The latest edition of the Journal of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has published an article highlighting the second technical field mission of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in collaboration with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture, to assess the state of preservation and conservation of cultural, religious, and civilizational heritage in the liberated Azerbaijani territories, as part of the “Post-Conflict Heritage Management in the Islamic World” program.
According to the report, during its stay in Azerbaijan from April 18 to 30, 2025, the mission visited 75 heritage sites across 10 regions. The visited sites included mosques, churches, museums, historical monuments, archaeological sites, cemeteries, shrines, and homes of prominent cultural figures, along with administrative buildings and other sites associated with collective memory.
The mission documented these sites using observation forms, photographs, and video recordings to build an accurate database reflecting their current state.
The mission consisted of four independent international experts - from Iraq, Italy, and Spain - in the fields of archaeology, architecture, and cultural heritage management, with each of them having over 20 years of experience and enjoying a distinguished scientific standing. The mission was supervised by Dr. Webber Ndoro, Director of ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage Center, along with Mr. Mohamed AlAbsi and Dr. Mohamed Aba Othman, Experts at the Center. The expert team held coordination meetings with officials from the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture, local authorities, and key figures from the Karabakh region. These meetings aimed to exchange expertise and broaden the scope of field data collection. The team relied on documents and archival files provided by the Ministry of Culture, which included heritage site passports, inventory cards, archival photographs, and technical drawings. The experts are expected to release a detailed technical and scientific report on the state of heritage conservation in the post-conflict phase.
The report will highlight the extent of material and intangible damage suffered by the sites, instances of looting, and attempts to ideologically exploit heritage and arts. This effort is intended to support Azerbaijan’s initiatives to rehabilitate and preserve its national heritage for future generations.
The article also highlights the support of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for ICESCO’s initiatives and projects.
