Iran’s Mashhad, Capital of Islamic Culture in 2017

According to a Farsi report by IRNA, each year, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) selects the capitals of Islamic culture in different regions. Iran’s Mashhad has been selected as the capital in 2017.

Reza Salehi Amiri, Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, announced that the preparations for the Islamic Culture Capital event has been officially started in Mashhad, and the ceremony will be held on January 24 in the presence of foreign authorities.

“This is an opportunity to introduce the Razavi culture – the heritage of Imam Reza, the eighth Imam of Shiites – to the world,” he noted in a meeting with Iran Leader’s representative in Mashhad Ayatollah Ahmad Alamolhoda.

“If the world wants safety, Mashhad is the safest place of the world in 2017. All Muslims can travel to this Iranian city,” he added.

“We have invited the leaders of different Islamic sects to Mashhad for communication, interaction and unification,” he noted, adding that the event will be presented throughout Iran with a focus on Mashhad.

He went on to say that related festivals, conferences and ceremonies are to be held in this regard. The logo of Mashhad 2017 is going to be shown during interludes. Plus, boards on the entrance of cities and venues will inform people of the Islamic Culture Capital event.

“This year, we should try to attract tourists from all over the world to Mashhad,” Salehi Amiri noted, “And to make the event propitious for the people of Mashhad.”

He referred to the revival of ancient Khorasan School among the goals of this event, and said that Iranians should found a new Islamic civilisation on this geographical, historical point, as there has been no new civilisation after Safavid dynasty.