International Year of Rumi
800th Anniversary of the birth of Mawlana Jalalud-Din Balkhi-Rumi

One of the greatest spiritual masters and mystic poets of Islamic civilization. In Afghanistan, he is known as ‘Mawlana’, in Iran as ‘Mawlawi’ and in Turkey, he is known as ‘Mevlana’.

To honour the greatness of Mawlana, his work, vision and philosophy that are in conformity with the objectives and mission of UNESCO “constructing in the minds of men the defences of peace”, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will be associated with the celebration of Mawlana’s eight hundred years of birth in 2007, as proposed by the Permanent Delegations of Afghanistan, Egypt and Turkey and approved by the Executive Board and the General Conference of UNESCO.

UNESCO Medal in honour of MAWLANA JALAL-UD-DIN BALKHI-RUMI (pdf)

Futher readings: Wikipedia entry