Unique library opens in Istanbul

Istanbul: Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Prime Minister on Sunday opened the library of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) library, at the Yildiz Palace in Istanbul.

IRCICA was funded by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Present at the inauguration ceremony at the Yildiz Palace in Istanbul were OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development and Mohammad Al Murr, Deputy Chairman of Dubai Culture, Jamal Bin Huwaireb Al Muhairi, UAE representative to IRICIA, and supervisor of the digitisation of the library's contents who was assigned by Shaikh Mohammad, UAE Ambassador to Turkey Khalid Khalifa Al Mualla, Eissa Al Kalbani, UAE Consul General in Istanbul and other senior Turkish officials Speaking at the inauguration, Erdogan hailed Shaikh Mohammad's leading role in establishing this unique library.

"This (IRCICA) library is the sign of importance attached by a huge geography to knowledge, science and books. Muslim scholars considered knowledge their missing asset and dedicated their lives to search for it', remarked Erdogan.

"IRCICA library includes some 70,000 books written in 140 different languages. There are also 1,500 maps and plans. It also hosts the first translation of the holy book of Koran in Latin dated 1550," said Erdogan.

Later, he presented Al Owais with an album of photos of old Jerusalem city. The new library features rare manuscripts and other unique materials.

- With inputs from Abbas Al Lawati, Staff Reporter