Category: Director General

The Moroccan capital, Rabat, hosted the 3rd edition of the ICESCO Marathon on Sunday, 30 November 2025, under the theme “Sport, a pathway to empowerment and inclusive socio-economic development.” The event saw the participation of around 700 runners from various age and social groups, including categories for those under 15, adults, and those over 45, for both men and women. The marathon also featured runners with special needs and some members of the diplomatic corps.

The 3rd edition of the ICESCO Marathon was organized in partnership with the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, the Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports, the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the Royal Moroccan School Sports Federation, and the Wilaya of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region, along with several sponsors.

Dr. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, officially launched the marathon, which started in front of ICESCO headquarters and covered approximately 9 kilometers. In his speech, Dr. AlMalik emphasized the importance of sports as a lever for sustainable development and a tool for developing youth skills, fostering values of discipline, teamwork, and positive citizenship.

After the race, Dr. AlMalik, Karim Hamidouche, Deputy Secretary-General of the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, and Ms. Kenza Abourmane, Director of the Youth Sector at the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, distributed medals and prizes to the winners in various categories.

The first-place winner received a fully funded week-long trip outside Morocco. Incentive prizes were also awarded to the winners, and participation certificates were given to the runners in recognition of their commitment and sportsmanship.

The sports event, overseen by ICESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector, headed by Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, aimed to use sports as a means to promote values of coexistence and peace, enhance social cohesion and solidarity, and contribute to improving the physical and mental health of various groups, with a special focus on involving and empowering people with special needs and encouraging their integration into sports and community life.

On the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) hosted a major celebration at its headquarters in Rabat on Saturday, 29 November 2025. The event was organized by the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Morocco, in partnership with the Bayt Mal Al Qods Asharif Agency and several Moroccan civil society associations. The high-level participation was led by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, along with ministers, officials, a group of ambassadors accredited to Morocco, Moroccan party leaders, and around 600 participants.

The event began with a speech by Ambassador Jamal Al Shobaki, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Morocco, who stated that the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is an annual occasion to reaffirm the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the right to self-determination, sovereignty over their land, and the right of return.

Ambassador Al Shobaki emphasized the Palestinians’ steadfastness in their land and rights without any retreat or compromise, noting the increasing shift in the positions of peoples and international institutions that reject ongoing violations and increasingly raise their voices for justice and to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.

In his speech on behalf of the Kingdom of Morocco, Dr. Nizar Baraka, Moroccan Minister of Equipment and Water, highlighted the pivotal roles played by his country in supporting the Palestinian people and defending their legitimate rights, calling on the international community to intensify efforts to ensure the protection of Palestinians and safeguard their fundamental rights.

Mr. Fethi Debbabi, Director of the United Nations Information Center in Morocco, read the message of the UN Secretary-General on this occasion, which emphasized the importance of supporting the Palestinian people and granting them their legitimate rights through the implementation of international legitimacy resolutions in this regard.

Following this, Ambassador Jamal Al Shobaki and the late Mohamed Benjelloun Al Andaloussi, former president of the Moroccan Association for Supporting the Palestinian Struggle, were honored for their roles in supporting the Palestinian cause.

The celebration included cultural segments featuring a photo exhibition on Palestinian heritage, a documentary film on the current situation, and folkloric performances reflecting the richness of Palestinian heritage and national identity.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Ms. Lolwah bint Rashid AlKhater, Qatari Minister of Education and Higher Education, on the sidelines of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), hosted in Doha. The meeting discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between ICESCO and the State of Qatar in education, higher education, and innovation.

Dr. AlMalik opened the meeting, held on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, by expressing his deep appreciation for the outstanding organization of WISE, which featured enriching lectures and sessions, attracting over 4,500 participants from various countries. He stressed that the quality of content and organization reflects Qatar’s leadership in the educational field.

