Uzbekistan recognized as one of the brightest pages of the book of Islamic civilization

The land of Jizzakh raises sons renowned for their valor, courage, and resilience. One of the worthy heirs of this land is the young boxer Jahongir Zokirov, who defends the honor of his homeland by raising the flag of Uzbekistan on the international stage. He is a Master of Sports of Uzbekistan of international class and a commander of group 'n' of military units for object protection.

Path to Success and Upbringing

Jahongir Zokirov's life path is an example of the harmonious combination of talent, labor, discipline, and devotion to the Motherland. Thanks to these virtues, he has become the pride not only of the sports community but of the entire nation. Jahongir Zokirov was born on May 17, 2003, in the Sharof Rashidov district of Jizzakh region. His childhood was spent in a sporting environment, and his destiny was early linked to boxing. A strong foundation was provided by hard work, upbringing, and the life example of his father, Lazizbek Zokirov, who worked as a boxing coach for many years. His mother, Sevora Zokirova, guided her son with love and patience so that he would become an educated, spiritually developed, and highly moral person.

Early Achievements and International Experience

Every victory in the ring is the embodiment of years of effort, continuous training, will, and self-sacrifice, which Jahongir Zokirov understood very early on. Even in his youth, he held leading positions in the most prestigious competitions in the country. His first major sporting success came in 2018 when he won the heavyweight category up to +80 kg at the Uzbekistan Cup held in the city of Fergana. In the same year, he demonstrated his potential on the international stage by winning the championship title at an international tournament dedicated to the memory of V.V. Botvinkin in the capital of Belarus, Minsk.

Golden Period in Youth

2019 marked a period of ascent for the young boxer. He won gold medals consecutively at the memorial tournament held in Tashkent, the Uzbekistan Championship in Khorezm, the 'Heydar Aliyev Cup' international tournament in Azerbaijan, the international competition in Gomel, the Asian Championship in Fujairah (UAE), and the national championship in Andijan. These successes confirmed that he is one of the most promising representatives of Uzbek boxing.

International Career and Awards

Since 2020, Jahongir Zokirov has represented the country as part of the senior national boxing team. He won the championship title at an international tournament in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Russia, a silver medal in Belarus, and a gold medal at the Uzbekistan Senior Championship in Tashkent. In 2021, he was promoted to the rank of Master of Sports of Uzbekistan of international class, winning the championship title at the 'Adriatic Pearl' international tournament in Montenegro, the World Youth Championship in Kels, Poland, and the Asian Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates. At the end of the same year, he also became the winner of the Uzbekistan Senior Championship.

Further Sporting Achievements

In 2022, he won the gold medal at the Asian Championship for athletes aged 19–22, held in Tashkent. In 2023, he once again won the victory at the Asian Championship for athletes under 22, held in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. 2024 brought another important milestone: he won the gold medal in the weight category up to +92 kg at the traditional 'Strandja' tournament held in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. In the same year, he became champion at the Asian Championship in Astana, Kazakhstan, and won a bronze medal at the Asian Championship in Thailand.

Peak of Career and Recognition

2025 was a year of global challenges for Jahongir Zokirov. He won the gold medal at the World Cup in Warsaw, Poland, and confirmed his superiority at the World Cup in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. In Tashkent, he became the national champion. The most significant achievement was reaching the super final of the Senior World Championship held in Liverpool, England, where he won the silver medal. This result strengthened the international authority of Uzbek heavyweight boxing, as well as his personal achievements.

Current Stage and Future

In 2026, he maintained his stable athletic form, winning the gold medal at the Uzbekistan Senior Championship in Tashkent in the weight category up to +90 kg. Later, he won a bronze medal at the first stage of the World Cup in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. Currently, Jahongir Zokirov continues his studies at the Jizzakh State Pedagogical University, combining sports with education. His responsibility in military service, discipline in sports, and modesty in life clearly demonstrate his personal qualities.

