Category: Director General

His Royal Highness Prince Khalid al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Advisor to the Custodian of the Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah Region, said that he devoted his life to serving the language of the Quran. He also reaffirmed that the Arabic language is the highest form of expression and the manifestation of human identity.

The statement was part of Prince Khalid al-Faisal’s address at the opening session of the international conference that the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held yesterday, in celebration of the World Arabic Language Day.

His Royal Highness also said that “Allah Almighty and then the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques have given me the honor of serving the sacred Mosque. Thus, I have devoted my life to serving the language of the Quran and Muslims at this time and place. Arabic is the highest form of expression and human identity. Today, ICESCO honors me through the invitation to this conference. I am extremely grateful to ICESCO and all its staff members.”

His Royal Highness beseeched Allah Almighty to make him “among those who remember and praise Allah, learn the lessons of life, and make their speech concise and beneficial.”

At the opening of the celebration under the theme: “Arabic language: Foresight in a changing world,” Dr. Salim AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General expressed his sincere thanks and gratitude to H.R.H. Prince Khalid al-Faisal for his outstanding participation in the videoconference.

“His Highness accomplished many achievements in serving the Arabic language and Arab thought. His intellectual works, poetry collections, and artistic works mainly focus on serving Arabic, promoting its position, and stimulating creativity in Arab thought,” he underscored.

Dr. AlMalik also reaffirmed that “His Royal Highness is a pioneer of cultural, tourism, sports, and literary action in Saudi Arabia and the Arab and Islamic worlds. He is also the founder of many forums, awards, and cultural and literary journals.”

The cornerstone of the “Intangible Heritage Museum” was laid today, in the building of Bank Al Maghrib, Central Bank of Morocco, at Jemaa El Fna Square in Marrakesh in cooperation with the National Museum Foundation in Morocco and the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO). The effort is in line with the implementation of a partnership agreement that was signed last October between the two organizations, in cooperation with other partners.

The artist Mehdi Qotbi, President of National Museum Foundation, and Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), oversaw the ceremony with the attendance of several officials from the Organization and the Foundation and senior officials from Marrakesh.

Dr. Abdelaziz El Idrissi, Director of the Rabat-based Mohammed VI Museum for Modern and Contemporary Art, gave a detailed presentation on the project. He pointed out that the Museum will host part of the collective memory of Jemaa El Fna Square. It will be open to the public with particular attention to the history of the building complimenting the surrounding area of the square.

For their part, the architects overseeing the project emphasized that the establishment will be equipped with cutting-edge display technology and will be open to children, from all age categories, to preserve and sustain the collective memory.

Aiming to publicize the Islamic world’s heritage and art and promote the true image of Islamic civilization and culture through art, the partnership agreement signed between ICESCO and the National Museum Foundation comprises a set of major programs and projects to be co-implemented by the parties.

The projects and programs include the Intangible Heritage Museum, exhibitions of collections of pottery, and traditional costumes inspired from the works of late world artist Eugene Delacroix. The Mohammed VI Museum for Modern and Contemporary Art will host from April 7, through July 24, 2021, at ICESCO’s Headquarters, the international exhibition on “Eugene Delacroix: Memories of his Moroccan Travel,” along with training sessions for the staff of museums in the Islamic world.

The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, stated that commemorating Muslim scholars in various sciences and arts under ICESCO’s civilizational program for Islamic world culture capitals represents an opportunity to revive the Islamic heritage in its various aspects and publish the manuscripts stored on the shelves of libraries. The aim, Dr. AlMalik underscored, is to link the generations together and build a common ground for anticipating the future, one of the endeavors of the Organization.

The statement came in the DG’s address at the virtual international conference that the Imam Al-Maturidi International Center for Scientific Research held today, at the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan, in Uzbekistan, on the future plans of the Center. The event was part of the activities of the celebration of Bukhara as the Islamic World Culture Capital for 2020 for the Asian region. The Conference witnessed the participation of high-level officials and religious leaders from Uzbekistan and the Islamic world.

