Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture

IRCICA (Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture) is a subsidiary organ of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It was established in 1979 as the first cultural centre of the OIC, and the 57 Member States of the OIC are also members of IRCICA. The idea to establish the Centre was proposed by the Republic of Turkey at the Seventh Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers in Istanbul in 1976 and approved by the Conference. Its Establishment Statute was adopted by the 9th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (Dakar, 1978), and the Centre became operational upon the adoption of its first annual work program by the 11th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (Islamabad, 1980). From 1983 to 2000 IRCICA also served as the Secretariat and Executive Organ of the International Commission for the Preservation of Islamic Heritage (ICPICH), which was merged into IRCICA in June 2000. IRCICA carries out research, publications, conferences and cultural programmes, including its History of Islamic Civilization programme.

IRCICA is a subsidiary organ of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It was established in 1979 as the first cultural centre of the OIC (then named Organisation of the Islamic Conference). The 57 Member States of the OIC are also members of IRCICA. The idea to establish IRCICA was proposed by the Republic of Turkey during the Seventh Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held in Istanbul in 1976, and approved by the Conference (Resolution no. 3/7-ECS). The Establishment Statute of the Centre was adopted by the 9th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (Dakar, 1978) and later revised by the 6th Islamic Summit Conference (Dakar, 1991), which adopted the Framework Statute of the Subsidiary Organs of OIC by its Resolution no. 1/6-Org (IS). The Centre became operational upon the adoption of its first annual work program by the 11th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (Islamabad, 1980). In addition to its own mandate, from 1983 to 2000 IRCICA fulfilled the function of the Secretariat and Executive Organ of the International Commission for the Preservation of Islamic Heritage (ICPICH), in accordance with the Commission's Statute adopted by the 13th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (Niamey, 1982). The Commission was merged into IRCICA in June 2000 by decision of the 27th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (Kuala Lumpur, June 2000), upon the demise of its Chairman, H.R.H. Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, General President of Youth Welfare in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in 1999.

1. 1IRCICA | Research Centre For Islamic History, Art and Cultureircica.org
2. 2Research Centre For Islamic History, Art and Culture – IRCICA | IRCICAircica.org
3. 3History of Islamic Civilization | IRCICAircica.org
4. 4Lecture about the book “Libya in the Ottoman Archive Documents” published by IRCICA Tripoli, Libya, 11 July 2026 | IRCICAircica.org
5. 5Research Centre For Islamic History, Art and Culturewikidata.org