The Director
General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(ISESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, took part in the closing ceremony of the 7th
edition of the International Festival of Cultural Diplomacy and Poetry,
organized by the Moroccan Poetry Association (RMP), on Thursday 26 December
2019, at Bahnini Hall, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Rabat.
The ceremony
featured the awarding of the World Prize of the Ambassador of Cultural
Diplomacy to the poet Mr. Khaled Fateh Al-Rahman to reward his poetic works and
tireless action to bolster brotherly ties between the Sudan and Morocco
throughout his mandate as Ambassador of the Republic of the Sudan to the
Kingdom of Morocco.
The ceremony
was opened with a welcoming address by Mr. Ahmed Taghi, President of RMP, who
underscored the importance of cultural diplomacy and the role of the
Association, as a cultural and artistic association, in promoting cultural
diplomacy and celebrating poetry.
Then, Mr. Hussam
El-Din Eltayeb, Chargé d’Affaires of the Sudanese Embassy in Rabat, delivered
an address thanking the RMP for having honored Ambassador Khaled Fateh
Al-Rahman to whom he wished him every success.
Dr. AlMalik
also made an address lauding Ambassador Fateh Al-Rahman, read some verses which
he composed on the occasion and presented the honor shield to the Ambassador. Mr.
Hazim Al Khateb, Ambassador of Jordan to Morocco, also presented a certificate
of appreciation to the Ambassador.
At the close
of the ceremony, Ambassador Fateh Al-Rahman delivered an address thanking the
audience and read out a poem in tribute to Morocco.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director
General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(ISESCO) concluded his first official visit to the Islamic Republic of
Mauritania, which started on 22 December 2019 and included meetings with senior
Mauritanian officials, attending the award ceremony of Chinguetti Prize 2019, and
visiting Chinguett Modern University.
After being received by H.H. Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of
Mauritania, at the Presidential Palace in Nouakchott, Dr. AlMalik met the Prime
Minister, Mr. Ismail Bedde Cheikh Sidiya, and together they stressed the
importance of promoting coordination and consultation so as to implement
ISESCO’s initiatives launched for the benefit of Mauritania, including ISESCO’s
willingness to support Chinguetti Prize, schedule Nouakchott on the programme
of the Capitals of Islamic Culture, contribute to the success of the
celebration of the ancient towns in Mauritania, establish a training institute
for imams, and launch Mahdara’s initiatives while reaffirming the importance
and role of such initiatives in contributing to the development of Mauritania.
Besides, ISESCO Director General met
the Mauritanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ismael Ould Cheikh Ahmed. This
meeting explored ISESCO’s initiatives, agreed to look for strategic
partnerships to support the development projects in Mauritania within ISESCO’s
fields of action, and reaffirmed the importance of the cultural diplomacy and
multilateral cooperation in achieving the joint objectives as part of ISESCO’s
initiatives for the benefit of Mauritania.
Mr. Ismail Sidiya thanked Dr. AlMalik
for these initiatives and expressed the willingness of the official and
competent parties in Mauritania to support ISESCO in this regard.
ISESCO Director General also had
meetings with Dr. Sidi Mohamed Ould Ghaber, the Minister of Culture,
Handicrafts and Relations with the Parliament of Mauritania, and Mr. Dah Ould
Sidi Ould Amar Taleb, Minister of Islamic Affairs and Traditional Education of
Mauritania. The two meetings explored the development of cooperation between the
Organization and Mauritania within ISESCO’s fields of action.
In addition, Dr. AlMalik made a visit
to Chinguett Modern University, which receives ISESCO’s support and hosts one
of its Academic Chairs. One of the University’s Amphitheatre will be named
after ISESCO. Chinguett Modern University is a private university with four
departments, namely Islamic Studies, Sharia and Law, Islamic Economics, and
Arabic Language and Literature.
