London School of Economics Professor Visits the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center

The Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center welcomed Professor Rehman Chishti, Visiting Professor in Practice at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and former Member of the UK Parliament, who also served as the UK Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief.

During his visit, Professor Chishti toured the Center’s museum and library, where he was introduced to its scholarly activities aimed at researching, preserving, and promoting the rich intellectual heritage of Imam al-Bukhari and other eminent scholars of Transoxiana.

As part of the visit, a roundtable discussion was held with the participation of Professor Chishti. The participants exchanged views on a range of contemporary issues, including the promotion of religious literacy, the dissemination of Islam’s values of compassion and tolerance, environmental protection, the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, and the importance of interfaith dialogue in today’s globalized world.

Professor Chishti highly commended Uzbekistan’s ongoing efforts to preserve, study, and promote its Islamic scholarly and spiritual heritage. He particularly emphasized the growing international significance of the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center’s academic and educational activities.

He also highlighted the vital role of research institutions in enhancing religious literacy among diplomats and public officials, developing faith-informed approaches to addressing contemporary global challenges, and fostering greater mutual understanding among different cultures and religious communities.

The roundtable also explored opportunities for establishing academic cooperation between the Imam Bukhari International Scientific Research Center and the LSE Faith Centre, particularly through its Religion and Global Society research initiative. Discussions focused on prospects for joint research projects, scholarly exchanges, and the sharing of academic expertise.

The meeting concluded in a warm and constructive atmosphere, featuring an engaging exchange of ideas and questions that reflected the shared commitment of both sides to strengthening international academic cooperation.