The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan, the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), the Turkic Academy, the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation (TCHF), and Al-Furqaan Foundation signed a cooperation agreement to launch the International Islamic Calligraphy Competition and the Manuscript Quran Initiative.

The Agreement was signed on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, at the headquarters of the Islamic Civilization Center in Tashkent, on the sidelines of the First International Forum on Islamic Civilization. It aims to join efforts to preserve, study, develop, and promote Islamic calligraphy, as well as to support the production of a manuscript Quran, reflecting the high status of this art in the history of the Islamic world and its scientific, aesthetic, and spiritual dimensions.

Following the signing ceremony, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, affirmed that the Organization attaches particular importance to Islamic calligraphy and heritage manuscripts due to their significance in the civilizational memory of the Islamic world. He noted that this cooperation embodies a collective commitment to preserving this human heritage and strengthening its presence on the international cultural scene.

The Agreement provides for the launch of the International Islamic Calligraphy Competition, targeting calligraphers, scholars, experts, and masters of manuscript arts from across the Islamic world, as well as the organization of exhibitions showcasing participating works and promoting them widely within international cultural and academic circles.

The Agreement also includes the launch of the Manuscript Quran Initiative as a cultural and spiritual project embodying the highest traditions of Islamic calligraphy, alongside the organization of exhibitions, conferences, practical workshops, and educational programs. It further seeks to expand cooperation with museums, libraries, research centers, and cultural organizations, thereby contributing to the preservation of this heritage and highlighting its civilizational value for future generations.