Cairo: Capital of Islamic Culture for 2020

CAIRO - 19 December 2019: Minister of Culture Inas Abdel Dayem stated that Cairo was named the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2020 in succession to the Tunisian capital.

The announcement was made in the celebration held by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) in Tunisia.

Representatives of the Ministry of Culture, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Culture Hisham Azmy and Chairman of the General Authority for Cultural Palaces Ahmed Awad, received the torch from Minister of Cultural Affairs in Tunisia Mohamed Zain el-Abidine.

Abdel Dayem said that the program of the Capital of Islamic Culture aims to consolidate the bonds between people that share the same culture through the establishment of a creative dialogue and the promotion of intellectual communication between the sons of the Islamic nation.

This program also targets highlighting the rich heritage of Islam that calls for tolerance and coexistence, providing a true picture of the ancient Islamic civilization.



Minister Abdel Dayem further explained that choosing Cairo as the Capital of Islamic Culture in 2020 confirms Egypt's position in the heart of the Islamic world. She added that a diversified program has been prepared to celebrate this occasion, including many activities that reflect this aspect of the unique Egyptian personality.

It is noteworthy that the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) adopted the Capital of Islamic Culture program after being launched by the Arab Organization for Education, Culture and Science (ALECSO).

Three ancient Islamic cities are chosen to represent the Islamic Culture in the Arab world, Africa and Asia, and the Capital of the Islamic Culture hosts the Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, which convenes biannually.



This is based on an agreement that was signed in 2001 in the third Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, and it was adopted at the Fourth Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers held in Algeria in 2004.

Makkah Al-Mukarramah held the first title in 2005; then the Islamic cities traded the title. It moved to Aleppo (Syria), Fez (Morocco), Alexandria (Egypt), Kairouan (Tunisia), Tarim (Yemen), Tlemcen (Algeria), Najaf (Iraq) Medina (Saudi Arabia), Sharjah (UAE), Nizwa (Sultanate of Oman), Kuwait (Kuwait), Oman (Jordan), Manama (Bahrain), and Tunis (Tunisia), respectively, until it reached Cairo in 2020; ISESCO also chose the Uzbek capital, Bukhari, to be the Capital of Islamic Culture in Asia and Bamako, the Republic of Mali to be the Capital of Islamic Culture in Africa.