“Tajikistan Night” was held at the Center for the Great Islamic Encyclopedia

7/20/2025 10:32

“Tajikistan Night,” was the very first event in the new “Diplomatic Nights” series, organized by the Center for the Great Islamic Encyclopedia, the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in Iran, the Hūrshīd Institute of Culture and Literature, and the Iran-Tajikistan Friendship Association.

CGIE: Ahmad Masjed-Jamei, deputy director of the Center, spoke and shared a memory: “Before Tajikistan became an independent country, I traveled there and met with the Writers’ Union of Tajikistan. During that meeting, Tajik cultural and literary figures criticized the fact that the name of Rūdakī Hall had been changed after the [Iranian] Revolution. In response, we submitted a bill to the Parliament, and the Rūdakī Foundation was established. This initiative was actually inspired by a suggestion from the Tajiks.”

He added: “In that meeting, we also discussed the Persian language and literature in Tajikistan, and I tasked the late Hasan Anousheh with writing a book on the subject. A while later, during Sayyid Muḥammad Khātamī’s trip to Tajikistan, the book was presented as a gift to that country’s president. Another project was preparing a catalogue of Tajikistan’s manuscripts, which was carried out by ʿAlī Bahramiān and Sayyid ʿAlī Mojānī. In addition, more than 30000 books were donated to the National Library of Tajikistan”. 

Masjed-Jamei also added: “Persian is the language of civilization and the relationship between Iran and Tajikistan is deep and strong. More attention must be paid to existing capacities. The limited exchange of tourists is largely due to our own shortcomings. Therefore, cultural, political and social ties between the two nations should be further developed.”

At this event – hosted by ʿAbdul Mahdi Mostakīn – several notable figures spoke, including Hujatullah Ayoubi (director of the Hūrshīd Institute of Culture and Literature), Nizomiddin Zahidi (Ambassador of Tajikistan), Jalāluddin Kazzāzi (distinguished figure in Iranian literature), Farzāneh Khojandī (renowned Tajik literary figure), and ʿAli Ashraf Mojtahidi Shabistari (head of the Iran-Tajikistan Friendship Association).   

Highlights of the night also included live music led by Majid Derakhshani, with vocals by ʿAli Khodaei, and a special Shāh-nāmeh recitation by Keykhosrow Dehqani.