H.H. Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of
Mauritania, today at the Presidential Palace in Nouakchott, received Dr. Salim
M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (ISESCO), who is in a visit to Mauritania upon an
invitation from Dr. Sidi Mohamed Ould Ghaber, Minister of Culture, Handicrafts
and Relations with the Parliament of Mauritania, to attend the award ceremony
of Chinguetti Prize 2019 as a guest of honor.
At the outset of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik
thanked President of Mauritania for the warm welcome, commended Chinguetti
Prize and its role in supporting and encouraging scholars and intellects to be creative,
and reviewed ISESCO’s new vision, which pays special attention to the cultural
heritage and scientific research as two foundations of development.
Besides, Dr. AlMalik highlighted a
number of initiatives that ISESCO intends to launch in Mauritania, including
the importance of Mahdara in the Islamic world as it constitutes a great and
unique heritage of Mauritania.
The meeting also tackled ISESCO’s initiatives
to proclaim Nouakchott as a Capital of Islamic Heritage given its rich heritage
and history as well as its intellects and historians.
Dr. AlMalik stated that the four
ancient towns in Mauritania have had their share of ISESCO’s attention through
their preservation to be an exemplary model for Muslim countries. “Five Mauritanian
heritage sites have been inscribed by the Islamic World Heritage Committee. We
are hopeful that we will inscribe more tangible and intangible heritage”, he
added.
H.E. Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani also expressed his appreciation of
ISESCO’s initiatives while reaffirming his country’s willingness to cooperate
with the Organization in their implementation so as to embody the partnership
of the two parties.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Sidi
Mohamed Ould Ghaber, Minister of Culture, Handicrafts and Relations with the
Parliament of Mauritania; as well as Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Director of External
Relations and Cooperation; and Mr. Adel Bouraoui, Supervisor of the Directorate
of Education from ISESCO.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director
General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(ISESCO) stressed that “cooperation between the Organization and the competent
parties in Mauritania is special and covers the areas of education, science and
culture. ISESCO is keen to develop and expand this cooperation according to the
strategic priorities of this country in such a way as to have an impact and
respond to the needs”.
In his address at the award ceremony
of Chinguetti Prize 2019, held today under the supervision of the President of
the Republic of Mauritania, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani, at the Congress
Centre in Nouakchott, Dr. AlMalik announced a number of specific initiatives
aiming at promoting cooperation between ISESCO and Mauritania, including
ISESCO’s willingness to support and promote the international outreach of Chinguetti
Prize, schedule Nouakchott on the programme of the Capitals of Islamic Culture,
contribute with its partnerships, expertise, experiences and technical and
material potentials to the success of the celebration of the ancient towns in
Mauritania.
ISESCO Director General also announced
the establishment of a training institute for imams and Mahdara’s graduates in
Nouakchott with a view to training the religious and educations leaders to carry
out their tasks and fulfil their mission in society. As for the Mahdara, which is a unique
academic institution, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ISESCO’s willingness to prepare a
comprehensive strategic programme for its development, establish similar Mahdaras
in Muslim countries with the same curriculum adopted in Mauritania, and provide
the material and technical support therefore in cooperation and coordination
with ISESCO Regional Educational Centre, established years ago by
ISESCO in Mauritania.
The initiatives also include the inscription of Mahdara on the Islamic World Intangible Heritage List, to join the five Mauritanian heritage sites inscribed by ISESCO at the last Extraordinary Meeting of the Islamic World Heritage Committee. In his address at the ceremony, which he attended upon the invitation of the Minister of Culture, Handicrafts and Relations with the Parliament of Mauritania, Dr. Sidi Mohamed Ould Ghaber, Dr. AlMalik highlighted that “the objectives and purposes of Chinguetti Prize are consistent with ISESCO’s new vision which pays special attention to the cultural heritage and scientific research as two foundations of development. Through heritage, nations reflect upon their past, have hope in the present and look forward to the future through positive dialogue and scientific research to promote the mechanisms of progress and entrench knowledge.”