The two sides explored areas of joint cooperation to support educational initiatives for poor and war-affected countries, enhancing quality educational programs, and developing higher education systems, in addition to capacity-building and knowledge exchange. Moreover, Dr. AlMalik presented several ICESCO programs, including greening education, support for Quranic schools in Africa, and initiatives for educational innovation and youth skills development.

As part of strengthening future partnership, Dr. AlMalik proposed that Qatar host ICESCO’s Conference of Ministers of Education in the Islamic World, to be held concurrently with the next edition of the WISE Summit, thereby expanding international dialogue on education issues.

Dr. AlMalik invited the Minister to attend the launch ceremony of the “Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index,” organized by ICESCO, in Baku on 8–9 December.

In the context of cooperation on capacity-building, the two parties discussed the possibility of training a group of young professionals from Qatar within ICESCO’s sectors, enabling them to gain practical experience in international work, learn about the mechanisms of work at multilateral organizations, and enhance their participation in global development pathways.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), held a meeting on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, with Mr. Moustapha Mamba Guirassy, Minister of National Education of the Republic of Senegal, on the sidelines of the 12th edition of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), convened in Doha. The meeting discussed ways to support Senegal’s education system and its development programs.

Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s commitment to assisting Senegal in achieving its objectives for transforming the education sector, in line with the Organization’s strategic goals. He stressed that ICESCO endorses initiatives aligned with education priorities and promotes the establishment of value-based educational systems that foster human character development, as a distinctive feature of the Organization.

For his part, Mr. Guirassy highlighted that integrating Qur’anic schools into the formal education system is among Senegal’s urgent priorities, requiring ICESCO’s support, given that millions of children enrolled in these schools do not benefit from the national curriculum. He noted that Senegal has designed a national program to address this challenge, which calls for cooperation with various stakeholders and specialized international organizations to ensure its success.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), reaffirmed the Organization’s full commitment to supporting Sudan during this difficult period, noting that ICESCO will work to meet urgent educational needs, in addition to activating international partnerships to mobilize the necessary funding for educational projects in the country.

This came during Dr. AlMalik’s meeting with Dr. Al-Tahami Al-Zain Hajar, Minister of Education of the Republic of the Sudan and President of the Sudanese National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. The two parties met on the sidelines of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) held in Doha and discussed areas of cooperation to support the education sector in Sudan.

In this connection, the ICESCO Director-General promised to allocate a number of the scholarships ICESCO receives from Member States to Sudanese students, with the aim of enabling them to continue their education in these exceptional circumstances.

For his part, the Sudanese Minister shed light on the significant challenges facing the education system in his country as a result of the ongoing crisis, pointing to the urgent need to prepare study facilities, print books, provide school desks, train teachers, and rebuild laboratories and schools that have been damaged or completely looted. The Minister noted that these needs are a top priority for maintaining the continuity of the educational process in various regions of Sudan.

At the close of the meeting, the Sudanese Minister of Education extended an official invitation to Dr. AlMalik to visit Sudan to take stock of the current needs of the educational facilities in his country, commending ICESCO’s support and sustained efforts to promote the right to education for the children of Sudan.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Ezozkhon Karimova, Minister of Preschool and School Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to review the progress of cooperation programs under the Joint Action Plan between ICESCO and Uzbekistan.

During the meeting, held on the sidelines of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) in Doha, Qatar, Dr. AlMalik underlined the importance of Uzbekistan’s participation in the Artificial Intelligence Index Forum, which will be launched in Baku, Azerbaijan, following an invitation from the Azerbaijani Minister of Education and ICESCO’s Director-General. The Director-General also extended an invitation to Minister Karimova to visit ICESCO headquarters in Rabat to strengthen cooperation and explore new potential joint initiatives in education.

For her part, the Uzbek Minister reaffirmed her government’s commitment to enhancing partnership with ICESCO and expanding cooperation in the education sector, particularly in curriculum development, measurement and evaluation, as well as capacity-building.

