The Republic of Türkiye has reached a significant cultural milestone with Antep İşi Embroidery being inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The announcement was made during the 20th Session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in New Delhi from 8 to 13 December 2025. The nomination was jointly prepared by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye and the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality.
Antep İşi Embroidery is a centuries-old needlework tradition created using white thread on white fabric. The intricate technique involves pulling and cutting threads to form refined patterns and motifs passed down through generations. Renowned for its precision and craftsmanship, Antep İşi plays an important socio-economic role in the region, particularly for women, by supporting sustainable livelihoods and strengthening social cohesion.
During the Committee’s deliberations, UNESCO praised Türkiye’s submission, describing the Antep İşi dossier as exceptionally detailed and well prepared. Türkiye was commended for its strong safeguarding practices, community involvement, and comprehensive documentation. With this inscription, Türkiye’s total number of elements on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists has reached 32, including 14 multinational files developed in collaboration with countries sharing common cultural traditions.
Gaziantep, a city with over 12,000 years of history and recognised as a UNESCO Creative City, reaffirmed its commitment to preserving its cultural legacy. Mayor Ms. Fatma Şahin highlighted the importance of the recognition, noting that Antep İşi embroidery has long been a treasured element of cultural identity and a cherished part of a young woman’s dowry. She expressed pride that the craft is now protected within an international framework aligned with the United Nations’ goals for sustainable development, women’s empowerment and family economic resilience.
Following the announcement, Mayor Şahin and Türkiye’s Ambassador to New Delhi, H.E. Ali Murat Ersoy, received congratulations from international delegations.
To mark the occasion and promote Gaziantep’s heritage, Ambassador Ersoy and his spouse, Ms. Fazilet Ersoy, hosted a Gaziantep Promotion Event in New Delhi on 10 December 2025. The event featured a presentation by Mayor Şahin on the city’s cultural identity, alongside tastings of Gaziantep’s celebrated cuisine, including its world-famous baklava. Emphasising historic ties between Türkiye and India dating back to the Silk Road, Mayor Şahin invited guests to visit Gaziantep and encouraged deeper cooperation across cultural, commercial and people-to-people exchanges.
