Iran, Thailand plan joint Qur’an manuscript preservation program
Iran and Thailand held a high-level cultural meeting in Bangkok, aiming to expand cooperation in the preservation and digital archiving of rare Qur’anic manuscripts and Islamic heritage.
According to Iran’s Cultural Center and Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces Development Command, the joint session brought together Iranian diplomats, Thai cultural officials, and manuscript restoration experts from both countries. The focus was to organize an expert-level visit to Iran later this year.
The Thai delegation was led by Chakraphong Apimahahtam, who emphasized Thailand’s commitment to safeguarding Islamic manuscripts, especially in the southern provinces.
He confirmed the Royal Thai Navy’s support for sending a team of restoration and cultural experts to Iran.
Mehdi Zare' Bieib, Iran's Cultural Counselor in Thailand, praised Thailand’s care for historical Qurans and highlighted Iran’s leading role in manuscript conservation. He announced that a 10-day intensive training course would be held in Iran’s top restoration centers in Tehran, Qom, Isfahan, and Mashhad.
Iran’s Ambassador to Thailand, Reza Heidari, noted that the project had been months in the making and described it as “a key step toward deepening Islamic cultural ties.”
Workshops will cover traditional and modern repair techniques, paper microbiology, historical script analysis, and digital cataloging. Participants will also tour major libraries and archives.
A senior official at Thailand’s civil development agency, said this partnership could become a model for other Southeast Asian countries with similar preservation needs.