At the close of the meeting, both parties agreed to hold the third ministerial conference dedicated to PISA assessments, supervised by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in partnership between ICESCO and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Education. The conference aims to support efforts to improve educational assessment systems in Member States and explore the possibility of training a group of Uzbek professionals within ICESCO’s sectors, especially in education, to strengthen national capacities and transfer specialized expertise.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on Monday, 24 November 2025, on the sidelines of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), held in Doha. The two parties discussed ways to expand cooperation in the fields of higher education, scientific research, and capacity-building.

At the outset of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik expressed his deep appreciation to Mr. Nurbek and commended his country’s roles in promoting cooperation in educational and scientific fields at the Islamic and global levels, reviewing a number of ICESCO’s relevant programs and initiatives implemented in Member States, especially educational empowerment and teacher training programs. He also extended an official invitation to Mr. Nurbek to visit ICESCO headquarters in Rabat to learn more about the Organization’s future initiatives and programs.

For his part, the Minister shed light on the new higher education system in Kazakhstan and its success in attracting a number of world-class universities and enhancing the attractiveness of the Kazakh academic system. He pointed out that the Kazakh government provides 500 scholarships annually to young men and women from around the world. He expressed his country’s interest in collaborating with ICESCO to serve as a platform and trusted partner for selecting students to benefit from these scholarships. He also affirmed his Ministry’s keenness to strengthen its partnership with the Organization and develop joint programs that serve innovation, scientific research, and capacity-building in Member States.

The two parties agreed to launch a new program through which ICESCO will host a group of young Kazakhs, including bachelor’s and master’s students and researchers, to receive training and work within the Organization.

The Group of Spouses of Arab Ambassadors and Heads of International Organizations accredited to the Kingdom of Morocco, in cooperation with the Moroccan Ministry of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family, and the Mains Blanches Association, organized on Saturday evening, 22 November 2025, an exceptional charity event themed “Anamil Al Nour, Caftan Al Khair,” hosted at Khaimat Al Khair Hall at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO).

The event was held as part of the celebrations marking the fiftieth anniversary of Morocco’s Green March, with proceeds dedicated to funding eye correction surgeries for those in need.

The gala, attended by Her Highness Princess Lalla Lamia El Solh, and Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, combined refined art with a humanitarian purpose. It featured traditional fashion shows by leading designers from Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, and Jordan, alongside a musical performance by Moroccan artist Salma Rachid, in an evening distinguished by elegance and creativity in service of social solidarity.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Naima Ben Yahia, Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family, stressed that the event reflects the importance of charity work in strengthening social cohesion and highlights the pivotal role of civil and international organizations in building bridges of solidarity. She expressed appreciation for the cooperation between the Group of Spouses of Arab Ambassadors, the Mains Blanches Association and ICESCO in ensuring the success of this creative and humanitarian initiative.

For her part, Ms. Rania Shobaki, Chairwoman of the Group of Spouses of Arab Ambassadors and Heads of International Organizations, thanked ICESCO for hosting the event, emphasizing that traditional attire is an integral component of Arab cultural identity. She noted that reviving heritage breathes new life into traditions and makes them active in humanitarian initiatives, adding that safeguarding heritage is an act of resilience, particularly for Palestinian heritage targeted by erasure and theft. She described the gala as a platform to showcase this heritage globally and paid tribute to Palestinian women as steadfast guardians against distortion and dispossession.

Following this, Ms. Jumana Ghunaimat, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, stated that Arab heritage represents a rich mosaic stretching from the East to the Maghreb, underscoring that Moroccan-Jordanian relations exemplify cultural convergence and the spirit of fraternity uniting Arab and Islamic nations with their wealth and deep-rooted traditions. She affirmed that Jordan’s presence as guest of honour is a source of high appreciation and pride.

