The Islamic Education, Science and Culture Organization (ISESCO) has decided to name the city of Shusha in Azerbaijan as the "Capital of Islamic Culture". This was reported by a renowned political scientist and journalist, founder and CEO of the Dona Gracia Center Diplomacy, Rachel Avraham in an article published on the news website of the Foreign Policy Association, headquartered in New York, USA about it.

It has been highlighted that Shusha began its historical journey as a city founded during the Karabakh Khanate period, known for its cultural and commercial significance and recognized in distant lands due to its developing silk and carpet industries  in the article titled “Shusha: the Capital of the Islamic World”.

In the 18th century Shusha become the capital of Karabakh and the growth of the city and cultural flourishing occured during this time. It become the motherland of many poets, writers, musicians, and artists. It has been noted that Shusha was considered the center of music and culture in the Caucasus at the end of the 19th century. The city was known as "Art Temple of the Caucasus", “Little Paris” and “The Musical House of Azerbaijan”.

It has been stated that the reason why many historical buildings in the city have not survived to this day is due to the vandalism, committed by Armenians after occupying the city. The liberation of the city from 30 years’ occupation as a result of the 2020 Second Karabakh War has averted the threat of the destruction of Azerbaijani culture in Shusha.

Click the link below to read the article:

https://www.thej.ca/2024/07/28/shusha-the-cultural-capital-of-the-islamic-world/