Ashraf AboArafe
Following the participation of the Arab Parliament Delegation (APD), headed by His Excellency Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Yamahi, in the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, the host country arranged an important visit for the Arab Parliament delegation, headed by Al-Yamahi, to the Al-Biruni Library in Tashkent. The library was built with generous financial support from His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said (may God rest his soul in peace), Sultan of Oman, in appreciation of the role of science and scholars in civilization and humanity, and to preserve the rich Islamic and human heritage contained in this venerable library.
The Arab Parliament delegation listened to a detailed explanation from the library director about the rare heritage books it houses, many of which are over a thousand years old. The library also includes research laboratories, manuscript preservation rooms, restoration and protection laboratories, documentation offices, and digital transformation equipment. The Arab Parliament delegation also watched a documentary film about the history and establishment of the library and the important cultural and religious services it provides, reflecting the glorious history of ancient Islamic civilization.
In a brief address to all those involved in the library’s work, the Speaker of the Arab Parliament expressed his thanks and appreciation for their significant and valuable efforts that serve humanity as a whole, not just the Islamic world. He emphasized that the Al-Biruni Library represents a sublime cultural edifice capable of serving Arab, Islamic, and human culture, especially since the library houses more than fifty thousand volumes of historical Islamic manuscripts, publications, and rare stone inscriptions, all of which hold great cultural, heritage, and historical value.
The meeting was attended from the Arab Parliament by His Excellency MP Saad Al-Otaibi, His Excellency MP Ali Al-Khalayleh, and Her Excellency MP Khadija Hajoubi, as well as from the General Secretariat, Dr. Ashraf Abdel Aziz, Political Advisor to the Speaker of the Arab Parliament and Director of the Foreign Relations Department.
