The First International Forum on Islamic Civilization: Tashkent Opens a New Chapter in Civilizational Diplomacy

From July 7 to 11, 2026, Uzbekistan hosted a landmark event titled “The First International Islamic Forum: Islamic Civilization — The Path of Peace, Tolerance, and Enlightenment,” held across three Uzbek cities of special historical significance: Tashkent, Samarkand, and Termez.

A Symbolic Opening in the Heart of Tashkent

The forum opened on July 7 at the Center for Islamic Civilization in the capital, Tashkent, under the patronage of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. It was organized jointly by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, and brought together roughly 300 speakers from more than 40 countries around the world, including ministers, muftis, scholars, thinkers, and experts.

The opening session featured a televised address by the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, alongside the participation of several ministers and representatives of member states of international Islamic organizations.

Three Cities, Three Scholars

One of the forum’s most distinctive features was that it extended beyond Tashkent to Samarkand and Termez, where specialized academic conferences were held, each dedicated to one of the region’s great scholars:

• In Samarkand, a conference titled “Imam al-Bukhari’s Sahih al-Bukhari: The Book of the Nation” was held at the Imam al-Bukhari memorial complex, examining al-Bukhari’s legacy and the role of his Sahih in global scholarship. A separate conference was devoted to the legacy of Imam al-Maturidi, focusing on the philosophy of moderation in Islam and the balance between reason and faith in confronting extremism.
• In Termez, a conference examined the legacy of Imam al-Tirmidhi, with a focus on Islamic ethics, literary culture, and spiritual and moral education.

The Egyptian Minister’s Message: A Civilization of Production, Not Preservation Alone

Among the prominent participants was Dr. Abdelaziz Kounsowah, Egypt’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and President of ICESCO’s General Conference, who stressed that throughout its history, Islamic civilization had been “a civilization of knowledge production, not merely one of preservation,” noting that its schools, universities, libraries, and observatories generated contributions that laid the foundation for human progress in medicine, engineering, mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, and the humanities. He emphasized that today’s responsibility lies in redeploying this civilizational legacy as a pillar for building more creative educational systems and a more competitive knowledge economy.

The Tashkent Declaration: From Words to Institutions

At the conclusion of the forum, the “Tashkent Declaration” was adopted, containing several significant initiatives:

• Recognition of the historic role of Uzbekistan and the wider Transoxiana region in shaping and developing Islamic and global civilization.
• The launch of Global Initiatives of the First International Forum on Islamic Civilization, aimed at establishing a new international framework for cooperation in studying, preserving, and promoting the Islamic civilizational heritage.
• The establishment of the International Prize for Islamic Civilization, recognizing outstanding contributions to studying, preserving, and promoting this heritage.
• Agreement to establish the International Foundation for Islamic Civilization Research, to support fundamental scientific research, restoration of historical sites, and training of early-career researchers.
• Adoption of the International Council of the Forum as a permanent coordinating body for future sessions.
• Adoption of a roadmap for the development of the Uzbekistan Center for Islamic Civilization for 2027–2030.
• A letter of gratitude sent by participants to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

What the Event Signifies

With this forum, Uzbekistan moved beyond simply restoring its scientific and religious heritage. It entered a new phase in which it seeks to transform that heritage into a permanent international platform for civilizational dialogue and scholarly research — through institutions, prizes, and coordinating councils designed to sustain the project for years to come.