The International Symposium on “Translation and Security: The Role of Translation in Enhancing National and International Security” kicked off on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat. The event is jointly organized by ICESCO and Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) in Saudi Arabia, with the participation of government officials and experts in translation and security.

The symposium aims to explore the role of translation in enhancing national and international security, discuss the linguistic and cultural challenges affecting translation in security contexts, and highlight how translation supports security operations and addresses cross-border threats. It also reviews the latest tools, methods, and practices in security-related translation, and its role in improving communication between countries and international organizations.

During the opening session, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, emphasized that translation is now regarded as a soft power that shapes global security discourse, fortifies societies, and builds bridges of knowledge between civilizations. Dr. AlMalik announced a series of initiatives by ICESCO’s Centre for Translation and Publishing to translate research and knowledge into multiple languages in order to preserve the presence of Islamic world cultures in international fora.

Following, Mr. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Alharfash, Secretary of NAUSS Supreme Council, and Vice-President for External Relations, stated that the University launched the “Translated Book Initiative” as part of its research strategy to support evidence-based security policies and crime prevention. He noted that the symposium is intended to address linguistic and cultural challenges in security-related translation, while also showcasing how translation can support security operations and counter cross-border threats.

For his part, Mr. Abdellatif Hammouchi, Director General of National Security (DGSN), Director-General of Territorial Surveillance (DGST) of Morocco, emphasized, through remarks delivered on his behalf by Mr. Boubker Sabik, Superintendent General of Police, the central role of translators in aligning linguistic context with legal standards. He described translators as key partners in reinforcing security and stability, ensuring fair trials, and legitimizing legal procedures.

Dr. Ahmed Albanyan, Head of ICESCO’s Centre for Translation and Publishing, noted that translation is no longer a mere linguistic process but rather a strategic bridge linking security, cultural, and technological domains. It serves as a central tool for shaping security, protecting societies, and achieving stability in an increasingly complex, multilingual world.

The opening session also featured the signing of a memorandum of understanding between ICESCO’s Centre for Translation and Publishing and King Fahd School of Translation of Abdelmalek Essaâdi University in Morocco to enhance academic cooperation and mutual training. Over the course of two days, the symposium will include a specialized workshop on the use of modern translation technologies and the training of translators for sensitive environments, along with five thematic sessions on translation in crises, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and multilateral institutional partnerships.