Mashhad has been officially announced as the 2017 Islamic culture capital in Asia

In a ceremony held in Mashhad, the city has been announced as the Asian Region's Islamic Culture Capital in 2017.

 Amina Al-Hajri, the Deputy Director of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) gave a speech on the importance of the event and awarded the ISESCO medal to Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Reza Salehi Amiri.

About 250 leading figures in culture and politics along with more than a hundred cabinet ministers from countries such as Tanzania, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uganda, Mauritania, Algeria and Syria were present in the ceremony where an exquisite copy of the Quran was unveiled.

Mashad, along with Amman in Jordan, and Kampala in Uganda has been selected by the ISESCO as the 2017 Islamic Culture Capital in Asian, Arab and African regions respectively.

As an exception, Sennar which hosts the 10th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers in Sudan will also be celebrated as the African Regions’ Islamic Culture Capital in 2017.

FM/RSH