Reports spread on social media claiming that 220 properties had been seized for the pilgrimage center in Samarkand. The State Committee for the Protection of Cultural Heritage issued an official statement on the matter.
It was noted that the Department of Cultural Heritage in Samarkand region conducted an investigation into the matter.
It was clarified that the President’s Decree No. 6165 of February 9, 2021, titled “Measures to Further Develop Domestic and Pilgrimage Tourism in the Republic of Uzbekistan” was adopted. According to this decree, the reconstruction of the "Imam Moturidi" memorial complex located in the "Chokardiza" cemetery in Samarkand city, restoration of the graves of prominent scholars surrounding the complex, improvement of the infrastructure of the area, and the creation of a major pilgrimage center were planned.
In accordance with this decree, to expand the area around the "Imam Moturidi" memorial complex, 217 residential buildings owned by citizens were planned for demolition.
These buildings were not included in the national register of cultural heritage objects under the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 846 dated October 4, 2019, regarding the approval of the national list of immovable cultural heritage objects.
Additionally, in Paragraph 4 of the President of Uzbekistan’s Decree No. 5150 dated June 19, 2021, it is stipulated that any projects for the construction, demolition, or improvement of objects in immovable cultural heritage areas, specially protected historical and cultural areas, sites listed on the World Heritage List, and their buffer zones must be coordinated with the Committee.
Projects related to World Heritage sites and objects must be coordinated through the UNESCO World Heritage Center via the National Commission of Uzbekistan for UNESCO.
On March 6, 2025, at the 4th meeting of the Scientific and Expert Council held in Tashkent, this issue was thoroughly discussed, and a final conclusion was made.
According to the council’s conclusion, the Decree No. 6165 of February 9, 2021, issued by the President of Uzbekistan, was adopted for information and execution.
Additionally, the proposal regarding the expansion of the "Imam Moturidi Memorial Complex" in Samarkand was approved.
At the same time, the Scientific-Expert Council stated that the Cultural Heritage Agency will take steps to notify UNESCO’s World Heritage Center about the expansion and landscaping project around the "Imam Moturidi Memorial Complex" in accordance with the requirements of the Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
Furthermore, the document emphasized that any construction or improvement work in these areas must be carried out in strict accordance with the established procedures, coordinated with the Cultural Heritage Agency.
The supervision of the expansion and landscaping works in this area has been entrusted to the Department of Cultural Heritage in Samarkand region.
