Photo: CIC Press Service
During his official visit to Malaysia, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the Malaysian Islamic Art Museum and proposed organizing an exhibition of its artifacts at the Center for Islamic Civilization (CIC) in Tashkent, the CIC press service reports.
The Uzbek delegation, led by Mirziyoyev, was accompanied on a tour of the museum by its director, Syed Muhammad Bukhari. The president explored the museum’s unique collection, including cultural heritage items related to Uzbekistan’s history, ancient manuscripts, miniatures, and historical artifacts. The museum also featured an exhibition of books published by the Imam Bukhari, Imam Maturidi, and Imam Termizi international research centers, as well as the CIC.
Impressed by the collection, Mirziyoyev suggested organizing a special exhibition of the Malaysian Islamic Art Museum’s artifacts at the CIC. Syed Muhammad Bukhari supported the initiative, and after the tour, he discussed the proposal with CIC Director Firdavs Abdukhalikov. The parties agreed to involve leading experts from both sides to successfully implement the project and later organize an exhibition of the museum's artifacts at the Imam Bukhari Complex.
A day earlier, on February 4, the Malaysian Islamic Art Museum hosted a roundtable discussion titled “Cultural Heritage: A Bridge Between Uzbekistan and Malaysia” with the organizational support of Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Participants agreed to establish the Uzbekistan-Malaysia Scholars’ Society and signed a Joint Declaration on Scholarly Cooperation. The International Institute of Islamic Understanding and Civilization of Malaysia awarded the CIC director a certificate granting access to electronic copies of more than 100,000 rare manuscripts and unique publications.
The Malaysian Islamic Art Museum was founded in 1998 with support from the Al-Bukhari Foundation. It specializes in the study and preservation of Islamic art heritage. The museum covers an area of 300,000 square meters. According to its director, Uzbek artisans participated in the design and restoration of the museum’s interior, including five magnificent domes decorated in a national style.
