Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Ambassador Saienko Serhii, Ambassador of Ukraine to Morocco, on Tuesday, 5 September 2023, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat, to discuss prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and Ukraine in the fields of education, science and culture.
During the meeting, which took place in the presence of several ICESCO’s heads of sector, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the main programs and activities implemented by the Organization as part of its vision and strategic orientations, which are based on openness and cooperation with all, intending to establish partnerships for the benefit of the Member States and Muslim communities worldwide, in its fields of competence. The Director General also pointed out that ICESCO allows non-member states to join as observer states, aimed at strengthening cooperation with the countries of the Islamic world in the fields of education, science and culture, and contributing to the promotion of the values of peace, coexistence and civilizational dialogue. The aim is also to capitalize on cultural diversity to bring people closer together, support innovation and benefit from technological advances.
For his part, the Ukrainian ambassador praised ICESCO’s role in supporting the efforts of its Member States and expressed his willingness to establish a fruitful partnership between Ukraine and the Organization.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO), received Mr. Ziad Atallah, ambassador of the Republic of Lebanon to the Kingdom of Morocco. They discussed the latest developments in ICESCO-Lebanon joint cooperation in the fields of education, science and culture.
During the meeting, which took place on Monday, September 4, 2023, at ICESCO’s headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik expressed the Organization’s keenness to bolster cooperation with Lebanon in areas of common interest commending the outcomes of the meeting he held last June with Dr. Firas Abiad, the Lebanese Minister of Public Health, during which they explored prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and Lebanon with regard to supporting digital transformation in the health sector, raising health awareness and enhancing public health.
Additionally, ICESCO DG indicated that the Organization adopts a communication strategy with Member States in its efforts to identify their needs and design programs and projects that correspond to their needs and requirements. Dr. Salim M. AlMalik also pointed out that ICESCO is communicating regularly with the Lebanese educational, scientific and cultural institutions, in coordination with the Lebanese National Commission, aimed at reaching an agreement on executive programmes and cooperation projects.
On his part, Lebanon’s ambassador in Rabat lauded ICESCO’s vigorous efforts in its areas of expertise and its embracing of modern technologies and modern-day requirements. He also affirmed Lebanon’s keenness to cooperate with the Organization on several joint programmes and projects.
His Excellency Rustam Minnikhanov, Rais (Head) of the Republic of Tatarstan, received Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO) at the historical Kazan City Hall. This came as part of the visit by ICESCO DG and his delegation to Tatarstan to participate in the Kazan 2023 World Youth Summit.
During this meeting, held on Tuesday, August 29th, 2023, in the presence of the Ministers of Education, Culture and Sports, the Assistant to the Rais and the Deputy Prime Minister, as well as several representatives of Russian youth bodies, Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations, and highlighted the ongoing programmes and projects, stressing the Organisation’s keenness to cooperate with the Republic of Tatarstan in fields of mutual interest.
The Meeting also touched upon cooperation proposals between the two parties, particularly about youth capacity-building and skill development to stay abreast of global changes. Furthermore, the meeting provided an opportunity to address ICESCO participation in the 2024 meeting of the heads of State of the BRICS Plus and the International Economic Forum, titled “Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum,” as well as the potential for partnering in the organisation of the International Digital and Virtual Games Forum, to be held in Tatarstan, and the creation of an ICESCO scientific chair at the Innopolis University. Moreover, the meeting considered the possibility of celebrating Kazan as the Culture Capital of the Islamic World.
On his part, Rais Rustam Minnikhanov lauded ICESCO’s initiatives and efforts in its areas of competence, reiterating his keenness to foster fruitful cooperation with the Organisation.
Following the meeting, ICESCO DG delivered an address during the session on “Role of Traditional Values in Educating Children and Youth in the Contemporary World,” in the presence of Rais Rustam Minnikhanov, as part of the second day of the 2023 Kazan Global Youth Summit, hosted by the government of the Republic of Tatarstan, in partnership with the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum.
In his address, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the Organisation’s efforts to promote youth issues and attract the best young talents to work across its various centres, sectors, and departments, highlighting ICESCO’s youth-oriented programmes, initiatives, and conferences, and underscoring the Organisation’s commitment to building fruitful partnerships to contribute to the skill-development and leadership capacity-building of the Islamic World’s youth.
