On opening of the Exhibition “The Book Culture of the Belarusian Tatars” at the National Museum of Oman

On 9 September 2026, the exhibition “The Book Culture of the Belarusian Tatars”, organised jointly with the National Library of Belarus, opened at the National Museum of the Sultanate of Oman. The exhibition was inaugurated by H.E. Mohammed bin Said bin Khalfan Al Maamari, Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs of Oman; H.E. Jamal Al-Moosawi, Secretary-General of the National Museum of Oman; and H.E. Vadzim Hihin, Director General of the National Library of Belarus.

The exhibition features rare examples of the manuscript heritage of the Belarusian Tatars dating from the late eighteenth to the early twentieth century: Qur’anic manuscripts, tafsirs, kitabs, hamails, as well as medical and educational texts. Written in Arabic, Belarusian, Polish and Turkic using Arabic script, they reflect the distinctive culture of the Belarusian Tatars, who have preserved their faith and traditions over the centuries while remaining an integral part of Belarusian society. The exhibition will remain on display in Oman until November 6, 2026.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vadzim Hihin highlighted the exceptional historical value of this heritage and the importance of the exhibition for strengthening ties between Belarus and Oman. Kristina Yermak, a representative of the National Library of Belarus, delivered a thematic lecture on the history of the exhibits.

Cooperation between Belarusian and Omani institutions also includes a professional exchange and training program for Belarusian conservation specialists, supported by the National Museum and the National Records and Archives Authority of Oman.

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