Looking at his life, it is evident that behind every medal there is unprecedented hard work, and behind every victory there is a high responsibility for the glory of the Motherland. Jahongir Zokirov proves by his life example that to win in the ring, one must first conquer oneself. Today, he is not just a champion but also a role model of high patriotism, dedication, and resilience for the youth of the country. The success of this young man, who grew up in the land of Jizzakh, his dedication in military service, and his service in raising the flag of his homeland on the international stage have earned him the state award 'Son-Warrior.'

An exhibition titled 'Radiance of Islam' was organized as part of the 'International Forum of Islamic Civilization: The Path of Peace, Tolerance, and Knowledge'.

Policy and Development Goals

In recent years, under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a state policy has been established to deeply study the scientific and spiritual heritage of the great thinkers of our ancestors, reveal its global significance, and convey the true humanistic essence of Islamic civilization to the world community.

Conveying the Islamic ideas of peace, tolerance, and knowledge to the entire world is a common task not only for a specific state but for the entire Muslim world. Uzbekistan is acting as an initiator of such international cooperation.

Exhibition Content

The main goal of the 'Radiance of Islam' exhibition, opened in the Quran Hall, which is the heart of the Center for Islamic Civilization of Uzbekistan, is to demonstrate the invaluable contribution of Islamic civilization to the development of world science, culture, and spirituality.

Muzaffar Komilov, Rector of the Academy of Islamic Studies of Uzbekistan and Head of the Department for Religious and Educational Issues of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as Firdavs Abdukholikov, Chairman of the Uzbekistan-Saudi Arabia Friendship Society and Director of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan, emphasized that significant efforts have been made in the country over the last decade to preserve and widely promote spiritual heritage, and these efforts are yielding positive results.

Through this exhibition, rich Islamic artifacts formed on the territory of Uzbekistan, the scientific and spiritual heritage of great scholars, rare manuscripts, copies of the Quran, as well as samples of calligraphy, miniature and applied decorative arts, and cultural treasures are presented using modern museum technologies.

Themes and Exhibits

The exhibition, based on the idea that 'Islam is a religion of knowledge, enlightenment, and peace', introduces visitors to the formation of Islamic civilization, its influence on world civilization, and the role of Central Asia, particularly Uzbekistan, in this process.

Among the exhibits were the Kiswa (covering) of part of the Kaaba and panels with the inscriptions 'Allah' and 'Muhammad', dating from the 19th–20th centuries, as well as a calligraphic panel taken from the Kiswa of the Kaaba. This further emphasizes the significance and greatness of the Quran Hall.

Large burial caskets made of green silk taken from the tombs of the Prophet (peace be upon him and blessings of Allah), dated 1900, and a 'Mahmil' from the 19th century were also displayed.

The entrance section of the Quran Hall, opposite the Kokand Portal, also featured photographs dedicated to the history of the arrival of the 'Uthmanic Mushaf' at the Center for Islamic Civilization of Uzbekistan, specifically in the 'Quran Hall'.

International Collections

Furthermore, many unique manuscripts, books, exhibits, and cultural heritage items related to the history of Islam, which were specially brought for this exhibition from the 'Islamic Art' Museum located in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, attracted the attention of visitors.

A special impression on guests was made by prayer books dedicated to 'Prayers of Muhammad (peace be upon him and blessings of Allah)', containing excerpts from the Quran, as well as works by Imamzoda al-Haj Muhammad 'Dalail al-Khairat' and 'Al-Khizb al-Azam'. Pages from Quranic manuscripts of the Seljuk era (12th century), a fragment of the Quran with the writing of verses 70–71 of Surah 'Tawbah', a fragment of the Quran copied in Thuluth style, a fragment of the Quran copied in Kufic style, a printed edition of the 'Great Langar Quran' from the 7th century, a fragment written in Kalami Sharif, a fragment written in Surah 'Ibrahim' verse 40, a calligraphic plaque written in Gubur, and a sample signed by Muhammad Taki ibn Muhammad Ali Davlatobodi in 1670, and a 17th-century edition of the book Tabarruk were also presented.

