François Deroche: "Written records reveal that Tashkent's history dates back to ancient times, and it was home to many remarkable scholars."

I am a specialist in the study of ancient Quranic manuscripts. For an extended period, I have been researching the Katta Langar Quran manuscript. At this international forum, I am presenting my projects aimed at preparing facsimiles of 114 rare Quranic manuscripts from around the globe for display in the Quran Hall at the Center for Islamic Civilization, as well as organizing an international Quranic calligraphy festival. I believe there is a need for more international events like Uzbekistan's Cultural Heritage Week. Exploring our ancestral heritage is crucial, not only for educating the younger generation but also because such conferences play a significant role in promoting and preserving our cultural and spiritual legacy, as well as in bringing new manuscript copies back to Uzbekistan. Hosting the Week in Tashkent is particularly significant, as historical sources indicate that Tashkent has a rich and ancient history, being the birthplace of many outstanding scholars.