Dr. AlMalik also stated that ISESCO’s
interest in these two fields has recently yielded the inscription of 132
heritage sites in Member States on the Islamic World Heritage List of ISESCO,
as well as the initiative of restoring the house of the historian Ibn Khaldūn
in Tunis as a historical monument with a symbolic value.
As part of its new vision and future
strategies, which adopts the protection and conservation of heritage in Muslim
countries, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(ISESCO) launched an initiative to restore the house of Abd ar-Raḥmān ibn
Khaldūn in downtown Tunis.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ISESCO Director
General, announced this initiative during his address at the closing ceremony
of the Celebration of Tunis as the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019, held last
Wednesday in the City of Culture, Tunis.
Dr. AlMalik stated that “we face
enormous digital and cultural challenges and transformations that we should
keep up and deal with. We should also invest in the cultural diplomacy, promote
the cultural capital, and export our enlightening culture. The salient example
of this is our intention to restore the house of ibn Khaldūn in Tunis and
ensure the necessary financial resources therefore.”
Dr. AlMalik’s initiative was warmly
applauded by the audience of the ceremony, most notably Dr. Mohamed Zine El
Abidine, Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, and the heads of delegation of
Muslim countries to the 11th Islamic Conference of Culture
Ministers, held in Tunis on 17 December 2019.
Ibn Khaldūn is one of the most famous
philosophers, historians and sociologists in the Arab history. He studied in a school
close to his birthplace in downtown Tunis, where he spent the longest period of
his life. He also lived in Egypt for almost a quarter of a century and died
there in March 1406 at the age of 76. He was buried near Bab al-Nasr cemetery close
to al-Abbassya neighborhood. He left many works and his biography has been the
subject of many studies. His works are used as references in philosophy,
history and art. The book “Muqaddimah” is still his greatest
work.
The Director
General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(ISESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, will pay an official visit to the Islamic
Republic of Mauritania on 22-25 December 2019. During this visit, Dr. AlMalik
will explore with senior Mauritanian officials the development of cooperation
and partnership and ways to define and implement joint projects in the country,
under ISESCO’s new vision and future action strategy.
ISESCO
Director General will also attend the award ceremony of Chinguitt Prize and
deliver an address on the occasion.
Awarded
every year, Chinguitt Prize was established by virtue of a law issued on 20
January 1999 to reward Mauritanian and foreign researchers with outstanding
contribution to the promotion and advancement of Islamic studies, science and
technology, literature and art. The winners receive a certificate of
appreciation, a medal, and a grant.
** AlMalik, Zine El Abidine and a number of figures honored at the City
of Culture in Tunis
** Bamako as the African region’s Capital of Islamic Culture… and
Bukhara for the Asian region
During a
special ceremony held in the City of Culture in Tunis, the Celebration of Tunis
as the Arab region’s Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019 closed with the
proclamation of Cairo as the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2020. Bukhara,
Republic of Uzbekistan, will be the Asian region’s Capital of Islamic Culture
for 2020 after Bandar Seri Begawan, Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. As for the
African region, Bamako, Republic of Mali, will be the Capital of Islamic
Culture for 2020 succeeding Bissau, Republic of Guinea-Bissau.
The
ceremony, held yesterday in the wake of the 11th Islamic Conference
of Culture Ministers (ICCM) and attended by the members of the delegations participating
in the Conference, started with an address by Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Tunisian
Minister of Cultural Affairs, wherein he indicated that the Celebration of
Tunis as the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019 was held concurrently with the
40th anniversary of its inscription on UNESCO World Heritage List.
Dr. Zine
El Abidine also thanked ISESCO for its substantial cooperation to make this one-year-long
event successful. “The event was not exclusive to Tunis, but also covered all
the Tunisian cities and regions. It was an exceptional year by all measures”,
he added.
