Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan presented the spiritual and scientific heritage of Mawarannahr at an international academic conference held at the United Nations Office in Geneva on 22 October 2026, the press service of the National Human Rights Centre of Uzbekistan said.
The conference, titled “Islamic Civilization: The Great Spiritual and Scientific Heritage of Mawarannahr and the Horizons of Enlightenment”, took place at the Palais des Nations. Akmal Saidov, director of Uzbekistan’s National Human Rights Centre and a member of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, delivered the keynote address at the opening ceremony.
The event was organised by the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, the Committee for Religious Affairs, the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, the international research centres of Imam Bukhari, Imam Maturidi and Imam Termizi, and Uzbekistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office and other international organisations in Geneva.
The conference was held as part of an initiative proposed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2025. The initiative called for a special UN presentation of the spiritual and scientific heritage of Imam Bukhari, Imam Termizi and Imam Maturidi.
The event aimed to familiarise the international community with Mawarannahr’s contribution to world civilisation, promote the spiritual and scientific heritage of the Uzbek people, and strengthen international cooperation in science, education and culture, as well as efforts to advance enlightenment and tolerance. Participants included diplomats, international scholars and experts, representatives of Uzbek government institutions and research organisations, and foreign specialists.
Opening remarks were delivered by Tatiana Valovaya, director-general of the United Nations Office at Geneva; Eldiyor Toshmatov, Uzbekistan’s permanent representative in Geneva; Firdavs Abdukhalikov, director of the Islamic Civilization Center; and Saidov.
Saidov described Uzbekistan as a country with an ancient tradition of statehood, a rich legal culture and centuries of scientific scholarship. He cited the Avesta, Sogdian legal documents and the legacy of Islamic civilisation as evidence of these traditions.
He highlighted the scholarly schools that developed in Mawarannahr, including Quranic exegesis, hadith studies, Islamic jurisprudence, theology and Sufism. He also emphasised the contributions of Imam Bukhari, Imam Termizi and Imam Maturidi to global religious and philosophical thought and spiritual and moral values.
The region’s scientific legacy also encompasses achievements in algebra, medicine, astronomy, geography, geodesy and other disciplines. Saidov highlighted the place of Muhammad al-Khwarizmi, Abu Rayhan al-Biruni, Abu Ali ibn Sina and Mirzo Ulugbek in the history of world science.
Tolerance was another key theme of his address. Saidov said the territory of present-day Uzbekistan had served for centuries as a meeting place for different peoples, religions, languages and cultures. He described ethnic, religious, linguistic and intercultural tolerance as integral elements of the country’s historical heritage.
In this context, he highlighted the relevance of UNESCO’s Declaration of Principles on Tolerance, adopted on 16 November 1995, and a UN General Assembly resolution dated 12 December 1996.
Saidov also recalled Mirziyoyev’s international initiatives, noting that the president proposed a UN General Assembly resolution titled “Enlightenment and Religious Tolerance” in 2017. The resolution was unanimously adopted in December 2018.
He stressed the close links between cultural heritage, enlightenment, the rule of law and human rights protection. The right to education, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, participation in cultural life, and access to the benefits of scientific progress were described as essential components of human dignity and sustainable social development.
According to Saidov, preserving the legacy of Mawarannahr’s thinkers must go hand in hand with expanding young people’s access to knowledge, strengthening intercultural dialogue and fostering respect for religious and cultural diversity.
The academic programme featured presentations by several scholars and experts. Bakhram Abdukhalimov, vice-president of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, spoke about scientific discoveries by Central Asian scholars and the international mission of the Islamic Civilization Center.
Robert Blum, president of the Geneva Diplomatic Circle, discussed the universal significance of the Islamic civilisation heritage in Uzbekistan. Davronbek Makhsudov, first deputy chairman of the Committee for Religious Affairs, addressed enlightenment and tolerance in New Uzbekistan, while German representative Kathleen Goebel presented a paper on the spiritual and literary traditions of Islamic civilisation.
Otabek Muhammadiev, deputy director of the Imam Bukhari International Research Center, spoke about the scholarly legacy of Imam Bukhari and Imam Termizi. Komiljon Shermukhamedov, director of the Imam Maturidi International Research Center, examined the importance of tolerance and moderation in the thought of the renowned scholar.
An exhibition on Islamic civilisation and the heritage of Mawarannahr’s scholars was also held. It featured materials about the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, copies of ancient manuscripts, scholarly publications, miniatures and other exhibits. Participants also watched videos presenting the centre as a new-generation museum and highlighting the scientific and spiritual legacy of prominent thinkers.
The conference concluded with discussions on prospects for expanding international cooperation in research, cultural heritage preservation, education and intercivilisational dialogue.
Saidov’s address underscored the historical links between traditions of enlightenment, legal culture and tolerance and contemporary principles of human rights protection, the rule of law and respect for human dignity.
