Türkiye Secures UNESCO Listing for its Antep İşi Embroidery at the 20th Intergovernmental Committee Meeting in New Delhi

New Delhi, December17, 2025:The Republic of Türkiye has achieved an important cultural milestone as Antep İşi Embroidery has been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.The inscription was announced during the 20th Session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which took place in New Delhi from 8 to 13 December 2025. The nomination was jointly prepared and submitted 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 crafted using white thread on white fabric. The technique involves pulling and cutting threads to form intricate patterns and motifs that have been passed down through generations. Known for its precision, patience, and refined craftsmanship, Antep İşi Embroidery plays a vital socio-economic role in the region, particularly for women, by creating sustainable income opportunities and fostering social cohesion.

During the Committee’s proceedings, UNESCO commended Türkiye’s submission, highlighting the Antep İşi dossier as a detailed and impeccably prepared file. The country was congratulated both for the overall quality of its safeguarding efforts and for its commitment to protecting living heritage through community participation and well-structured documentation. This inscription brings Türkiye’s total number of elements on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists to 32, including 14 multinational files developed in collaboration with countries that share common cultural histories.

“Antep İşi embroidery has always held a central place in the preservation of our cultural heritage and stands as one of the most cherished elements in a young woman’s dowry. As someone who personally experienced the importance of Antep İşi within my own life—as a daughter of this city and as your mayor—I am deeply proud and moved by this new UNESCO recognition. We are pleased that this treasured embroidery has now been protected under an international framework that aligns with the United Nations’ goals for sustainable development, the empowerment and education of girls, and the strengthening of family economies. From the local to the global, from tradition to the future, safeguarding this precious art form brings us immense satisfaction.”

Fatma Sahin,

Following the conferral of the designation, Mayor Şahin andTürkiye’s Ambassador to New Delhi, H.E. Ali Murat Ersoy, received congratulations from delegations.

To introduce this traditional craft and the ancient city of Gaziantep to members of the foreign diplomatic community and Indian friends, Ambassador Ersoy and his spouse, Ms. Fazilet Ersoy, hosted a specialGaziantep Promotion Eventon 10 December 2025. During the event, attendees were given a comprehensive presentation by Mayor Şahin, gaining deeper insight into the city’s rich heritage and cultural identity. Guests also had the opportunity to experience the unique flavors of Gaziantep’s renowned culinary tradition, including its world-famous baklava—an integral symbol of Türkiye’s gastronomic heritage. Highlighting the long-standing cultural and commercial ties between the two nations dating back to the historic Silk Road, Mayor Şahin also invited the guests to visit Gaziantep and encouraged broader cooperation in all fields, expressing the city’s readiness to deepen partnerships that build on this rich shared heritage.