ICESCO DG also praised the 2023 Kazan Global Youth Summit and acknowledged the relentless efforts of the Republic of Tatarstan in striving to build a better future for youth.
Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Kamil Samigullin, Mufti of the Republic of Tatarstan, and discussed cooperation between ICESCO and Tatarstan in the field of consolidating the values of coexistence, peace, and civilizational dialogue and countering extremism and hate speech.
During the meeting, held on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, as part of Dr. Al-Malik’s visit to Tatarstan to participate in the Kazan World Youth Summit 2023, ICESCO DG stressed that the Organization gives priority to disseminating the true and tolerant image of the Islam worldwide, highlighting the Organization’s programs to train youth on leadership for peace and security, and its efforts in the field of civilizational dialogue through its new Center for Civilizational Dialogue, and the “Read it to Understand” initiative, launched in an effort to confront the heinous campaigns to attack the Holy Qur’an, as well as the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, housed at its headquarters, in Rabat, which has attracted more than three million visitors since its inauguration in November 2022.
For his part, the Mufti of Tatarstan commended the efforts of ICESCO and the importance of cooperation with Muslim countries, noting that his country is a role model for coexistence between followers of different religions.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Mintimer Shaimiev, State Councillor of the Republic of Tatarstan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Renaissance Foundation for Historical and Cultural Monuments, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue, on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, to discuss the prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and Tatarstan in the fields of culture, particularly the preservation and promotion of heritage.
During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik pointed out that ICESCO places the protection, safeguarding and promotion of heritage at the forefront of its strategic orientations, as it represents the identity of peoples, adding that the Organization had inscribed several historic sites and cultural elements on its Islamic world heritage lists.
ICESCO DG also welcomed the willingness of the Republic of Tatarstan to rebuild historic sites, mosques and churches vandalized in the past, stressing ICESCO’s willingness to cooperate in this area.
For his part, Mr. Mintimer Shaimiev presented the fields of action of the Renaissance Foundation for Historical and Cultural Monuments, and its role in the restoration of a number of Islamic and Christian historical sites in Tatarstan, within the framework of projects aimed at reviving the ancient city of Bulgar and the city of Sviyazhsk, stressing the importance of cooperation with the Organization to inscribe the Republic’s heritage sites on ICESCO’s lists of heritage in the Islamic world.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), started his visit to the Russian Republic of Tatarstan, to take part in the Kazan 2023 World Youth Summit, by meeting with Ms. Leyla Fazleeva, Deputy Prime Minister of Tatarstan, in the presence of Mr. Ilsur Metshin, Mayor of Kazan. The meeting focused on prospects for cooperation in areas of common interest.
During the meeting, held on Monday, August 28, 2023, in Kazan, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the key elements of ICESCO’s new vision and strategic orientations, as well as the main ongoing initiatives, programs and projects aimed at contributing to capacity-building for young people and women, promoting the values of coexistence and civilizational dialogue, and encouraging investment in the fields of technology, innovation, artificial intelligence and space sciences. He also discussed the promotion and preservation of the Islamic world’s heritage, as well as the inscription of historic sites and cultural elements on ICESCO’s tangible and intangible heritage lists.
The discussions focused on several proposals for collaboration between ICESCO and the Republic of Tatarstan, intending to implement a range of projects and programs in areas of common interest.
For her part, Ms. Leyla Fazleeva commended ICESCO’s initiatives and efforts in the fields of education, science and culture, underlining the Tatarstan government’s commitment to establishing fruitful cooperation with the Organization.
The meeting took place in the presence of Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector. ICESCO DG and the accompanying delegation visited the Qolsharif Mosque, considered to be the largest mosque in Tatarstan, which was built in the 16th century, destroyed in 1552, and rebuilt in 1996, thanks to contributions from several countries to the construction fund.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), visited the Technological Economic Zone and Innopolis University, specialized in modern technology development, artificial intelligence applications, and robotics, in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. This visit is part of his participation in the Kazan Global Youth Summit 2023.
