Cairo — A symbolic moment in Central Asia’s evolving cultural diplomacy unfolded this week as Saida Mirziyoyeva, daughter of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, met with Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed El-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Egypt and Head of the Al-Azhar Complex. The meeting drew attention not only for its diplomatic substance but also for Mirziyoyeva’s appearance in a traditional headscarf, widely regarded as the first such instance by an Uzbek official during an overseas state visit.
The gesture reflects a broader shift in Uzbekistan’s approach to cultural and religious identity since the post-Soviet era. For decades, Central Asian states pursued cautious engagement with their Islamic heritage, shaped by internal security concerns and regional sensitivities. Today, changing geopolitical dynamics particularly major powers’ focus on the war in Ukraine and renewed Western engagement in Central Asia have created greater space for regional actors to pursue cultural reconnection with confidence.
Reviving Heritage Without Fueling Extremism
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has emerged as a leading proponent of this calibrated revival. His administration has invested heavily in restoring Uzbekistan’s historical and spiritual legacy, particularly the city of Bukhara, once a major center of Islamic scholarship. In 2017, the government established the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, aimed at reclaiming the country’s civilizational identity while promoting moderation.
At the same time, Tashkent has stressed that cultural revival must not open pathways to radicalization. Uzbek officials continue to frame religious engagement within a state-led narrative of stability, education, and enlightened values.
Expanding Ties With Al-Azhar
During the Cairo meeting, Mirziyoyeva conveyed President Mirziyoyev’s greetings and discussed expanding cooperation between Uzbekistan and Egypt in religious education, academic exchanges, and manuscript research. Both sides emphasized promoting moderate Islamic teachings, protecting youth from extremism, and strengthening scholarly collaboration.
For Uzbekistan, the visit signals more than routine diplomacy it underscores a strategic effort to reconnect with its historical roots while positioning itself as a modern, moderate actor within the broader Islamic world.
