According to Rustam Minnikhanov, the head of Tatarstan, Kazan has been designated the cultural capital of the Islamic world for the year 2026. Currently, this honour belongs to Samarkand.
The decision to award Kazan this status was made during a meeting of the culture ministers from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries in Jeddah.
This conference, organized by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, aims to promote a positive image of Islam and Islamic culture.
Uzbekistan was granted observer status in the OIC in 1995 and became a full member the following year.
Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the head of Uzbekistan, visited the Centre of Islamic Civilisation.
