Declaration of the First International Forum on Islamic Civilization Published

Documents of the First International Forum on Islamic Civilization Published

The First International Forum on Islamic Civilization, held under the theme “Islamic Civilization: The Path of Peace, Tolerance, and Enlightenment”, took place in Tashkent, Samarkand, and Termez from 7 to 11 July 2026. The Forum brought together more than 500 scholars, researchers, religious leaders, representatives of international organizations, and distinguished participants from 46 countries.

At the conclusion of the Forum, participants adopted the Forum Declaration and an Address to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. These documents reaffirm the international community’s shared commitment to promoting peace, tolerance, mutual respect, dialogue among civilizations, and the preservation and promotion of the rich scholarly and spiritual heritage of Islamic civilization.

In their Address, the participants highly appreciated the initiatives of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev aimed at advancing international scholarly cooperation, preserving Islamic civilization's rich heritage, and strengthening intercultural dialogue. They also expressed their sincere gratitude to the President, the Government of Uzbekistan, and the people of Uzbekistan for the successful organization of the Forum and their warm hospitality.

The full texts of the Forum Declaration and the Address of the Forum Participants to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan are available below.

Address of the Participants of the First International Forum on Islamic Civilization to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The participants of the First International Forum on Islamic Civilization expressed their sincere appreciation to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, for his leadership and vision in promoting the study, preservation, and dissemination of the rich intellectual and spiritual heritage of Islamic civilization.

The participants highly commended the Forum as a landmark international platform that has brought together scholars, experts, and representatives of international organizations to strengthen academic cooperation, promote dialogue among civilizations, and advance the universal values of peace, tolerance, and enlightenment.

The Address also recognizes the establishment of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan as a significant international humanitarian initiative and expresses confidence that it will develop into a leading global platform for research, cultural exchange, and international cooperation.

The participants welcomed Uzbekistan's ongoing efforts to preserve its historical and cultural heritage, support scientific research, and foster intercultural dialogue. They also expressed their full support for the Forum Declaration and the International Roadmap for 2027–2031, including initiatives aimed at expanding global cooperation in the study and promotion of Islamic civilization.

Concluding the Address, the participants conveyed their heartfelt gratitude to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Forum organizers, and the people of Uzbekistan for their warm hospitality and the excellent organization of the Forum.


Declaration 

adopted by the participants of 

the First International Islamic Civilization Forum 

We, the participants of the First International Islamic Civilization Forum, held on July 7–8, 2026, in Tashkent, express our profound gratitude to His Excellency Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and acknowledge the exceptional significance for contemporary society of the historic initiative he presented in September 2017 at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly. This initiative seeks the revival, scientific study, and broad dissemination of the rich humanistic heritage of Islamic civilization.

We unanimously recognize that the establishment of the Islamic Civilization Center in the Republic of Uzbekistan, the effective organization of its activities, and the convening of the First International Islamic Civilization Forum represent the practical realization of this initiative. These efforts have undoubtedly marked the beginning of a new era of international cooperation in the study, preservation, and promotion of the invaluable heritage of the Muslim Ummah.

Based on the principles of peace, tolerance, education, and intercultural and interreligious dialogue; 

noting the enormous contribution of Islamic civilization to the development of global science, education, art, architecture, and spiritual and intellectual thought; 

recognizing the need to counter ignorance, extremism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and distorted perceptions of Islamic heritage;

emphasizing that the scientific study of religious and cultural heritage is becoming increasingly important for strengthening international trust and ensuring sustainable development; 

recognizing the historical contributions of both ancient and modern Uzbekistan, as well as the broader region, to the formation and advancement of Islamic and global civilization, we hereby adopt this Declaration.
 

I. To establish a new framework for international cooperation in the study, preservation, and dissemination of the heritage of Islamic civilization, the participants of the First International Islamic Civilization Forum propose the following global initiatives.

1. World Alliance for Islamic Civilization

The establishment of a World Alliance for Islamic Civilization, anchored by the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, is proposed to unite international organizations, scientific and educational institutions, academies of sciences, museums, libraries, foundations, archives, centers of Islamic manuscripts, research institutes, and other relevant entities.

The primary objective of the Alliance is to foster sustained international cooperation, implement collaborative scientific, educational, cultural, museum, and digital initiatives, facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices, and coordinate efforts to preserve, study, and promote the creative achievements of Islamic civilization as an essential component of global cultural and intellectual heritage.

2. World Digital Registry of the Islamic Civilization Heritage 

The development and maintenance of a unified international digital platform is proposed to aggregate manuscripts, archival materials, museum collections, architectural monuments, intangible cultural heritage, and scientific research related to the heritage of Islamic civilization.

3. International Program "Islamic Civilization: Heritage of All Humanity"

 The implementation of a comprehensive international program is proposed to highlight Islamic civilization's contributions to global science, culture, and education. This initiative would encompass international exhibitions, educational projects, scientific conferences, publishing activities, and cultural events.

4. International Islamic Civilization Prize

 The establishment of an international prize is proposed to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the study, preservation, and dissemination of Islamic civilization's heritage, as well as to the advancement of science, education, intercultural dialogue, and humanitarian cooperation.

5. International Foundation for the Study of Islamic Civilization

 The creation of an international foundation is proposed to support fundamental scientific research, the restoration of historical monuments, the training of emerging scholars, the implementation of publishing projects, and the advancement of international academic collaboration.

6. Global Digital Library of Islamic Civilization

 Establish a multilingual digital library that integrates manuscripts, scholarly works, archival documents, museum collections, educational resources, and digital exhibitions dedicated to the heritage of Islamic civilization.

7. International Encyclopedia of Islamic Civilization

 Develop and publish a comprehensive, multi-volume scholarly encyclopedia focused on the history of Islamic civilization, prominent scholars, schools of thought, cultural monuments, and major achievements of the Islamic world.

8. Annual International Report on the State of the Islamic Civilization Heritage 

 Establish a framework for the annual production of an analytical report that addresses the condition of cultural and educational heritage sites, the outcomes of scientific research, current challenges, and opportunities for international cooperation in preserving and studying the heritage of Islamic civilization.

9. International Youth Islamic Civilization Forum 

 Establish a permanent international platform for dialogue among young scholars, researchers, students, and specialists in cultural heritage, with the objective of cultivating a new generation of scholars in Islamic civilization.

10. International Union of Museums of Islamic Culture, Art, and Civilization

 Establish an International Union of Museums of Islamic Culture, Art, and Civilization to unite leading museums, museum complexes, galleries, and specialized institutions from multiple countries.

 The Union aims to advance international museum cooperation, organize joint exhibitions, conduct research and implement restoration, educational, and digital initiatives, facilitate the exchange of collections, best practices, and specialists, and preserve, study, and promote the heritage of Islamic culture, art, and civilization.

 Maintain the Forum's International Council, elected at the First International Islamic Civilization Forum, as a permanent coordinating body. Assign it the responsibility of consolidating all initiatives and proposals from Forum participants, developing and approving an international roadmap for joint actions through 2030, and presenting this roadmap to Forum participants, international organizations, and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan as a practical mechanism for implementing this Declaration.

 We, the Forum participants, urge states, international organizations, scientific institutions, universities, museums, libraries, and public organizations to collaborate in implementing these initiatives for the sake of peace, mutual respect, education, and the preservation of the rich heritage of Islamic civilization as an essential component of the world's cultural treasury.