Turkmenistan's documentary heritage has been included in the Asia-Pacific Regional Register of the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme for the first time.
The nomination “Archival Sources on the Life and Work of Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Adham” was approved by the jury at the 11th General Meeting of the Programme's Regional Committee, held on 2-6 November in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.
Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Adham al-Balkhi was a renowned 8th-century Muslim ascetic and Sufi. According to historical tradition, he renounced his noble birth and wealth for the sake of the spiritual path. His life and teachings became part of the early Sufi tradition, and stories about him were preserved in written sources over the centuries.
Inclusion in the regional register is Turkmenistan's first achievement of its kind. In total, 21 items of documentary heritage were added to the list following this year's meeting.
Turkmenistan was represented at the event by the executive secretary of the National Commission for UNESCO and a researcher from the Magtymguly Institute of Language, Literature and National Manuscripts of the country's Academy of Sciences.
The forum also featured an international seminar, “World of Water: Sea Nomads, Documentary Heritage and Memory of the World”, the signing of memoranda and the opening of an exhibition of archival documents, manuscripts, photographs and film materials.
