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    ICESCO Director-General calls for sustaining efforts to face hate speech and extremism

    Dr. Salim Al-Malik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), said that the increased spread of hate speech and extremist ideas worldwide, which incite violence particularly directed against women and girls, ethnic and religious minorities and migrants, requires intensified action to consolidate the values of coexistence and peace, and strengthen partnerships and sincere, pragmatic and equitable humanitarian efforts likely to confront violence and extremism trends, and achieve sustainable development.

    This was part of his speech today, Wednesday (20 July 2022) at the opening session of the high-level International Forum held in Fez by the Ministerial Delegation in Charge of Human Rights in the Kingdom of Morocco, in cooperation with the Mohammadia League of Scholars in the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Nations Office for the Prevention of Genocide and the Responsibility to Protect. The Forum, which continues for two days, marks the fifth anniversary of the adoption by the United Nations of the Plan of Action for Religious Leaders and Actors to Prevent Incitement to Violence that Could Lead to Atrocity Crimes, known as the Fez Plan of Action.

    ICESCO Director-General praised the importance of the Fez Action Plan, which is characterized by its seriousness and uniqueness since its launch to confront incitement that leads to humanity-threatening crimes, pointing out the importance of the Fez Forum, which witnessed the participation of outstanding officials, heads of international organizations, religious and intellectual leaderships worldwide, to renew the spirit of research and investigation and to explore pathways likely ensure the consolidation of values of coexistence as the ultimate goal of laws and religions, and the aspiration of civilizations.

    On this occasion, Dr. AlMalik expressed his gratitude and appreciation to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, for his patronage and encouragement of the Fez Action Plan and its outputs, commending the adoption of the Plan given the position of religious leaders and their ability to contribute to raising societal awareness.

    He then reviewed the most prominent initiatives and programs ICESCO launched and implemented to contribute to building societies capable of combining stability and transformation through confronting extremist trends and blind criminal incitement on the one hand and developing the human rights system on the other, including the organization of the Collective Intelligence Conference in Combating Violent Extremism in cooperation with the Moroccan Observatory on Violent Extremism in the Kingdom of Morocco. Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s commitment to joint cooperation and coordination with various regional and international specialized bodies in combating extremist ideology to set up an advanced model of cooperation based on social intelligence.

    ICESCO and Educational Institutions in UAE Explore Means to Enhance Cooperation in Scientific Research

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Sheikh Dr. Ammar bin Nasser Al Mualla, Attaché of Education and Technology Sciences at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, non-resident Attaché to Rabat, Tunisia and Amman, and together they discussed means to enhance cooperation between the Organization and Emirati educational institutions in the field of scientific research.

    During the meeting, which was held on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the key programmes and projects implemented by the Organization in light of its vision and strategic orientations to serve its Member States and Muslim communities around the world in its areas of competence.

    ICESCO DG hailed the close cooperation between the Organization and the UAE through the competent Emirati authorities, emphasizing ICESCO’s keenness to sustain this distinguished partnership.

    The meeting touched upon means to strengthen cooperation between Emirati educational institutions, ICESCO and its Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW). The two parties agreed on holding scientific meetings and training programmes in the field of applied scientific research, particularly in science and technology, for the benefit of students and researchers in the Islamic world.

    For his part, Shiekh Dr. Ammar Al Mualla commended ICESCO’s efforts in supporting its Member States in the fields of education, science and culture.

    Following the meeting, Dr. AlMalik took Dr. Al Mualla and his accompanying delegation on a tour of the youth training incubators and the Mishkat Hall, which is equipped with the latest technology and was established by ICESCO in partnership with the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance. The two parties agreed on using this technology to organize training sessions and seminars for a vast number of participants.

    The meeting saw the attendance of Mr. Thani Salem Al Rumaithi, Chargé d’Affaires at the UAE Embassy in Rabat, Ms. Iman Al Hosani, Technical Attaché at the Emirati Education and Technology Sciences Attaché Office in Cairo, and Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Advisor to ICESCO DG for Partnerships and International Cooperation, Supervisor of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences.

    ICESCO Director-General holds Series of Meetings with Host of Participants in International Aerospace Symposium

    Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a series of meetings with a host of officials, experts and astronauts taking part in the International Symposium on Space Sciences which kicked off on Monday, July 18, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat under the theme: “Building Tomorrow’s Global Workforce.”

    The meetings touched upon ways to enhance cooperation between ICESCO and the institutions the guests represent within the framework of ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations. During these meetings, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the main thrusts and objectives of the vision which are aimed to support the efforts of ICESCO’s Member States to achieve sustainable development, especially in the fields of education, science and culture.

    ICESCO DG first met Mr. Frederic Ouattara, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation of the Republic of Burkina Faso, who praised ICESCO’s efforts to encourage its Member States to localize modern technology and benefit from the potential it offers.

    Dr. AlMalik also met Cheick Modibo Diarra, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Mali, who previously served as President of Microsoft Africa and also worked as a mechanical engineering expert at NASA.

    He also received Ms. Christina Korp, Director of Space for a Better World and astronaut wrangler, and Dr. Sian Proctor, astronaut, and professor of space sciences, who impressed the participants in the symposium by telling her story about space science and her space flights.

    Finally, ICESCO DG received a Libyan delegation that included Dr. Abul-Qasim Muhammad Shallouf, President of the Libyan Open University, and Dr. Jamal Al-Saghir Fardagh, Advisor to the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in the presence of Dr. Saeed Mohammad Al-Dabaib, Libya’s permanent delegate to ICESCO.