Dr. Al-Malik noted that Imam Abu Mansur Al-Maturidi, popularly known as “Imam of Huda,” “Imam of the Speakers,” “Leader of the Sunnis,” and “the Eremite Imam” occupied a great place in the history of Islamic thoughts. Al-Maturidi is the founder of a Sunni school that emerged in the fourth century A.H. in the Transoxiana region and spread to the rest of the Islamic world. ICESCO DG pointed out that the most prominent characteristic of the views of Imam Al-Maturidi is that he vilified tradition and advocated the use of logic and reasoning.

At the close of his address, ICESCO DG reaffirmed the Organization’s willingness to cooperate with the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan and Imam Al-Maturidi International Center for Scientific Research in areas of common interest. The DG focused on “ICESCO’s Roads for the Future” Project through the establishment of academic chairs in the fields of heritage, arts and literature, coexistence, and civilizational dialogue.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), visited Dar El Bacha Museum, located in the old town of Marrakech, upon the special invitation of Mr. Mehdi Qotbi, President of the National Foundation of Museums of Morocco. The visit followed laying the foundation stone of the Intangible Heritage Museum in Jamaa el-Fna Square, as part of the Partnership Agreement between ICESCO and the National Foundation of Museums.

Dr. Abdelaziz El Idrissi, Director of Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat, and Ms. Salima Ait Mubarak, Curator of Dar El Bacha Museum, elucidate on the history of the museum stating that Dar El Bacha is one of the treasures of the Moroccan architecture in Marrakech. Built in 1910, Dar El Bacha palace was the residence of Thami Glaoui, who became the Pasha of Marrakesh, in 1912, upon the decision of Sultan Moulay Yusuf. After its restoration, the palace has become a museum that King Mohammed VI of Morocco inaugurated on July 9, 2017.

Dr. El Idrissi and Ms. Ait Mubarak explained that the renovation preserved and restored the palace’s interior design, including the engraved and painted wooden doors, black and white marble floors, colorful mosaic ceilings, and polished columns. They also pointed out that many international celebrities visited the museum, including the French composer, Joseph Maurice Ravel; the famous comedian, Charlie Chaplin; the American artist, Josephine Baker; and the late British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held the two-day forum on scientific paper and patent writing, in partnership with the International University of Rabat (UIR), COMSATS University Islamabad – Pakistan (CUI), the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST) in Morocco, and Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam.

The event brought together the Federal Minister for Science and Technology of Pakistan as well as several academicians, researchers, and students from all over the world. The forum kicked off yesterday at ICESCO headquarters with large participation as well on the Zoom platform.

During the opening session, Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of Science and Technology Sector at ICESCO, thanked all partners and participants for holding the important forum, to help academicians and researchers improve their performance and hone their skills in writing scientific papers and patents.

“It also aims at fostering innovation and creativity in the Member States. This large participation from all over the world is a major success despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientific paper and patent writing is an art that should be mastered,” he underscored.

In his address, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), revealed the Organization’s strategy to overcome the challenges and problems facing most universities and scientific research centers in Member States.

“This strategy is based on four axes: supporting innovative research through the provision of 300 scholarships, launching ICESCO Innovation Award, developing a new comprehensive program for environmental innovation and green technology transfer, in cooperation with many partners, and launching a program for establishing and networking incubators and technological pools in ICESCO’s Member States,” he underlined.

Dr. AlMalik added that ICESCO looks forward to further cooperation with international partners, research centers, and universities inside and outside the Islamic world to achieve its strategic objectives. The goals include supporting scientific research and innovation in the Islamic world by sharing the best practices among the Member States to develop a mechanism for regional assistance and complementarity in capacity-building.

Mr. Fawad Chaudhry, Pakistani Federal Minister for Science and Technology, highlighted the need for developing the infrastructures to achieve a comprehensive and integrated education, and contribute to the promotion of scientific research. He also shared Pakistan’s experience in establishing scientific schools and specialized colleges in different branches of technology.

Dr. Matthias Beller, Vice President of Leibniz Institute, stressed the need for the development of science to improve societies because the current technology will not solve future problems. He also made a presentation on scientific paper outline, stating that the writer should specify the goal behind publishing prior to writing a scientific paper without using materials from previous publications while citing the bibliography.

Dr. Mohamed Boulmalf, Dean of the School of Computer Science and Digital Engineering at UIR, highlighted the importance and the main elements of a scientific paper’s outline. He also underscored the role of graphics in enriching the scientific paper while highlighting their types and forms.

