From Zarul Effendi Razali
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan: The First International Islamic Civilisation Forum adopted the Tashkent Declaration on Wednesday, proposing the establishment of a World Alliance of Islamic Civilisation to strengthen international cooperation in preserving and promoting Islamic heritage.
The declaration, adopted at the close of the two-day forum, outlines a series of initiatives, including a World Digital Registry of Islamic Civilisational Heritage to consolidate key cultural and research resources on a unified digital platform.
It also proposes a multilingual Global Digital Library of Islamic Civilisation and an International Islamic Civilisation Prize.
Under the proposal, the World Alliance of Islamic Civilisation will be headquartered at the Islamic Civilisation Centre in Uzbekistan and serve as a global platform bringing together international organisations, universities, museums and research institutions.
“The World Alliance aims to foster long-term international cooperation, implement joint scientific, educational, cultural, museum and digital projects, facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices, and consolidate efforts to preserve, study and promote the creative potential of Islamic civilisation as an integral component of global cultural and intellectual heritage,” the declaration said.
The declaration also called for the establishment of an International Foundation for Islamic Civilisation Research to support fundamental scientific research, monument restoration, training for early-career scholars, publishing initiatives and international academic cooperation.
Participants also endorsed the launch of an international programme, Islamic Civilisation: Heritage of All Humanity, to promote exhibitions, educational projects, scientific conferences, publishing initiatives and cultural events highlighting the contributions of Islamic civilisation to global science, culture and education.
Other proposals include compiling a multi-volume International Encyclopedia of Islamic Civilisation documenting the history, scholarship and achievements of the Islamic world, establishing an International Youth Forum on Islamic Civilisation to nurture young scholars and researchers; and creating an International Union of Museums of Islamic Culture, Art and Civilisation to strengthen cooperation in exhibitions, research, restoration projects and the exchange of expertise.
Participants reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of peace, tolerance, enlightenment and intercultural and interreligious dialogue, while stressing the need to counter ignorance, extremism, xenophobia, Islamophobia and distorted perceptions of Islamic heritage through research and greater international cooperation.
To ensure the implementation of the declaration, the forum agreed to retain its newly elected International Council as a permanent coordinating body responsible for preparing an International Roadmap for Joint Actions until 2030 and coordinating cooperation with governments and international organisations.
The declaration also expressed appreciation to Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for his 2017 initiative at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, which led to the establishment of the Islamic Civilisation Centre in Uzbekistan and the convening of the inaugural forum.
It concluded with a call on states, international organisations, universities, museums, libraries, scientific institutions and civil society organisations to work together in advancing the adopted initiatives to promote peace, mutual respect, education and the preservation of Islamic civilisation as an integral component of humanity’s shared cultural heritage.
During the second day of the forum, international organisations, research centres and cultural institutions signed a series of memoranda of cooperation and agreements to expand collaboration in research, manuscript preservation and digitisation, and the promotion of Islamic civilisation.
Held in Tashkent on July 7 and 8 under the theme ‘The Path of Peace, Tolerance and Enlightenment’, the forum aimed to showcase Islam’s contributions to science, culture and spirituality while strengthening international cooperation in preserving and promoting Islamic civilisation.
It concluded with a call on states, international organisations, universities, museums, libraries, scientific institutions, and civil society organisations to work together to advance the adopted initiatives aimed at promoting peace, mutual respect, education and the preservation of Islamic civilisation as an integral component of humanity’s shared cultural heritage. – BERNAMA
