Hojjatoleslam Mahmud Mohammadi Araqi stated that the decision was made by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
The ICRO director noted that this provides a great opportunity to establish close relations with the rest of the Islamic world, adding, “A headquarters run by the Isfahan Governor’s Office and eight committees supervised by the Isfahan Municipality have been established, which compiled a charter commemorating Isfahan that was also approved by the cabinet.
“The charter introduces Isfahan’s historical, cultural, and religious attractions at the national and international levels, paving the way for the familiarization of the world with the Islamic civilization and promoting the development of cultural interactions between OIC members,” Hojjatoleslam Araqi added.
He went on to say that Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, First Vice President Parviz Davudi, ambassadors of Islamic countries based in Iran, as well as several Iranian and foreign scholars have been invited to participate in the inauguration ceremony in Isfahan, where the message of Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Secretary General Abdulaziz Othman al-Twaijri will be read out.
In addition, Isfahanis’ message of peace to Islamic nations will be read out at the ceremony, and the program will also include the raising of the flags of 57 Islamic countries, a fireworks display, the presentation of the Cultural Capital of Islam key to the Isfahan mayor, and an exhibition of Isfahan tourist attractions, Hojjatoleslam Araqi explained.
During the year that Isfahan is the Cultural Capital of Islam, a documentary on Isfahan with subtitles in several languages will be made, cultural productions will be sent to Iranian cultural attaches in other countries, and the First Congress of Quran Researchers of the Islamic World will be held, the ICRO director added.
More facilities will be made available to tourists visiting Isfahan, and they will be able to obtain one-week visas at the Isfahan airport, he said in conclusion.
A brief history of Isfahan
The capital of Isfahan Province, Isfahan is located in central Iran on the northern bank of the Zayanderud River.
Isfahan was renowned in former times for its architectural grandeur and the beauty of its public gardens. Most of the gardens and many of the edifices are now in ruins, but a number of imposing structures have been preserved or restored. In the central part of the city is the 17th-century Naqsh-e Jahan Square containing the Imam Mosque, which is faced with colored tile and regarded by many as an outstanding example of Persian architecture. Nearby is the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, famous for its dome of blue tile. The Aali-Qapu Palace and Qeisarieh Bazaar are other monuments of the historic square. Additional points of interest include the Shah Hossein Madrasah, a magnificent building constructed in 1710 as a school for dervishes, and arcaded bridges spanning the Zayanderud River.
When it was known as Aspadana, the city formed part of the ancient Asian country of Media. In the middle of the 7th century the city was occupied by invading Arabs. The Seljuk Turks conquered Isfahan and made it the capital of their empire in 1051. Tamerlane, the Turkic conqueror, captured the city in 1387, during his invasion of Iran, and reputedly massacred 70,000 inhabitants.
Isfahan’s golden age began in 1598 when Shah Abbas I (reigned 1588–1629), Safavid king of Iran, made it the national capital. Under his patronage, the city attained the peak of its growth, commercial prosperity, and architectural splendor.
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