Iran’s Mashhad dubbed 2017's ‘Islamic culture capital’

ISTANBUL The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) on Tuesday officially launched its activities in Mashhad after choosing the Iranian city as this year’s "capital of Islamic culture". In a statement, ISESCO (which is affiliated with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation) said that inauguration ceremonies were held in Mashhad’s Quds Razavi Hall in the presence of Iran’s vice-president for women and family affairs. Government officials and diplomats from 50 countries around the world also attended the event. Other cities to have been chosen previously by ISESCO as "capitals of Islamic culture" include Jordanian capital Amman and Ugandan capital Kampala. During the year for which they are chosen, cities organize activities highlighting their Islamic heritage.