Unveiling of Statue of Cyrus the Great in Dushanbe, Capital of Tajikistan

Yesterday in the city of Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, a statue of Cyrus the Great was unveiled.

Cyrus the Great, the Persian king, is recognized as the first king and founder of the Achaemenid Empire due to his clemency, establishment of human rights, founding of the first multi-ethnic and vast empire in the world, freeing of slaves, respect for different religions, promotion of civilization, and other achievements.

Cyrus the Great, the Persian king, ruled over vast regions of Asia, which included parts of present-day Tajikistan. For this reason, the Tajik people regard him as one of the national figures of their history and hold him in high esteem. Cyrus the Great is recognized as one of the enduring figures of history, such that in recent years many countries have focused on his personality and activities, preserving his human rights charter in their museums or installing it in major squares.

Now the statue of Cyrus the Great stands erected in a park located in the city of Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, which has been named “Garden of Cyrus the Great,” and was unveiled yesterday on December 22. At the statue unveiling ceremony for Cyrus, in addition to the presence of “Rustam Emomali,” the mayor of Dushanbe, the chairman of the National Parliament of Tajikistan, and “Zulfiya Dolutuzade,” the minister of culture of this country, some Iranians residing in Europe and America were also present, who had participated in the implementation of the aforementioned project.

It is worth noting that on October 16 of this year, in another section of the mentioned park, the human rights charter of Cyrus the Great was also unveiled.

Tajik researchers consider one of the prominent factors in highlighting the figure of Cyrus the Great in Tajikistan to be the increasing efforts of Turkic peoples in the region for the unity and solidarity of their countries. “Seifollah Malajon,” a professor at the National University of Tajikistan, stated in this regard: “At a time when the issue of differences, radical and extremist views and opinions has reached its peak, Cyrus is a striking example of rule under which all religions, sects and denominations lived in coexistence, evidence of which is that famous cylinder of human rights of Cyrus.”