Artifacts related to Islamic art were also displayed, such as samples of architecture, applied arts, calligraphy, miniatures, jewelry, and pottery, including ancient locks and keys, as well as copper plates used in the enclosure of Masjid al-Haram in Mecca.

The 'Radiance of Islam' exhibition represents a prestigious international cultural project that demonstrates the rich scientific and cultural heritage of Islamic civilization through a modern museum exposition, thereby enriching the forum's theme of 'The Path of Peace, Tolerance, and Knowledge.'

In recent years, the decentralization of state governance in Uzbekistan and the direct delivery of services to mahallas, as well as decision-making at the lowest level of society based on the principle of 'human dignity,' have become the main directions of systemic reforms.

The New Role of the Mahalla

The mahalla is no longer just a self-governing body; it has become a unique institution of civil society responsible for solving social problems of the population, supporting entrepreneurship, and defining the moral and legal environment of the region.

Legal Bases and Changes

It is necessary to recognize the decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan adopted in December 2023, titled 'On measures to fundamentally enhance the role of the Mahalla institution in society and ensure its functioning as the first link in solving people's problems,' and the resolution 'On launching the activities of the Association of Uzbek Mahallas and taking additional measures to improve the governance system in mahallas' as an important step in perfecting the mahalla system.

Based on these documents, the previous 'mahalla council' composition was expanded, leading to the emergence of the 'mahalla seven-member' institution with the inclusion of a tax inspector and a social worker. This change is a profound renewal not only in number but also in substance.

Integrated Team and Services

Currently, the deputy mayor under the head of the mahalla, youth leaders, women activists, prevention and tax inspectors, and social workers work as a single team. This system allows for the coordination of areas such as social protection, poverty reduction, employment provision, and encouragement of economic activity based on the 'one-window' principle. At the same time, a legal and organizational basis has been created for state services to be provided to the population in an even easier, faster, and more convenient form.

Development and Digitalization

As part of the ongoing reforms, 2026 has been declared the 'Year of Developing the Mahalla and Advancing Society.' Within this year's State Program, the practice of appointing 'seven-member' members from the local population or nearby areas in 500 mahallas is increasing the popular nature of the system. Furthermore, strict rules regarding the exemption of employees from unnecessary meetings and assignments are serving to increase the efficiency of their activities.

Today, the mahalla is a technologically equipped area. The 'Digital Mahalla' electronic platform integrates all links, from the mahalla head to the deputy mayor, into a single system. Through this platform, the population can submit their appeals online and monitor their execution in real-time. This system reduces bureaucracy while creating the possibility of objectively evaluating employee performance based on key performance indicators (KPIs), which increases the responsibility of each employee.

Results of Reforms and Financial Independence

According to data from the Association of Uzbek Mahallas, many activities were carried out in 2025 in 8,992 mahallas with over 55 thousand 'seven-member' employees and nearly 1 million participants. In the scope of these activities, 2,090 (23%) mahallas were turned into unemployment-free areas. Additionally, poverty decreased sharply in 1,435 (16%) mahallas, and the crime rate was lowered and a safe environment was created in 4,388 (49%) mahallas.

It should be specifically emphasized that the work carried out to ensure the employment and social rehabilitation of 428 thousand migrants returning from abroad demonstrates what an important social force the mahalla is.

Financial Independence and Future

Another strategic direction of the reforms is the financial independence of the mahallas. Based on the presidential decree, 15% of the funds collected from property and land taxes will be directed to funds for solving the socio-economic problems of the mahalla directly. Increasing transparency in the use of mahalla funds and fully delegating decision-making authority to mahalla councils is set as a priority task in the 2026 Reforms Program.