During the visit on Monday, August 28, 2023, Dr. AlMalik had a rich discussion with over 200 male and female university students representing various countries. He answered their questions on strategic foresight and the major challenges posed by the fast-paced global changes.
In the same vein, ICESCO DG underlined the importance of acquiring skills that are well-suited to the jobs and professions of the future, which will become a global reality in the next few years. He also highlighted that a nation’s strength lies in its young talents, who have the creative and innovative capacities to face all future challenges.
It is worthy of note that Innopolis University, founded on December 10, 2012, specializes in Information Technology and Robotics Development. It holds a prestigious status in these fields and attracts students from all around the world, offering numerous scholarships annually. The university comprises 17 research laboratories and 9 scientific centres, in addition to ongoing partnerships with 153 leading companies in the Information Technology sector.
ICESCO DG also met with Patriarch Kirill, the Metropolitan Bishop of Tatarstan and Kazan, where they discussed the importance of collaborative efforts to promote values of coexistence and global peace.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Organisation for Education, Science, and Culture (ICESCO), emphasized the need to uphold genuine traditional values to build a prosperous global future. “The essence of such values cultivates the qualities of young people’s character, empowering them to overcome the obstacles that impede their progress and allowing them to face arising challenges. Youth plays a key role and education should not only focus on qualifying them for future responsibilities, but also on equipping them with critical thinking skills to discern and reject all forms of violence and extremist discourse,” he added.
This came in his address, delivered on Monday, August 28, 2023, at the opening session of the Second Edition of Kazan Global Youth Summit 2023, organized by the government of the Republic of Tatarstan, in partnership with the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum, from August 28th to the 30th, 2023, in Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan. The event brings together ministers, ambassadors, regional and international organizations, and several youth policymakers from 67 countries.
In his address, Dr. AlMalik commended the efforts made by the Republic of Tatarstan, in cooperation with the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum, which culminated in selecting Kazan as the Youth Capital of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation for 2022, emphasizing the importance of this summit, held under the theme “The Role of Traditional Values in the Education of Children and Youth in the Modern World” which underscores the necessity of instilling traditional values among youth to enable them to have unwavering stance while embracing global diversity.
Moreover, he reaffirmed the importance of youth as a demographic force representing 16% of the global population and embodying its future, highlighting the challenges that must be overcome and addressed to build a thriving global community.
Furthermore, ICESCO DG highlighted the Organization’s efforts to promote principles of coexistence and respect for cultural diversity in educational curricula through the organization of sports activities, training educators, and emphasizing the fundamental principles shared among all religions, including values of compassion, solidarity, appreciation, respect, unity, and understanding. “ICESCO looks forward to intensifying international cooperation for the dissemination of human values that are indispensable to overcoming current challenges,” he stressed.
In conclusion, Dr. AlMalik lauded the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, hosted at ICESCO Headquarters, in Rabat, which has garnered over three million visitors, explaining that the Exhibition embodies the great inherent human virtues and moral values, and indicating that ICESCO strives to ensure the seamless integration of the discourse of the Islamic world’s civilization into the global discourse.
The headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in Rabat, witnessed a spiritual celebration bringing together a host of high-level personalities in love of the best of creation, Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, held on Friday, August 25, 2023, in partnership with the Muslim World League and Mohammadia League of Scholars, to mark three million visitors to the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization since its inauguration in November 2022.
The celebration began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by an address by Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General, wherein he reaffirmed that the Exhibition and Museum have been a success since its inauguration, in the presence of HRH Prince Moulay El Hassan, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Morocco, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco, noting that this museum is a gift from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and his faithful Crown Prince, HRH Prince Muhammad Bin Salman.
Furthermore, he pointed out that ICESCO headquarters has had the honor to receive visitors of the exhibition from all over the Islamic world and beyond coming in a spirit of love, celebrating the knowledge provided about the biography of the most generous of creation, our master Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and reaching three million visitors in a short period of time.
