Category: Director General

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has inaugurated a studio equipped with the latest cameras and technologies for recording and media broadcasting at its headquarters in Rabat. The initiative aims to produce media content that strengthens ICESCO’s media vision across its Member States and to provide professional training services to qualify young media professionals and content creators throughout the Islamic world.

During the official inauguration of the studio, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, affirmed that this step comes within the framework of the Organization’s new media strategy, which seeks to formulate an advanced and modern media vision capable of reaching the widest possible audience in the Member States and supporting the media capacities of individuals and institutions amid global challenges and the technological developments shaping the media industry and innovative digital practices.

Dr. AlMalik added that the Organization’s media vision, developed by the Sector of Media and Communication since its establishment at the beginning of 2025, aims to highlight ICESCO’s efforts in various fields by strengthening its communication with the communities of its Member States, particularly with youth across the Islamic world, and by continuing to produce purposeful content in education, science, and culture, while promoting the values of peace, dialogue, and coexistence in the world.

For his part, Mr. Osama Heikal, Head of ICESCO’s Sector of Media and Communication, explained that the Organization has developed a plan extending until 2030 to advance its media discourse and promote its civilizational mission to the societies of its Member States. He noted that the podcast Al-Kalima, scheduled to be launched in the coming days, will be the first project of the new studio, serving as an intellectual and dialogue-based platform hosting a distinguished group of thinkers, scholars, and writers to explore their remarkable journeys and creative contributions in the Islamic world.

Mr. Heikal added that the studio has been equipped with state-of-the-art filming, editing, and lighting technologies, noting that this step coincided with an intensive training program held last August at the Training Center of the Media Production City in Cairo to qualify and enhance the competences of the Sector’s staff.

The studio will offer its services and programs in five languages: Arabic, French, English, Spanish, and Russian, in addition to several other widely spoken languages around the world.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Branly Martial Oupolo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Gabon to the Kingdom of Morocco, to discuss mechanisms for implementing joint projects and programs in education, science, and culture, and for promoting the values of peace, coexistence, and dialogue.

During the meeting, held on Thursday, 23 October 2025, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik emphasized the importance of building on the outcomes of his meeting with H.E General Brice Oligui Nguema, President of the Republic of Gabon, in January 2024 in Libreville, by translating understandings into impactful programs. Dr. AlMalik affirmed the Organization’s readiness to employ its experts to train educational and cultural personnel in Gabon and to support its institutions in curriculum development and skills enhancement.

Moreover, Dr. AlMalik outlined to Ambassador Oupolo a number of initiatives ICESCO has carried out in Gabon, including a project for literacy and economic empowerment of girls and women, and programs for teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers. He noted that ICESCO is exploring, in cooperation with Gabonese authorities, the possibility of establishing a regional office in Libreville and of hosting one of ICESCO’s Executive Council sessions in the Gabonese capital.

For his part, the Gabonese Ambassador reiterated his country’s willingness to expand cooperation with ICESCO and launch joint initiatives and programs. He stressed the importance of continuous communication between the Organization and Gabon’s National Commission for Education, Science, and Culture to coordinate priorities and develop an implementation plan, particularly for programs aimed at safeguarding heritage and cultural identity, and integrating technology and artificial intelligence applications into the educational process.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector; Dr. Salim Al Habsi, Head of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences; and Mr. Alioune Ndiaye, Head of the Peace Division in the Social and Human Sciences Sector.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received, on Thursday, 23 October 2025, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat, a delegation from the Moroccan-Italian Cooperation Association, composed of scientific figures and experts from civil society organizations, to examine means of cooperation in areas of shared interest.

During the meeting, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik reviewed the Organization’s vision for strengthening partnerships with civil society organizations and research centers within the Islamic world and beyond, emphasizing ICESCO’s willingness to cooperate with the entities represented by the delegation and its desire to expand joint work with Italy, which he had visited twice for this purpose.

