Writer Shukur Jabbor sent an open appeal to Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, asking him to pay attention to the fate of the State Museum of Literature named after Alisher Navoi and to preserve it. He announced this on his Facebook page.
According to the appeal, the museum is being moved from the building it has been using. However, no new building has been allocated for the institution so far. Some of the museum's exhibits have been temporarily placed in the basement of the Center for Islamic Civilization.
According to Shukur Jabbor, the museum has not undergone major repairs since 1968. This has caused nearly 70,000 unique exhibits stored there to be at risk. In his opinion, moving the museum from its current building further increases this risk.
It is noted that the museum's collection includes manuscripts, lithographic books, rare publications, works of fine and applied arts, as well as exhibits related to the lives and works of hundreds of Uzbek poets and writers.
In particular, the museum's exhibitions feature the era of Amir Timur and the Timurids, the life and work of Alisher Navoi, manuscripts of 'Khamsa', miniatures illustrating epics, historical maps, sculptures, and other unique artifacts. Also, manuscripts related to Abdurrahman Jami, Hafiz, Nizami Ganjavi, Firdavsi, Khusraw Dehlavi, Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur, Zebunniso, Turdi, Nodira, Uvaysi, and Mahzuna are kept in the museum's collection.
The museum also has exhibitions dedicated to 20th century and independence period Uzbek literature, which depict the lives and works of more than 200 Uzbek poets and writers.
In his appeal, Shukur Jabbor recalled the President's decree 'On comprehensive measures for the further development of culture, arts, and literature' adopted on June 1, 2026, and expressed hope that the tasks set in this document would also serve to preserve the State Museum of Literature named after Alisher Navoi.
At the end of his appeal, the writer also called on the public to support the initiative to preserve the museum.
Currently, no official response has been given by the relevant state bodies regarding the issues raised in the appeal.
