A proposal by the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry to declare 2007 as the “The Year of Mevlana” to mark the 800th. anniversary of Mevlana Jelaladdin Rumi's birth was accepted by UNESCO, the Anatolia news agency reported on Monday. Culture and Tourism Ministry Undersecretary Mustafa Isen said 2007 was the 800th anniversary of the birth of famous Turkish philosopher and poet Mevlana, and therefore they submitted a proposal to UNESCO to officially declare 2007 as the “Year of Mevlana” to mark the 800th anniversary of his birth.

“UNESCO gave a positive response to our proposal and decided Mevlana to be commemorated next year in all countries. 2007 was declared as the Year of Mevlana,” he said.. Nothing that they have intensified commemoration works after this decision, Isen said the commemoration activities to be held in Konya next year would be expanded throughout 2007 all over the world. He also said they established a committee for organization of the commemorative events under the direction of the ministry and, likewise, some works were being conducted by the Konya Governor's Office and local municipalities. Support from Iran and Afghanistan : Meanwhile, International Mevlana Foundation Chairman Faruk Celebi, who is Mevlana's 22nd generation grandchild, said he was pleased for the decision of UNESCO, which also had included Sufism culture into the world's cultural heritages.

He said they received great support from Iran and Afghanistan for the Year of Mevlana. “It is indeed a positive development for Mevlana culture to be protected and commemorated by UNESCO. Activities will be held worldwide throughout 2007 and Mevlana as well as his philosophy will be conveyed to all humanity in the proper sense.”   Associate Professor Nuri Simsekler, Selçuk University's Mevlana Research Center director, said UNESCO's decision was an important step in terms of conveying Mevlana and his philosophy to the next generations without having it become degenerated. Stating that 2007 will also be an important occasion in scientific examination of Mevlana and the related documents on his philosophy as well as introducing this wealth of knowledge to people in Turkey and all of humanity, Simsekler said, “We will have an opportunity to exhibit the beauty of our religion to other people, highlighting the humanistic and peaceful aspects of Mevlana, who is considered to be one of the best interpreters of Islam, a religion wrongfully associated with terrorism.”