Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Mohammad Abu Al-Khair Shukri, Syrian Minister of Religious Endowments, at the conclusion of His Excellency’s official visit to the Syrian Arab Republic, during which he headed a high-level delegation from the Organization.

The discussions, held on Thursday, 21 August 2025, in Damascus, focused on avenues of bilateral cooperation for the implementation of the project to revive Aleppo’s manuscripts and its Waqf Library, as well as on convening an international conference to support efforts aimed at restoring the Aleppo Library and its counterparts in other Syrian cities.

Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s commitment to supporting the revival of both the tangible and intangible heritage of Aleppo. He highlighted the scholarly and historical significance of the city’s Waqf Library and its wealth of invaluable civilizational legacy, underscoring the urgency of proceeding with its revival through restoration and digitization, in order to reinstate its enlightening cultural role.

For his part, the Syrian Minister of Religious Endowments commended ICESCO’s initiatives in the field of manuscript preservation and revival, affirming the Ministry’s readiness to cooperate with the Organization in this regard.

The meeting was attended on behalf of ICESCO by Dr. Adham Hamawiya, expert at the Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, while from the Syrian side it was attended by a number of directors of departments at the Ministry of Religious Endowments.