Afterwards,
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ISESCO Director General, gave an address wherein he
thanked the Tunisian President, Mr. Kais Saied, for his patronage of the
Conference, and commended the great attention paid by the Tunisian Government
to the programme of the activities implemented as part of the Celebration.
Besides,
Dr. AlMalik highlighted that ISESCO aimed, through the launch of the Programme of
the Capitals of Islamic Culture and the choice of Makkah Al-Mukarramah in 2005
as the first Capital of Islamic Culture to inaugurate this great civilizational
project, to promote joint cultural action and cultural development among states,
achieve civilizational outreach, and export the enlightening Islamic culture.
Dr.
AlMalik also reaffirmed that the Celebration of Tunis as the Capital of Islamic
Culture for 2019 is a recognition of its cultural heritage and civilization
contribution thanks to its cultural and religious monuments and landmarks bearing
witness to its long-standing heritage and the uniqueness of its people and
human heritage.
Afterwards,
the ceremony honored Dr. AlMalik in appreciation of his efforts to ensure the
success of the Conference and the Celebration. Dr. Zine El Abidine presented
him with the Shield of the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
Mr.
Mohamed Ghemari, Director of the Secretariat of the General Conference,
Executive Council and Specialized Conferences at ISESCO, was also honored for
his collaboration toward the success of the Conference and received the Shield
of the Ministry.
Besides,
Dr. Zine El Abidine was presented with as shield by Dr. AlMalik. The other
figures honored during this ceremony are Dr. Faisal bin Mohamed Saleh, Sudanese
Minister of Culture, President of the 10th session of the Conference;
Dr. Taïeb Baccouche, Secretary General of the Arab Maghreb Union; Dr. Hatem
Ben Salem, Minister of Education and Acting Minister of
Higher Education; Mr. Ahmed Adhoum, Tunisian Minister of Religious
Affairs; Mr. Chadli Bouallag, Governor of Tunis; and Dr. Hayat Qatat
Al-Qurmazi, Director of Culture at ALECSO.
Afterwards,
the head of delegations of the countries, whose capitals were celebrated in
2019, passed the torch of Islamic Culture Capitals to their counterparts whose
capitals will be celebrated in 2020. Then, the participants attended a show
presented by the Tunisian Orchestra.
** AlMalik:
development through culture is a priority choice…we should export our Islamic
enlightening culture
** 70% of
the world’s heritage sites in danger are in Islamic countries
Dr. Salim M.
AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (ISESCO), called on the ministers of culture and competent parties
in Member States to continue the submission of their technical files for the
inscription of all the tangible, intangible, natural and industrial heritage
sites in their countries on the Islamic World Heritage List.
In his
address at the opening session of the 11th Islamic Conference of
Culture Ministers, kicked off today in Tunis, Dr. AlMalik first expressed his
thanks to His Excellency Mr. Kaïs Saïed, President of the Republic of Tunisia,
for his patronage of the Conference. He also thanked the Tunisian Government,
represented by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs; and Dr. Mohamed Zine El
Abidine, Minister of Cultural Affairs, for his support to hold this conference.
In addition, he stated that ISESCO has set up a special unit to inscribe
heritage sites in Muslim countries according to strict scientific and
international standards and signed a cooperation agreement with UNESCO to
inscribe Member States’ sites on the World Heritage List.
Moreover,
ISESCO Director General warned against the degradation, disappearance,
destruction, and looting of cultural institutions and cultural heritage in a
number of Member States, pointing out that the List of World Heritage in Danger
includes thirty-seven (37) sites in Muslim countries out of fifty-four (54)
sites, accounting to almost 70% of the sites in danger.
“Even though
Member States agreed to create the Islamic World Heritage Committee (IWHC) in
2007, the Committee had a shaky start as only five (5) sites were inscribed.
