Revan Collection of the Topkapi Palace Library in Istanbul. Consisting of 802 folios, this rare manuscript began to be copied in 1495, during Alisher Navoi’s lifetime, by Darvish Muhammad Taqiy and was completed after the poet’s death. The Kulliyat contains 26 works by Navoi and is adorned with two miniatures, 24 gilded headings, and 30 decorated frontispiece pages.
The manuscript is of particular significance as a rare example of Alisher Navoi’s literary heritage and of Eastern manuscript art of the 15th–16th centuries. It was placed in the Navoi section of the Center’s Second Renaissance Hall.
The guests then visited the Holy Qur’an Hall, where one of the Muslim world’s rarest treasures — the Uthman Mushaf — is preserved.
During the visit, members of the delegation also toured the section dedicated to pre-Islamic civilizations, the First and Second Renaissance halls, and the “New Uzbekistan — Foundation of a New Renaissance” section, gaining a closer insight into the Center’s exhibitions, historical sources, and modern museum technologies.
Sharing his impressions of the Center, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, emphasized the steadily developing cultural ties between Uzbekistan and Türkiye.
“On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan, I am pleased to have had the opportunity to visit this country today and, in particular, the Islamic Civilization Center. I had previously seen this complex during its construction in 2021 and 2024. Seeing it completed today, I felt very proud for my Uzbek brothers. We are standing in an enormous museum complex covering an area of 42,000 square meters and recognized by Guinness World Records. Here, the history of the pre-Islamic civilizations that flourished in these lands, the arrival of Islam, Uzbekistan’s First and Second Renaissance periods, as well as the idea of the Third Renaissance in New Uzbekistan, are presented in a coherent and comprehensive manner. I congratulate all the specialists who contributed to the creation of the Center.
Very important work is being carried out here to preserve Turkic-Islamic and other Islamic works and to present them to the wider public. We are also implementing numerous museum projects in Türkiye. However, here I witnessed the use of the latest technologies in modern museology. I believe this is one of the places that everyone visiting Uzbekistan should definitely see. Our relations with Uzbekistan are very strong. We continue to exchange views and learn from one another in every field. I hope that the cooperation between our brotherly countries and the close relations initiated by our heads of state will continue to develop consistently in the future,” said Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.
At the conclusion of the visit, the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye left his wishes in the Center’s Book of Distinguished Guests.
As part of the visit, the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan also presented Mehmet Nuri Ersoy with a facsimile copy of the Katta Langar Qur’an.
The visit of the Turkish delegation to the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan was an important manifestation of cooperation aimed at further strengthening the historical and cultural ties between the two countries, as well as studying and widely promoting their shared civilizational heritage.