Researchers from six countries discussed the Muslim presence in Sicily from the ninth to the twelfth centuries CE at the International Conference on “Islamic Sicily.” The conference will continue with a seminar at Baqir al-Olum University in Qom, Iran.
According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the international conference was held at the University of Palermo, Italy, in collaboration with the Cultural Counsellor’s Office of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Italy.
At the opening ceremony, Ahmad Pakatchi, Iran’s Ambassador to UNESCO, delivered a speech.
The two-day conference brought together more than 20 researchers specializing in the history and heritage of Islamic Sicily from Italy, the United States, Iran, Tunisia, Oman, and Portugal. Participants delivered presentations and presented their research papers on various aspects of the Muslim presence and historical legacy in Sicily.
The conference brought together researchers and specialists from Italy and other countries to examine the Muslim presence on the island of Sicily during the period of Islamic rule and the Norman era, from the ninth to the twelfth centuries CE.
The history of Muslim presence in Sicily, particularly during the Fatimid period, represents a remarkable chapter in the island’s scientific, artistic, and literary heritage. Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, played a significant role in the cultural and intellectual exchanges that shaped the region during this period.
The University of Palermo’s academic cooperation with Iranian universities in the fields of Islamic and Iranian studies is of considerable significance. In this regard, a seminar on the same subject is scheduled to be held at Baqir al-Olum University in Qom, Iran, as a continuation of the conference, with the participation of several Italian guests.