However, with the new General Directorate, this situation has changed as ISESCO
committed itself to inscribing one hundred (100) sites on the Islamic World
Heritage List before the end of 2019 managed to exceed the said number, praise
be to Allah, through concerted efforts with the IWHC and Member States, we were
able to inscribe 132 sites. We then cheerfully ushered ourselves into the era
of the codification of our cultural and civilizational heritage”, Dr. AlMalik
added.
By the same
token, Dr. AlMalik underscored the need for translating Member States’ cultural
unity and solidarity regarding the preservation of cultural heritage into a
programme to be supervised by ISESCO to jointly inscribe a number of exemplary
historical and civilizational routes (Hajj route, routes of trade caravans, and
the routes of travelers, scholars, students and manuscript, etc.) on the
Islamic World Heritage List. In this regard, he stressed that ISESCO has
adopted this as part of its new vision.
Moreover,
ISESCO Director General reaffirmed that access to development through culture
has today become one of Member States’ strategic priority choices. As such, Dr.
AlMalik underlined that culture should never be considered as a secondary
sector and that cultural diplomacy and capital should be employed in serving
cultural development in Muslim countries, defending their strategic interests,
and exporting Islamic enlightening culture. Likewise, he called for keeping up
with digital changesto promote culture and encourage creativity and
innovation, in order to highlight Muslim societies’ rich cultural diversity, linking
the achievement of this goal to providing new and diverse funding sources for
cultural projects.
At the close
of his address, ISESCO Director General wished every success to the Conference
in reaching tangible outcomes and resolutions likely to achieve cultural
development in the Islamic world.
Today at
the City of Culture in Tunis, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the
Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), and Dr.
Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, held a press
conference to announce the programme of the 11th Islamic Conference
of Culture Ministers and the closing ceremony of the Celebration of Tunis as
the Arab region’s Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019.
At the
beginning of the press conference, Dr. AlMalik welcomed the journalists and
media professionals, thanked H.E. Dr. Zine El Abidine, and commended the
cultural activities held as part the celebration of Tunis as Capital of Islamic
Culture for 2019. He also expressed his delight for the cultural activities
which were not exclusive to Tunis, but also covered most regions of the
Republic of Tunisia, while reaffirming that Tunis has given an exemplary model
which is hard to compete by the following capitals of Islamic culture.
On his
part, Dr. Zine El Abidine thanked ISESCO Director General and commended the
cooperation between the Ministry and the Organization, particularly in renewing
cultural action.
The
Minister also reviewed the most important cultural activities which have been
held by the Ministry throughout the year all over Tunisia, standing at 174
thousand activities.
Besides,
Dr. Zine El Abidine stressed that the strong cooperation between the Ministry
and ISESCO will continue so as to optimally benefit from it throughout the year
2019, while expressing the pride of his country in taking over the presidency
of the Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers for the two coming years.
The
Minister reiterated his welcome to Dr. AlMalik, the Culture Ministers of Muslim
countries and the participating delegations in the 11th Islamic
Conference of Culture Ministers while wishing every success to this Conference,
hosted tomorrow by Tunisia.
Afterwards,
the floor was given over to questions and discussions. Replying to a question
on the potentials of digital technology in the field of culture, Dr. AlMalik
said “the opportunities and challenges are immense in this context. Unless the
Muslim countries benefit from such potentials, they would lag behind; which
constitutes a serious and irreparable loss.”
Dr. AlMalik
added that ISESCO has been aware of this issue and sought to benefit Member
States from the immense potentials of digital technology, including the project
on ‘Digital culture: opportunities and challenges’, which is submitted to the Islamic
Conference of Culture Ministers among other items for consideration.
Responding
to a question on the continuity and future of cooperation between the Tunisian
Ministry of Cultural Affairs and ISESCO, Dr. Zine El Abidine replied: “this
cooperation is strong and ongoing. It will continue and prosper between the two
parties, especially after the concrete efforts to restore the vitality of the
Organization with the appointment of Dr. AlMalik as Director General without
overlooking the efforts of the former director general, Dr. Abdulaziz
Altwaijri.”