Dr. Kacem Rharrabe, Professor at Abdelmalek Essadi University in Morocco, tackled the elements of good scientific paper writing.

Dr. Hans de Vries, Head of the Department of Catalysis with Renewable Resources at Leibniz Institute, reviewed the major steps in scientific paper writing starting from editing until publication.

The first day witnessed rich sessions on the best methods of scientific paper and patent writing.  

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Mauritanian National Commission for Education, Science, and Culture launched the project “Countering COVID-19 Effects through Supporting Innovation and Entrepreneurship among Women and Youth” in Mauritania, in partnership with Alwaleed Philanthropies to help 10 African countries face the adverse repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), Dr. Lamrabet Ould Bennahi, Minister of Culture, Handicraft, and Relations with the Parliament, President of the Mauritanian National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, and Mr. Sidi Mohamed Abdallah, Secretary-General of the Mauritanian National Commission participated today, Tuesday, December 15, 2020, in the virtual signing ceremony.

In his address at the ceremony, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed that ICESCO will continue supporting its Member States’ efforts to counter COVID-19, as part of its vision based on the identification of each Member State’s needs and priorities.

The DG also expressed his gratitude to ICESCO’s permanent partner, Alwaleed Philanthropies, whose Board of Trustees is chaired by H.R.H. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al-Saud, for the Foundation’s generous support to ICESCO’s humanitarian and social initiatives to help 10 African countries, including Mauritania.

Dr. Ould Bennahi lauded excellent initiatives, programs, and activities that ICESCO launched and implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to bolster the efforts of Member States in countering the negative impact of the pandemic. He also appreciated the Alwaleed Philanthropies’ assistance to Mauritania through the partnership with ICESCO.
At the end of the ceremony, the two parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the implementation phases of the project. The aim is to develop a sense of innovation and entrepreneurship among women and youth in Mauritania and support the private sector, entrepreneurs, and small enterprises.

For four decades, the Foundation has supported and spent more than SAR 15 billion and carried out thousands of projects in over 189 countries. Ten Saudi female members manage the projects, reaching more than one billion beneficiaries around the world, regardless of gender, race, or religion. Alwaleed Philanthropies collaborates with a range of philanthropic, governmental, and educational organizations to combat poverty, empower women and youth, develop communities, provide disaster relief, and create cultural understanding through education.Together, we can build bridges for a more compassionate, tolerant, and accepting world.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Chadian National Commission for Education, Science, and Culture launched the project “Countering COVID-19 Effects through Supporting Innovation and Entrepreneurship among Women and Youth” in Chad, in partnership with Alwaleed Philanthropies to help 10 African countries fight the adverse repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), and Mr. Aboubakar Siddick Choroma, Minister of National Education and Civic Promotion, President of the Chadian National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, graced today, Tuesday, December 15, 2020, the launching event.

In his address at the ceremony, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed that ICESCO will continue supporting its Member States’ efforts to counter COVID-19, as part of its vision to identify the needs and priorities of each Member State.

The DG also expressed his gratitude to ICESCO’s permanent partner, Alwaleed Philanthropies, whose Board of Trustees is chaired by H.R.H. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al-Saud, for the Foundation’s generous support to ICESCO’s humanitarian and social initiatives to help 10 African countries, including Chad.

Mr. Choroma lauded excellent initiatives, programs, and activities that ICESCO launched and implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to bolster the efforts of Member States in countering the negative impact of the pandemic. He also appreciated the Alwaleed Philanthropies’ assistance to Chad through the partnership with ICESCO.

At the end of the ceremony, the two parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the implementation phases of the project. The aim is to develop a sense of innovation and entrepreneurship among women and youth in Chad and support the private sector, entrepreneurs, and small enterprises.

For four decades, the Foundation has supported and spent more than SAR 15 billion and carried out thousands of projects in over 189 countries. Ten Saudi female members manage the projects, reaching more than one billion beneficiaries around the world, regardless of gender, race, or religion. Alwaleed Philanthropies collaborates with a range of philanthropic, governmental, and educational organizations to combat poverty, empower women and youth, develop communities, provide disaster relief, and create cultural understanding through education.Together, we can build bridges for a more compassionate, tolerant, and accepting world.

