Ghada El Sharkawy from Tashkent 's Articles

Participants in the First International Forum on Islamic Civilization, held in Tashkent on 7–8 July, adopted a final declaration calling for stronger international cooperation to preserve, study, and promote Islamic cultural heritage while countering extremism, Islamophobia, and distorted perceptions of Islamic civilization.

The first International Forum on Islamic Civilization opened in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent on Tuesday, bringing together religious leaders, scholars, policymakers, and representatives of international organizations from over 40 countries to discuss the role of Islamic civilization in promoting peace, tolerance, science, and intercultural dialogue.

Polling stations opened in Uzbekistan at 8:00am (0300 GMT) Sunday for a presidential election set to hand the incumbent Shavkat Mirziyoyev a third term as head of the Central Asian state.

Voters across Uzbekistan are preparing to exercise their democratic rights by heading to the polls Sunday in the early presidential elections, called by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev following the adoption of the new constitution through a referendum in May.