INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

It has been 9 months since the Center started its activities. It was established by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On measures to establish the Imam Maturidi International Scientific Research Center” and the Government Resolution “On measures to establish the activities of the Imam Maturidi International Scientific Research Center under the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan.” Information on the work done on international relations in this historically short period on the road map is as follows:

In order to develop the international relations of the Center, meetings were organized to establish cooperation with many countries around the world. In particular, 11 online meetings were organized with universities, research centers, and libraries in Egypt, Turkey, France, Germany, Malaysia, Russia, Kazakhstan, and negotiations were held directly at the center with the Embassy of Indonesia.

Imam Maturidi International Scientific Research Center signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), “Fikr” Religious Research Center of Kazakhstan and Agreements with Imam Maturidi Research Center of the Seljuk University of Turkey and the Faculty of Divinity of Ankara University.

On December 17, 2020, the Imam Maturidi International Scientific Research Center hosted an international online press conference on the topic “Future Plans” with the participation of more than 40 Islamic scholars, heads of international organizations, and scientific institutions from about 20 countries. This large conference was organized to inform the general public about the future plans of the Center.

In order to organize the activities of Imam Maturidi International Scientific Research Center on an international scale, to establish cooperation between the world’s leading research institutions, the world’s leading scientists and experts in the field, to introduce to the world the life and rich scientific and spiritual heritage of Imam Maturidi and his followers, as well as the basics of Maturidiyya teachings the first scientific meeting of the International Scientific Board of the Center was held On March 17, 2021. The International Scientific Board consists of twenty-one local and international scholars. Chairman of the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan, Mufti, member of the World Council of Ulema, Honorary Doctor of the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan Usmankhan Alimov is the chairman of the International Scientific Board.

20 scientific online seminars were organized with the participation of experts from Egypt, Turkey, France, Russia, and other countries. Most of these online seminars were organized as part of the training of the Center’s researchers in foreign scientific institutions in the context of a pandemic. Professional development courses and scientific seminars were organized on the basis of memorandums and agreements signed with foreign partners.

22 pieces of information have been published in foreign media, 5 on the websites of international organizations, and about 20 on the websites of diplomatic missions of the Republic of Uzbekistan abroad since the Center was established. In particular, articles about the Center have been published on the official websites of international organizations such as UNESCO, ICESCO, IRCICA, and in the media of Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Italy, France, and Germany.

In order to further expand international cooperation, it is planned to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Islamic Science University of Malaysia, the Islamic Research Center (ISAM) of the Turkey Diyanet Foundation, and an Agreement with the Imam Ash’ari Center at Al-Azhar University in Egypt.

In addition, on May 19, 2021, a scientific seminar was held in the form of an online roundtable discussion with the Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. On June 16, an international online scientific-practical symposium on “The doctrine of Maturidiyya and the Present” was held with the participation of more than 50 foreign experts from about 20 countries.

An online scientific-practical conference with the Center for Islamic Studies at the University of Münster, Germany, is scheduled for October this year.

After the stabilization of the epidemiological situation, organizational work will be carried out on the implementation of scientific trips of the staff of the Center.

The work done to convey the rich heritage and pure doctrine of our ancestors to the world community and to establish foreign cooperation in the field of modern research plays an important role in introducing the Imam Maturidi International Scientific Research Center to the world. We hope that all the work being done will serve to develop the scientific potential of our country.