          The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Ministry of State in charge of Human Rights and Relations with Parliament (Ministerial Delegate in charge of Human Rights) in Morocco signed a framework partnership agreement to ensure coordination and cooperation and achieve the strategic objectives of the National Action Plan in the field of democracy and human rights.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), and Mr. Mustafa Ramid, Moroccan Minister of State in charge of Human Rights and Relations with Parliament, signed the agreement during the ceremony that the Ministry organized yesterday, December 10, 2020, on the 72nd anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, under the theme “Towards promoting our efforts to protect human rights.”

The agreement is in line with Morocco’s obligations in the field of basic human rights, included in the Constitution of 2011.

The agreement also conforms with ICESCO’s mission, which consists of mobilizing a stronger commitment of the official bodies and civil society institutions in countries of the Islamic World towards comprehensive and integrated cultural development.

The measures for the development include safeguarding and conserving the tangible and intangible heritage, the development of investment in cultural industries, and the consolidation of the Islamic identity open to other cultures. More measures include the promotion of cultural dialogue, the dissemination of the values ​​of peace and the principles of citizenship, human rights and positive coexistence, and the correction of misconceptions about Islam and Muslims, as mentioned in Article 4 of the Charter ICESCO.

The agreement provides that the two parties pledge to cooperate to achieve the specific goals outlined in the procedures as part of the National Action Plan in the field of democracy and human rights. Both fields fall under ICESCO’s areas of competence, including democracy and governance – economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights – protection of the rights of specific groups – legal and institutional framework.

The agreement also provides for forming a follow-up committee that will oversee all stages of its implementation. The focus is on developing a result-based action plan and preparing a schedule for the implementation of the activities while identifying all the necessary arrangements.

The agreement also focuses on proposals to achieve several goals in partnering with other potential stakeholders, sharing the documents of all launched initiatives for approval, and submitting periodic reports to officials of the two parties on the progress in the implementation of the agreement.

The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, reaffirmed that the Organization’s interest in human rights in the Islamic world stems from its desire to redress misconceptions about the situation of rights and freedoms in the region. The focus is particularly on socioeconomic and cultural rights, he continued, while the interest reflects ICESCO’s firm resolve to overhaul national legislation to become compatible with international standards.

The statement was part of the DG’s address at the ceremony that the Ministry of State for Human Rights and Relations with Parliament in Morocco held yesterday, in celebration of the 72^nd Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights under the theme “Together for Promoting Our Efforts to Protect Human Rights.”

Dr. AlMalik stated that the day constitutes an occasion to recall our common duties to achieve human dignity and promote the principles of equality, equity and the values of solidarity and tolerance. He added that humanity should remember all the lofty values shared between humans without any discrimination or exclusion. He then underlined the importance of human rights in their global and holistic dimensions regardless of the conflicts, wars, and tensions in a large part of the world.

“What binds humanity exceeds what divides it, thus the need for action to offer appropriate conditions for a dignified living for the entire world’s population,” the DG continued.

ICESCO DG highlighted that the major challenge to humanity lies in the ways of enforcing human rights in the context of crises, namely for the vulnerable. He noted that ICESCO, out of its awareness of the enormous challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic triggered worldwide, took a string of measures to preserve the essential rights of the citizens of its Member States. The focus was namely on the educational, cultural, scientific, and communication fields and other rights falling under the sphere of its competence.

Dr. AlMalik also lauded Morocco’s efforts, under the leadership of H.M. King Mohammed VI, in human rights’ promotion. Morocco enacted a range of laws and decrees that are in line with the global standards and UN principles ensuring rights and freedoms for all. He then stressed ICESCO’s willingness to work in tandem with the Ministry under the partnership agreement that the parties signed during yesterday’s ceremony.

At the close of his address, ICESCO DG announced that the Organization will hold an international conference on human rights in the Islamic world that will bring together parliaments and civil society organizations. The aim, Dr. AlMalik added, is to review the pioneering experiences of their respective Member States, share expertise, and rectify misconceptions about their gains and defend important strategic interests.