On October 15, the decree dating back to 1508 of Shah Ismayil Khatai, the founder of the Safavid state and famous poet, was presented at the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan. An Azerbaijani citizen purchased the decree at the famous "Christie's" auction in England this year and donated it to the History Museum.
The document, signed by Shah Ismail Khatai on July 4, 1508 (25th of the month of Safar, 914 according to the Islamic Hijri calendar), is written in Persian using the "gara shikasta" style and bears Khatai's official seal. It holds great historical value as one of the Safavid ruler's property-related decrees, especially because it remains intact and sealed. Academician Rafael Huseynov, Deputy Chairman of Milli Majlis, Polad Bulbuloglu, Chairman of the Culture Committee of Milli Majlis, representatives of the Ministry of Culture, and cultural and scientific figures attended the presentation ceremony.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Culture Farid Jafarov emphasized that the Azerbaijani state continues to focus on the restoration and preservation of the historical and cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people. He noted that this is a key aspect of the country's cultural policy: "It is praiseworthy that our citizens contribute to the efforts of state institutions in this field, as such initiatives emphasize the unity of our society and commitment to national values. This rare document from the early years of the Safavid Empire is not only a significant exhibit of Azerbaijan's statehood traditions but also a valuable historical source for future generations." Academician Isa Habibbayli, President of ANAS, assessed the return of a document signed by Shah Ismayil Khatai to our country as a significant historical and political event.
Academician Naila Valikhanli, Director of the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan, noted that the return of samples of Azerbaijan's historical and cultural heritage to the country has already become a tradition. "The acquisition and donation of an edict of Shah Ismayil Khatai, a great Azerbaijani commander and poet, to our museum by one of our citizens is a true demonstration of patriotism. It also shows the commitment of our people to preserve their history and claim it as their own," said N. Valikhanli, noting that the decree will be displayed in the permanent exhibition of the museum.
She added that bringing it to Azerbaijan on the 500th anniversary of the death of Shah Ismayil Khatai has symbolic significance. Professor Karim Shukurov, Director of the Institute of History and Ethnology of ANAS, shared his views on Khatai's statecraft, while Ilgar Fahmi, Secretary of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers, talked about his artistic creativity.
The event concluded with the performance of an artistic-musical composition by the Ensemble of Ancient Musical Instruments of the State Museum of Musical Culture of Azerbaijan.