Dr. Zine
El Abidine also stated that “we believe that citizens are the main and most
important target of every cultural activity. Throughout the last three year, we
have sought to help citizen appreciate arts, culture and cultural creativity
before its practice, and our efforts are still ongoing. ”
The
Minister added that “we are glad of our achievements within this framework. We
are looking forward to entrenching cultural diversity. In this regard, we have
established Tunis International Center for Digital Cultural Economy
and agreed with ISESCO Director General to share this vision, which will be
considered tomorrow at the 11th Islamic Conference of Culture
Ministers.”
The Director
General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(ISESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, examined with Dr. Rached Ghannouchi, President
of the People’s Representatives Assembly of Tunisia, a number of issues related
to ISESCO’s areas of action and the outstanding cooperation of the Republic of
Tunisia with ISESCO in organizing many activities, including the 11th
Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers and the close of the celebration of
Tunis as Islamic Culture Capital for 2019.
This was
part of a reception today by the President of the Assembly to ISESCO Director
General and his accompanying delegation at the Assembly’s headquarters, during
which Dr. AlMalik expressed ISESCO’s deep gratitude to the President,
Government and people of Tunisia for their efforts to ensure the success of the
11th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers and the celebration of
Tunis as Islamic Culture Capital for 2019 during which many important
activities and programmes were organized. He also stressed that the enormous
efforts made by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs are an example to follow by
future Islamic culture capitals to overcome their challenges.
From his
part, Dr. Ghannouchi stated that ISESCO plays a pivotal role in the region and
in the Islamic world as a whole in areas key to achieving development,
particularly education, science and technology, wishing every success to the
Organization in implementing its socially-conscious future programmes and
plans.
In addition,
the meeting touched on ISESCO’s new vision and action strategy for the next
phase. In this regard, Dr. AlMalik reviewed a range of major programmes and
projects already initiated by the Organization, most notably the waqf
(endowment) project whose proceeds will go to financing ISESCO’s programmes and
activities in Member States’ neediest areas to support and empower women and
children. Dr. AlMalik also pointed out that, under the Organization’s new
vision, studies will be carried out in the field of waqf in the Islamic
world with a view to promoting and developing it.
In the same
vein, Dr. Ghannouchi commended the idea of waqf and dubbed it as a practical
solution to achieve ISESCO’s noble objectives. He underlined that waqf accounts
for 30% of the expenditure of universities and civil society activities in
Tunisia and that developed countries largely depend on it to ensure education
and healthcare services to those in need.
Key among
the issues discussed at the meeting are ISESCO’s efforts in the fight against
extremist thought and the documents issued by the previous sessions of the
Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers that constitute a cultural and
intellectual approach to combat extremism and promote moderation and middle
stance, as advocated by the noble religion of Islam. These documents call on
Islamic countries’ legislative institutions to enact more laws to this effect.
“Extremism
has severely harmed Islam and Muslims. Joint efforts have to be made to
eradicate this plague”, Dr. Ghannouchi commented.
For his
part, Dr. AlMalik stated that under its new vision, ISESCO endeavors to become
a house of expertise for the Islamic world, hence the creation of the Center of
Strategic Anticipation.
The two
parties also explored the intellectual role played by ISESCO through “ISESCO
Cultural Forum” which hosts renowned intellectuals from Muslim countries to
discuss today’s issues and provide their suggestions and ideas.
The meeting brought
together Mr. Nabil Hajji, Vice-President of the Assembly in charge of External
Relations; Mr. Habib Khedhr, Head of the Cabinet of the President of the
Assembly; Dr. Najib Rhiati, Director of Culture at ISESCO; Dr. Mohamed Ghemari,
Director of the General Secretariat; Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of the Center
of Strategic Anticipation at ISESCO; and Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Cultural
Advisor to ISESCO Director General.
