Ancient City of Turkistan in Kazakhstan Receives Special Status to Protect Its Historical Fabric

In Kazakhstan, the ancient city of Turkistan, with a history of nearly 2,000 years, has been granted special status by law to preserve its unique cultural heritage and historical fabric.

Kazakhstan’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, signed the law granting Turkistan special status on March 3. The law, which will come into effect on March 15, designates the city as the administrative center of Turkistan region with special status.

Thus, Turkistan, with its rich historical texture and invaluable heritage, is now the only city in Kazakhstan to be safeguarded with special status. The aim is to protect, study, and promote Turkistan as an irreplaceable cultural and historical site.

According to the law, historical buildings in the city will be classified according to their international, national, and local significance. The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the symbol of Turkistan, will be preserved as an "internationally important" monument, and efforts will be made to protect its historical and architectural authenticity.

The mausoleum, which is Kazakhstan's first UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most significant examples of medieval architecture, will be shielded from construction projects that do not align with its historical context. Specifically, buildings higher than seven meters and those inconsistent with the historical and cultural landmarks in terms of scale, color, and materials will be prohibited around the mausoleum.

Furthermore, no construction or creation of structures that could damage historical or cultural monuments in the city will be allowed. To preserve the architectural appearance of the city, a design code will be developed.

Additionally, the local budget will cover some costs for local craftsmen and artisans to revive traditional handcrafts in Turkistan. The law will also expand the powers of the Turkistan region’s administration.

"Uncontrolled Construction That Doesn't Fit the City's Historical Architecture Is Stopped"

Kazakh journalist and columnist Amangeldi Kurmetuly discussed the implications of granting Turkistan special status and its significance for the Turkic world. He emphasized that this decision aims to preserve the city’s original fabric and ensure the transmission of its historical and spiritual heritage to future generations.

Kurmetuly reminded that in 2018, Turkistan was designated as the administrative center of its region. Since then, the city has been rapidly developing and expanding, with construction increasing. As a result, historic and spiritual structures such as the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi might have been overshadowed by new developments. This had sparked public debates. Kurmetuly stated that with this law, uncontrolled construction that does not align with the city’s historical and architectural fabric has been stopped.

He also pointed out that granting Turkistan special status is not only important for Kazakhstan but also for the entire Turkic world. Turkistan’s name is not merely tied to the city itself, but it represents the unity of Turkic peoples. He noted that this decision would serve as a factor to strengthen mutual identification and create a more unified Turkic world.

Referring to how schools in Turkey have started to use the term "Turkistan" instead of "Central Asia," Kurmetuly said, “The granting of special status to the city is in harmony with history, as Kazakh intellectual and poet Mağcan Cumabay had referred to this region as Turkistan in his poetry. I believe that with such decisions, in the next 20-25 years, the name Turkistan might be used in the geographical and political definitions of the region in the United Nations documents. I am confident that small steps, such as using the name Turkistan in Turkish schools and granting special status to Turkistan, can lead to significant achievements.”

Kurmetuly also pointed out that Turkistan has become one of the most preferred tourist destinations. He concluded, "The name of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi holds great value for all Turkic people. Granting Turkistan special status is also a gesture of great respect to the spiritual leader of the Turkic world, Khoja Ahmed Yasawi."