A representative of an independent research center from the United States described the Islamic Civilization Center as “a unique experience in the world”
Thomas Hengst, Strategic Business Manager for Europe at the independent research center FamilySearch in the United States, highly praised the exhibitions of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan for being organized not in a fragmented manner, but as a coherent historical narrative encompassing all stages of the region’s development.
The Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan is increasingly attracting the attention of the international community and is becoming a platform for dialogue between different cultures and historical periods. Recently, a delegation led by Thomas Hengst, Strategic Business Manager for Europe at the U.S.-based FamilySearch organization, visited the Center. This visit was a significant event, clearly demonstrating the high level of interest foreign specialists have in Uzbekistan’s rich historical heritage.
From the very first minutes of entering the Center, Thomas Hengst emphasized that he was genuinely impressed by the scale of the project, the architectural solutions, and the modern approach to presenting historical materials. According to him, the exhibition is organized not in a fragmented manner, but as a unified historical narrative covering all stages of the region’s development from the pre-Islamic period to the present day. He noted that he had never encountered such a comprehensive approach anywhere else in the world.
“This is a truly unique initiative put forward by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. I am absolutely amazed by the design, technological capabilities, and the way history is presented here. What impressed me the most is that history is covered comprehensively in all its aspects. I have not seen such an approach anywhere else in the world,” said Thomas Hengst.
Thomas Hengst also pointed out that in many countries the past and the present are disconnected, resulting in people losing a sense of historical continuity. At the Islamic Civilization Center, by contrast, a natural and meaningful harmony between different historical periods has been created.
Assessing the significance of the Center, which was established on the personal initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the delegation representative particularly emphasized its important educational mission. In his view, the Center serves as a powerful source of enlightenment not only for the younger generation, but also for society as a whole and for foreign visitors to the country.
At the conclusion of the visit, Thomas Hengst expressed his deep gratitude for the work carried out and specifically noted that the Islamic Civilization Center is a vivid example of successfully combining respect for history with modern thinking and technology, thereby creating a strong bridge between the past and the future.
