Category: Director General

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.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) concluded a training workshop titled “Capacity Building: Mental Health Training for Adolescents and Youth,” organized in cooperation with the Yemeni National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, in Aden on 6 and 7 October 2025. The workshop benefited 35 young men and women and aimed to raise awareness about mental and psychological health while equipping youth with the skills needed to cope with crises.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Hafiza Al-Sheikh, Secretary-General of the Yemeni National Commission, emphasized the importance of the workshop in enhancing young people’s understanding of mental health and its connection to conflict, thereby strengthening their resilience within their communities. She noted that societies cannot mature without fostering inner strength and ensuring psychological and social well-being.

For his part, ICESCO representative Mr. Alioune Ndiaye, Head of Peace Division at the Social and Human Sciences Sector, highlighted that mental health and youth empowerment form a central focus of ICESCO’s strategic vision. He referred to the Organization’s practical initiatives, including the publication of two mental health guides and the organization of previous training sessions in Morocco and Libya.

The workshop concluded with a certificate presentation ceremony attended by Mr. Iqbal Yassin Bahader, Deputy Director of the Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Yemen, Dr. Al-Khader Nasser Laswar, President of the University of Aden, along with several professors and academics.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) signed two MoUs with the Wasatiyyah Institute for Peace and Development, affiliated with the Office of the Sheikhul Islam of Thailand, and with Krirk University in Bangkok, with the aim of strengthening cooperation in the fields of peaceful coexistence and civilizational dialogue, and advancing academic, scientific, and research collaboration. The signing took place on Thursday, 9 October 2025, on the sidelines of the third international conference titled “The Arabic Language in the Modern Era: Literacy, Opportunities, Challenges,” held in the Thai capital.

The first MoU was signed by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, and Dr. Abdullah Numsuk, Director of the Wasatiyyah Institute for Peace and Development. Spanning three years, the MoU seeks to promote intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding, spread the values of peace and coexistence, and foster sustainable peace and social cohesion, through joint training programs, international conferences, and exchange of expertise, research, and scientific publications.

Following the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik emphasized that partnerships with religious and civil institutions in Asia are a key driver for embedding a culture of peace. He noted that the MoU supports the implementation of joint initiatives to build youth capacities, empower community leaders, and carry out practical programs to counter hate speech.

The second MoU was signed by Dr. AlMalik and Dr. Krasae Chanawongse, President of Krirk University. It aims to establish an institutional framework for academic and research cooperation, including the launch of joint research projects and the organization of specialized conferences and seminars in the fields of language, innovation, and civilizational studies.

In this context, Dr. AlMalik affirmed that the signing of the MoU aligns with ICESCO’s strategic approach to expand international cooperation networks and exchange expertise, thereby supporting societal stability and enhancing the role of education, science, and culture in fostering peace and development.

As part of his first official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with His Eminence Sheikh Arun Boonchom, Sheikhul Islam and President of the Central Islamic Council of Thailand, on Wednesday, 8 October 2025, in Bangkok.

The meeting explored avenues for strengthening cooperation between ICESCO and the Central Islamic Council in promoting interfaith coexistence and advancing the values of moderation and tolerance as fundamental pillars for building balanced and inclusive societies.

Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s key initiatives in this field, particularly those carried out through its Center for Civilizational Dialogue. He highlighted the innovative concept of Civilizational Diplomacy, which seeks to shape individuals and societies on strong civilizational foundations that foster peace and intercultural understanding. He also presented several specific initiatives, including the “Read it to Understand it” initiative, which aims to deepen understanding of the Holy Quran and promote the values of dialogue and mutual respect. Additionally, Dr. AlMalik proposed organizing a symposium on Thailand’s experience of peaceful coexistence, as well as another on the cultural ties between Thailand and the Islamic world.

For his part, Sheikh Arun Boonchom commended ICESCO’s efforts in promoting tolerance and coexistence, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in this area, particularly in Thailand, where Muslims make up approximately 10% of the population. He also expressed his eagerness to develop joint programs aimed at promoting the values of moderation, centrism, and dialogue.

The two parties agreed to strengthen mutual participation in conferences and seminars organized by ICESCO in this field, and to move forward with signing a cooperation agreement between the Organization and the Office of the Sheikhul Islam in Thailand, on the sidelines of the International Conference on Arabic Language, to be hosted by Krirk University tomorrow.