Members of the delegation indicated that their visit to ICESCO aimed to reinforce cooperation with the Organization’s various sectors and to consolidate ties between Italian universities and universities affiliated with the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW) under ICESCO. The two parties also discussed topics related to civilizational dialogue and the pursuit of combating all forms of hatred and racism through intensified efforts to reconcile perspectives, reduce misunderstandings, and develop communication mechanisms.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed to hold joint meetings starting in May 2026 to implement shared cooperation programs.

Representing ICESCO at the meeting were Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General; Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Director of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue; and Dr. Omar Halli, Advisor to the Director-General for FUIW.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Ambassador Dr. Muhammad Nazrul Islam, Inspector General of Missions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, and his accompanying delegation, on Wednesday, 22 October 2025, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat. The two parties explored ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the Organization’s areas of action.

The meeting discussed the outcomes of Dr. AlMalik’s early October visit to Bangladesh, and the initiatives he announced during the major celebration organized by the Bangladeshi Ministry of Education on Sunday, 5 October 2025, to mark World Teachers’ Day. These initiatives include the launch of the ICESCO Teacher Award to honor outstanding educators, the implementation of a program to equip teachers with skills in using artificial intelligence in education, and the establishment of a research chair at the University of Dhaka for studies on women’s empowerment and capacity building.

Dr. AlMalik also briefed his guest on his meetings with several senior officials and advisors in Dhaka, and the discussions held on implementing programs and workshops to build the capacities of youth and women in scientific research, modern technologies, and artificial intelligence.

For his part, Ambassador Dr. Nazrul Islam expressed his deep appreciation for ICESCO’s efforts and its continued support to Member States, affirming his country’s keenness to benefit from the Organization’s expertise to advance its education, science, and culture sectors, and enhance the skills of Bangladeshi national competencies.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of Science and Environment Sector at ICESCO, as well as Dr. Sadia Faizunnesa, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to the Kingdom of Morocco, and Mr. Rajib Tripura, Consul at the Embassy.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received on Wednesday, 22 October 2025, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat, a delegation of 12 young people from the Republic of Azerbaijan, led by Mr. Kanan Karimov, Head of the Department of Innovative Development at the Azerbaijani Ministry of Youth and Sport. The visit was part of a youth cultural exchange program organized by the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Azerbaijan.

Dr. AlMalik welcomed the visiting delegation and commended the distinguished partnership between ICESCO and Azerbaijan, which has grown stronger in recent years through cooperation in the fields of culture, science, and education. He referred to his recent visit to Baku and his meeting with H.E. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, during which ICESCO reaffirmed its support for youth-oriented programs, noting that such initiatives have high potential for success. He also invited the delegation to visit ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku, describing it as an open platform for youth initiatives.

For his part, Mr. Kanan Karimov expressed his gratitude to ICESCO for the warm welcome and congratulated Dr. AlMalik on receiving the Azerbaijani Dostlug Order. He praised the Organization’s efforts and its joint initiatives with Azerbaijan, notably the proclamation of Shusha as the 2024 Cultural Capital in the Islamic World.

At the end of the meeting, Mr. Karimov presented a symbolic gift to Dr. Salim M. AlMalik in recognition of his efforts to support youth in the Islamic world. The delegation concluded its visit with a tour of the International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization, hosted at ICESCO headquarters.

The meeting was also attended by Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of ICESCO’s Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Dinara Guliyeva, Expert in the Social and Human Sciences Sector.

Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mrs. Shakilla Umutoni Kazimbaya, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Rwanda to the Kingdom of Morocco. The two parties discussed avenues for cooperation in the fields of developing education, protecting culture, achieving peace, capacity-building of youth and women, and the possibility of joining the Organization as an “Observer Member.”

During the meeting, held on Monday, October 13, 2025, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the importance the Organization attributes to African countries by implementing programs and projects that meet their needs in capacity-building of youth and women, promoting entrepreneurship in the fields of technology and AI, and strengthening the values of coexistence, peace, and civilizational dialogue. Dr. AlMalik commended the continuous efforts carried out by Rwanda to overcome challenges in recent years.