Dr. Yousra Bint Hussain AlJazairy, Chairwoman of the Cultural Committee of the Diplomatic Corps in Morocco, highlighted that this gala celebrates traditional attire, particularly the caftan as an aesthetic symbol narrating a long history and reflecting Arab women’s creativity. She noted that the event’s timing with the anniversary of the Green March, led by the late King Hassan II and carried forward by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, gives the event a national dimension linking identity to collective will. She expressed appreciation for ICESCO’s inclusion of the caftan in the intangible heritage list and for the efforts of all contributors to this cultural event embodying creativity and openness.

Following this, Ms. Ghariba El Jaouhari, President of the Mains Blanches Association, commended the tangible cooperation among all partners to ensure the gala’s success, stressing that the synergy between the Ministry, ICESCO and the Group of Spouses of Arab Ambassadors resulted in a distinctive charity event achieving its humanitarian objectives.

The gala featured a short film introducing Jordanian heritage as the event’s guest of honour, followed by a presentation of traditional fashion collections from participating countries, and concluded with diverse musical and artistic performances.

Participants expressed their satisfaction with the success of “Caftan Al Khair” in offering a model that combines the revival of Arab heritage, the empowerment of women’s creativity, and the pursuit of humanitarian goals, reaffirming the role of cultural and charity initiatives in promoting values of solidarity and generosity.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a round table discussion on Thursday, November 20, 2025, in Dubai, as part of the 10th Knowledge Summit, titled “Building Knowledge Policies,” with the participation of the Director-General of the Organization, Dr. Salim AlMalik, Mr. Timur Suleymanov, Aide to the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, and a number of heads of sectors and directors at ICESCO, decision-makers, and experts.

The round table discussions, moderated by Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Head of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector at ICESCO, and attended by a large number of summit participants, addressed ways to lay the foundations for policies that drive the transition to a knowledge-based economy and promote transparency and trust in an era of increasing misinformation.

In his speech, Dr. Salim AlMalik emphasized that ICESCO’s action is not limited to the transfer of knowledge but goes beyond that to its production and localization in Member States, with special priority given to young people as the main actors in building new knowledge societies. He stated that the Organization’s vision is based on linking knowledge to identity, values, and ethics, allowing for the formulation of policies that take into account cultural specificities and harness the opportunities offered by digital transformation and artificial intelligence.

In his speech on the cultural dimension of knowledge policies, Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of ICESCO’s Culture Sector, affirmed that building knowledge societies requires a real development of cultural development policies in the fields of education, training, and scientific research.

In his turn, Osama Heikal, Head of the Media and Communication Sector at the Organization, addressed the role of the media as a guardian of knowledge in an era of information flow and the rise of fake news, stressing the need to build reliable content and use digital media as a tool for policy-making and enhancing information security, and fostering critical thinking among the younger generations to protect them from misleading and fake news.

On the subject of multilingual content, Dr. Ahmed Al-Banyan, Director of the Translation and Publishing Center at ICESCO, presented an integrated vision for designing open knowledge environments through digital translation and publishing policies that promote local knowledge production and expand access to scientific and cultural content in Member States.

The Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector at ICESCO, Anar Karimov, tackled the importance of cross-border partnerships, noting that international and South-South cooperation should shift from channels of funding to platforms for the exchange of experiences and the production and localization of knowledge.

Dr. Salim Al Habsi, Director of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences at the Organization, reviewed the role of national commissions in transitioning from traditional coordination functions to excellence centers of knowledge by unifying statistical and knowledge efforts.

During the round table, Mr. Timur Suleymanov, Aide to the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, presented a scientific paper in which he talked about the need for young people to move from consuming knowledge to producing it, through flexible education systems, innovation incubators, and the promotion of entrepreneurship in the field of knowledge.

In conclusion, the ICESCO delegation participating in the Knowledge Summit affirmed that the Organization will endeavor to translate the conclusions of this discussion into practical recommendations to be submitted to Member States, thereby contributing to the development of a roadmap for knowledge policies in the Islamic world during the coming period.