Category: Director General

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Arab Administrative Development Organization (ARADO), is organizing the Fourth Forum on Cultural Heritage Management, under the theme “Manuscript Heritage in Light of Legal Frameworks, Preservation, and Digital Transformation,” from 11 to 13 November 2025. The event, bringing together a distinguished group of experts and specialists in calligraphy, manuscripts, and law, aims to highlight institutional and international efforts in legislation, conservation, and digitization to safeguard intellectual manuscript heritage.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, indicated that the Organization has accumulated significant expertise in manuscript preservation through training workshops held in several Member States and the establishment of the Center for Calligraphy and Manuscripts, which seeks to raise awareness of heritage-related issues. He also pointed to field initiatives aimed at restoring manuscripts in Timbuktu, Chinguetti, and Aleppo.

In the same vein, Dr. AlMalik stressed that honoring manuscripts requires thorough reading, drawing inspiration from their values, and protecting them from damage. He underlined the importance of employing modern technologies for physical preservation, developing intelligent character recognition, utilizing spectral imaging and its analyses, and leveraging large databases to publicize this heritage.

For his part, Dr. Nasser Al-Hatlan Al-Qahtani, Director-General of ARADO, highlighted the importance of institutional partnerships in capacity building and developing legal frameworks to protect manuscripts. He called for aligning national legislations with international standards, enhancing cooperation between libraries and archives, and investing in digitization infrastructure and capacity development.

The forum’s program includes four scientific sessions addressing manuscript protection and the enforcement of legislations, analysis of the foundations and content of Arab laws on manuscripts, review of preservation and conservation experiences in libraries and centers, and discussions on digital transformation, heritage preservation, and manuscript sustainability in the age of AI.

The forum’s deliberations are expected to yield practical recommendations and pathways for technical and financial cooperation to support Member States’ efforts in manuscript conservation, facilitate their digital accessibility for researchers and the public, and consolidate their importance in cultural and civilizational memory.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Ms. Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform in the Kingdom of Morocco, to explore avenues for strengthening cooperation in digital governance, innovation, and artificial intelligence. The meeting took place on Monday, 10 November 2025, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Rabat.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik commended Morocco’s leadership and forward-looking vision in digital transformation and artificial intelligence, describing it as a regional model in technological advancement and good governance. He noted that Morocco’s progress aligns with ICESCO’s strategic direction, which places innovation and foresight at the heart of development policies in Member States. He also reaffirmed the Organization’s readiness to closely collaborate with the Ministry in training, building innovation ecosystems, and digitizing public services.

For her part, Ms. Seghrouchni highlighted the Ministry’s central role in administrative reform and leading Morocco’s digital transition. She emphasized that the digital economy is a driver of sustainable growth and a catalyst for modernization. She also pointed to the Ministry’s establishment of a legislative framework to enable innovation and support national and African digital ecosystems, aiming to position Morocco as a regional hub for artificial intelligence.

During the meeting, Dr. Kaïs Hammami, Head of the Center for Foresight and Artificial Intelligence, presented the Organization’s initiatives in the field, including the “Riyadh Charter on Artificial Intelligence for the Islamic World,” the “Université des Nouveaux Savoirs” project to empower youth through future-oriented learning, and training programs in artificial intelligence and digital applications to build Member States’ capacities.

The meeting concluded with an agreement to develop joint programs focused on training, capacity building, and responsible adoption of emerging technologies in support of sustainable development and social justice, particularly in Africa. Both parties committed to enhancing bilateral cooperation to advance innovation and the ethical use of artificial intelligence across ICESCO Member States.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is taking part with a special pavilion in the Third Edition of the International Children’s and Youth Book Fair 2025 (SILEJ), organized by the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication in Casablanca, on 8-16 November 2025, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist Him.

During the official opening ceremony, held on Saturday morning, 8 November 2025, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, received, at the Organization’s pavilion, Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, and a delegation of participants in the opening. The Minister toured the ICESCO Pavilion, where he was briefed on its publications and programs designed for children and youth, as well as on the various activities that will take place throughout the Fair.

Dr. AlMalik underlined that the Fair is an annual milestone for fostering the habit of reading among younger generations, emphasizing that ICESCO’s participation reflects its commitment to developing innovative educational and teaching content. He also noted that partnerships with national and international institutions enhance the impact of these efforts and expand their reach.

The ICESCO Pavilion will feature a diverse interactive program comprising 33 activities to be held throughout the Fair. These include educational games and art workshops that encourage children and youth to read through modern, engaging approaches that combine fun and learning, while making use of digital tools to promote interaction.

It is worth noting that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is the Guest of Honor of this edition. The Fair also features the participation of national, regional, and international institutions concerned with children’s culture and the promotion of cultural industries targeting young audiences, in addition to expanding equitable access to knowledge.

At a ceremony held at the headquarters of the League of Arab States in Cairo to honor participants in the Supporting Sudanese Affected by the War Initiative, H.E. Dr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League, honored H.E. Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in recognition of his outstanding efforts to support Sudanese migrants and refugees in the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The event, held on October 26, 2025, under the auspices of the League of Arab States and the Embassy of Sudan in Cairo, was attended by H.E. Dr. Essam Sharaf, Former Prime Minister of Egypt and Chair of the Supreme Committee for Supporting Sudanese Affected by the War, along with several officials, diplomats, and representatives of regional and international institutions. The honorary shield was received on behalf of ICESCO’s Director-General by Ms. Amira Al-Fadil.

This recognition reflects ICESCO’s impactful initiatives in providing technical assistance and capacity-building, which include the training of about 2,000 young Sudanese men and women in various professional fields, notably information technology, entrepreneurship, and safety and protection skills. Additionally, the Organization trained 275 Sudanese women in processing industries, food production, and traditional crafts, in cooperation with accredited and specialized Egyptian institutions.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, H.E. Abdoulaye Idrissa Maïga, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Mali, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat. The meeting, which saw the presence of H.E. Salaheddine Mezouar, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Morocco, explored prospects for joint development initiatives in light of the security, educational, and human development challenges facing countries in the African Sahel region.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s steadfast commitment to promoting the values of peace, tolerance, and intercultural dialogue as core pillars of the Organization’s strategic vision. He highlighted several flagship initiatives implemented by ICESCO in this regard, including the award-winning “360° Peace” initiative, the Encyclopedia for Deconstructing Extremist Discourse developed in partnership with the Mohammadia League of Scholars in Morocco, the publication of ‘‘Ahmad Baba al-Timbukti: A Model of Civilizational Diplomacy in West Africa’’, and the Leadership Training Programme in Peace and Security (LTIPS), which has trained more than 180 young men and women from 68 countries, who were selected to serve as ICESCO’s Peace Ambassadors.

For his part, Mr. Maïga expressed his appreciation for ICESCO’s efforts in fostering peace and security through education, science, and culture. He emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation with the Organization in initiatives aimed at achieving lasting peace and sustainable development in the Sahel region.

At the close of the meeting, the two sides agreed to continue coordination on developing a joint initiative focused on peacebuilding and sustainability, contributing to regional and international efforts to support stability and development in the region.

In attendance from ICESCO were Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General; Mr. Osama Heikal, Head of the Media and Communication Sector; Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Head of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue; and Dr. Abdoulaye Al Maïga, expert at the Center for Civilizational Dialogue.