On Friday, 18 April 2025, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), took part in a celebration organized by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco, on the occasion of the 11th edition of Arab Poetry Day. The event was held on the sidelines of the Rabat International Book Fair.

The literary celebration served as an occasion to honor creative expression and pay tribute to iconic figures in poetry and the arts across the Arab world. It featured the esteemed Egyptian actor Yehia El-Fakharany as the guest of honor, who was recognized for his rich artistic career and pioneering role in enriching the Arab artistic and cultural scene.

Also honored were five prominent Arab poets: Mohammed Bennis (Morocco), Saleem Al-Nafar (Palestine), Yaseen Taha Hafiz (Iraq), Abdullah Al-Baradouni (Yemen), and Ahmad Al-Adwani (Kuwait). The event broadcast videos documenting their poetic and artistic journeys and highlighting their influence on Arab culture.

The celebration was attended by Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication; Mr. Ahmed Fouad Hennawi, Minister of Culture of the Arab Republic of Egypt; several members of the Arab diplomatic corps; and an elite group of intellectuals, writers, and poets from across the Arab world.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, certificates of appreciation were presented to the honored artists and poets, or their representatives, in a moment of gratitude and recognition for their contributions to enriching the Arab cultural and artistic landscape.