For her part, Mrs. Kazimbaya reviewed the efforts of Rwanda to build a resilient society capable of overcoming challenges and strengthening peace and security. She affirmed her country’s commitment to cooperate with the Organization in developing projects and programs, convening symposiums for the capacity-building of youth, and empowering human capital in the fields of promoting leadership skills and developing education, scientific research, and heritage preservation.

The two parties also discussed the possibility of Rwanda joining ICESCO as an “Observer Member,” as Mrs. Kazimbaya expressed her country’s desire to join the Organization and the importance of building fruitful partnerships in the fields of education, sciences, and culture. Dr. AlMalik welcomed this proposition, noting that the Organization is adopting an open approach to international cooperation, in accordance with its vision and purposeful strategy to promote partnerships and support joint work.

Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow Kingdom of Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Minister on Friday, October 10, 2025, at the Headquarters of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok. The two sides discussed avenues for strengthening joint cooperation between ICESCO and Thailand.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik reviewed most of ICESCO’S programs and projects in the fields of education, sciences and culture in the Member States, pointing out to the possibility of Thailand joining ICESCO as an “observer member,” to benefit from these programs, particularly in the fields of heritage protection, training of national staff in charge of heritage sites inscription and preservation, and empowering youth in the fields of culture and innovation.

ICESCO Director-General also presented several proposals for future cooperation, including the possibility of the Kingdom of Thailand hosting one of the Ministerial Conferences organized by ICESCO, as well as nominating one of the southern Thai cities to be the Capital Culture in the Islamic World in the future.

For his part, the Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his deep appreciation for ICESCO’s efforts to promote civilizational dialogue and cultural rapprochement among peoples, affirming his country’s keenness to expand its cooperation with the Organization in areas of mutual interest.

Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), affirmed that the Organization places the Arabic language and the enhancement of its international status at the forefront of its priorities. He noted that ICESCO is implementing high-quality programs and projects, including work on the “Unified Reference Framework for the Arabic language in teaching, learning, and assessment.,” in cooperation with international institutions. ICESCO is also preparing global reports on the status of Arabic as a second language and is working to launch artificial intelligence projects to develop Arabic language models (LLMs).

This was part of his keynote speech as Guest of Honor at the opening of the third international conference titled “the Arabic Language in the Modern Era: Literacy Opportunities and Challenges,” held on Thursday, October 9, 2025, in Bangkok, co-organized by ICESCO and Krirk University, the Wasatiyyah Institute under the Office of Chularatchamontri (Sheikhul Islam of Thailand), and the International Islamic University Malaysia. The conference witnessed high-level attendance from ministers, senior officials, ambassadors, and university presidents, led by H.E. Mrs. Sabida Thaiseth, Minister of Culture of the Kingdom of Thailand, who attended on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Dr. AlMalik highlighted the distinguished status of the Arabic language among world languages thanks to its uniqueness and rich vocabulary, describing it as the language of miracles, science, and thought. He emphasized its divine honor when the Holy Qur’an was revealed in clear Arabic.

He stated that Arabic has remained resilient against colonial attempts to weaken it, recognizing that language is not merely spoken words but a comprehensive system of thought, creativity, and identity, pointing out that current challenges, especially the weakness of Arabic digital content, which barely exceeds 1% of global content, require intensive efforts from all institutions concerned, calling for enriching Arabic content by keeping pace with the demands and developments of the modern era.

Dr. AlMalik presented a set of recommendations to enhance the international status of Arabic, including linguistic scientific research encouragement, especially in applied and computational linguistics, offering opportunities to study in Arab universities for non-Arab students to become ambassadors of the Arabic language, and allocating the necessary budgets to implement ambitious Arabic language projects.

Additionally, Dr. Hani Al Balawi, expert at ICESCO’s Center for Civilizational Dialogue, participated in a conference session titled “Arabic Language: A Bridge for Civilizational Diplomacy.” He delivered a presentation on the civilizational depth of Arabic and reviewed ICESCO’s efforts, in cooperation with the Kingdom of Thailand, to make Arabic a bridge for civilizational dialogue and a tool for promoting values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence.