DUSHANBE, February 12, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- On Thursday February 11, Minister of Culture Mirzoshorukh Asrori received visiting representative of the International Islamic Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ISESCO) Najib al-Gayati Saleh, according to the Ministry of Culture (MoC).

The source at a MoC noted that the two discussed issues related to holding events in connection designation of Dushanbe as Capital of Islamic Culture in Asia for the year 2010.

Tajik minister noted that Tajikistan had experience in holding such events, noting that Dushanbe last year held an international ceremony to celebrate the Great Imam Abu Hanifa al-Nu’man bin Thabit.

According to the source, Mr. Najib al-Gayati Saleh, for his part, noted that the ISESCO had announced contest in four categories: the best contribution to holding of this event; the best article about Dushanbe as Capital of Islamic Culture; the best connoisseur of Quran recitation; and handcraft.

We will recall that this year, Dushanbe will celebrate the 1200th anniversary of the imam of hadith, Muhammad Ibn Ismail, popularly known as Al-Bukhari.