Dr. AlMalik commended the tripartite strategic partnership between ICESCO, the Muslim World League and Mohammadia League of Scholars, the outcomes of which include the organization of this edition of the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization. ICESCO Director-General thanked everyone who contributed to the success of this Exhibition and Museum, and visitors as well, concluding his address with a poem composed in love of Al-Mustafa, peace and blessings be upon him. In his address, Dr. Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary-General of Mohammadia League of Scholars, highlighted that the Exhibition and Museum display the characteristics and attributes of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) and the responsibility of Prophethood as the greatest responsibility ever in a simplified manner to reach out to different age groups, which is the challenge that we addressed in this Exhibition at ICESCO headquarters. For his part, Dr. Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, reaffirmed that the celebration of three million visitors of the Museum is a source of joy as the biography of our noble Prophet is worth that large number of visitors coming from inside and outside Morocco.
He also indicated that the current global developments require using modern technologies in presenting information, adding that the Museum has responded to such requirement by identifying questions about the Prophet’s biography and providing adequate answers, concluding his address by announcing the continuation of this edition of the Exhibition in the Kingdom of Morocco.
After that, Dr. AlMalik, Dr. Al-Issa and Dr. Abbadi honored Dr. Mohamed Belbachir Al-Hassani, founder of the Islamic Studies Department in Morocco, who concluded the number of three million visitors to the Exhibition and Museum.
Afterwards, the participants enjoyed an interlude of Islamic chants praising the best of Mankind, peace and blessings be upon him, performed by: Mustafa Atef, from Egypt, Muhammad Radi Al-Sharif, from Saudi Arabia, and Abdulhakim Khizrane, from Morocco. The ceremony concluded with a poem by the great Syrian poet Anas Al-Daghim.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), stressed the need for concerted efforts to ensure the right of people to freedom in the same manner they enjoy other rights, calling for countering the risks associated with metaverse and artificial intelligence applications, which threaten the system of values and ethics and the principles of freedom, and warn people against losing their freedoms in favour of machines.
This statement came in ICESCO DG’s address, delivered on Thursday, August 24, 2023, at the opening session of the International Conference on “Regulating Freedoms in Accordance with Islamic Values and Principles of International Law,” organized by the League of Islamic Universities, at ICESCO Headquarters, in Rabat, which brought together high-level scholars and religious leaders, university presidents, thinkers and researchers in international law.
In the same vein, ICESCO DG highlighted that Muslims in the early days of Islam fully understood the message of our religion, which calls for liberation from humiliation and subjugation, and, thus, they ruled the world with justice and fairness. “On the other hand, scientific and technical development without taking into consideration people’s cultural and social differences yielded a single story that seeks to standardize civilizational awareness and set the Western experience as a model to follow for all humanity,” he added.
He also pointed out that in an effort to confront the prejudiced campaign, which allows some ignorant ideological trends to attack the Holy Quran, ICESCO announced its initiative “Read it to understand it,” which is characterized by comprehensiveness, accuracy and seriousness as a positive response in the face of these miserable campaigns, calling for resolute efforts to highlight the true image of the Islamic civilization, the civilization of creativity, sophistication and science.
In his address, Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, President of the League of Islamic Universities and chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, stressed that freedoms morally and spiritually cannot remain uncontrolled as Islam guarantees rights and freedoms, indicating that most world countries seek to establish peace and harmony in their societies within the framework of shared commonalities between various groups of society far from ignorance, materialism, grudges and ideologies.
For his part, Dr. Shawki Allam, Grand Mufti of the Arab Republic of Egypt, highlighted that the issues of rights and freedoms have become at the core of intellectual, literary and philosophical debates, especially with the great technological development that has provided greater space for communication between peoples, pointing out that the Holy Quran calls upon people to fulfill their duties while enjoying their rights, and that development loses its meaning and deviates from its purpose to serve humanity if stripped from the moral system.
Dr. Sami al-Sharif, Secretary-General of the League of Islamic Universities, explained that this conference comes within the framework of the relentless efforts to promote rights and freedoms in the Islamic world as the system of religious values in Islam stresses the common human ancestry and the centrality of human rights and freedoms.
The conference agenda also featured scientific sessions on various themes, including the philosophy of freedom and intellectual trends, the concept of freedom from the Islamic perspective, freedom under the principles of international law, the anarchy of freedom and the fuelling of civilizational clash, and the leading initiatives in regulating the freedom of opinion and expression.