    At ICESCO Headquarters… Officials, Experts and Astronauts Explore the Future of Space Science

    During the launch of ICESCO’s International Aerospace Symposium, the participants explored future prospects and investigated ways to meet its challenges by examining the latest developments in space science and applications. The Forum is held by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the International University of Rabat (UIR) and Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech, the Kingdom of Morocco, under the theme “Building Tomorrow’s Global Workforce,” with the participation of a high-caliber host of officials, international experts, astronauts, researchers, professors and students from the Islamic world and beyond.

    The Forum, which kicked off on Monday, July 18, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters and via videoconference, opened with an international seminar aimed at exploring the latest developments in space science. The seminar began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by the remarks of Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of ICESCO’s Science & Technology Sector, in which he expressed his delight at this event that highlights the Organization’s efforts toward encouraging exchanges of expertise in space science among researchers and scientists.

    In his address, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), noted the technological and economic revolution achieved by humanity in the area of space science, emphasizing that the ensuing transformations compel us to seize the opportunities presented by this field, promote skills, build capacities, and disseminate knowledge on all phases of space industries.


    ICESCO DG also reviewed a set of solutions offered by space science to develop information systems for controlling and monitoring areas that are likely to be affected by natural disasters, floods, wildfires, drought and desertification, stressing that this motivates the Organization to contribute to the design and launch of satellites and cooperate with regional and international specialized authorities to enhance the Islamic world’s competitive capabilities in space industries.

    Mr. Youness Sekkouri, Minister of Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills in the Kingdom of Morocco, commended the Forum, which he described as unique, noting that space science has become a fundamental element of entrepreneurship and public policies.

    In his address, Dr. Abdellatif Miraoui, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation in the Kingdom of Morocco, highlighted the importance of space science and applications in monitoring natural disasters, managing climate change and fostering security and peace, noting Morocco’s efforts to enhance scientific research in this area.

    For her part, Ms. Aawatif Hayar, Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family in the Kingdom of Morocco, underscored that all segments of society should be involved in space industries, particularly women, girls and people with special needs, adding that space science must be integrated into educational systems.

    Dr. Frédéric Ouattara, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation in Burkina Faso, stated that strengthening human resources is crucial for the success of any sustainable space project, underlining the importance of the expertise that universities in the African countries should provide.

    For his part, Dr. Modibo Diarra, Chairman of Microsoft Africa and Former NASA Expert, praised ICESCO’s efforts and its continuing cooperation with the Member States, institutions and universities, to equip the new generation with basic knowledge of space science.


    Dr. Sian Proctor, an Astronaut, shared her exceptional experience in this field and recounted how she realized her dream of exploring space, pointing out that space science should be accessible to all to serve humanity at large.

    Following the inaugural session, Ms. Shelli Brunswick, Chief Operating Officer at Space Foundation, moderated the first session on “Advancing Space Innovation with Global Partners,” which featured interventions by Dr. Shinichi Nakasuka, Professor in the Department of Aeronautics and Aerospace at the University of Tokyo, Dr. Moulay Lhassan Hbib, President of Cadi Ayyad University, Dr. Abdelaziz Benjouad, Vice President of UIR, Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of ICESCO’s Science and Technology Sector, Dr. Elchin Babayev, Rector of Baku State University, Ms. Christina Korp, Director of Space for a Better World, and Dr. Alim Rustem Aslan, Professor in the Department of Astronautical Engineering at Istanbul Technical University.

    ICESCO Participates in AUA 13th Congress in Rabat

    The Center of Strategic Foresight of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the 13th Congress of the Africa Union Architects (AUA), held in Rabat by the National Council of the Order of Architects (CNOA) of Morocco, in partnership with the Ministry of National Territory Planning, Land Planning, Housing and City Policy in Morocco and AUA, on July 4 and 5, 2022, to explore the profession of architect and the new challenges in the African continent, with the participation of officials and experts representing 40 African countries.

    Dr. Kais Hammami, Head of ICESCO Center of Strategic Foresight, delivered an address during the session “Public Policies and Urban Governance in Africa,” in which he reviewed the concepts of strategic and territorial foresight, highlighting the importance of these practices in the service of innovative and proactive urban governance. He also reviewed the themes of the study “The Future of the African Continent,” prepared by ICESCO’s Center of Strategic Foresight, which represents an opportunity to analyze the current scene, examine the available opportunities at the continental level, and simplify ways for development in Africa.

    Dr. Hammami concluded his address by noting that the contribution of foresight to local governance is based on both action and anticipation, given the endogenous nature of the development factors of each region.

    ICESCO Director-General Receives IOM Head of Mission in Morocco

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Ms. Laura Palatini, Head of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Morocco, to explore ways of strengthening cooperation between the Organization and the Mission in areas of mutual interest.

    During the meeting, held on Tuesday, June 5, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed the Organization’s eagerness, as part of its new vision and strategy, to strengthen cooperation and partnership with all stakeholders for the benefit of its Member States and Muslim communities around the world, noting that ICESCO accords great importance to programs and projects for sponsoring and building the capacities of youth, women and vulnerable groups, including immigrants, as well as to consolidate the values of peace, coexistence and civilizational dialogue to build a prosperous future for the world.

    For her part, Ms. Palatini highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two Organizations, to contribute to enhancing the creative capabilities of young people and achieving sustainable development.

    The two parties agreed to hold a series of meetings between ICESCO and IOM to renew the terms of the memorandum of understanding signed between the two Organizations to develop joint programs and projects related to enhancing the capacities of youth and women.

    The meeting brought together Ms. Amira El-Fadil, Head of ICESCO Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Ms. Reem Jirari, Head of the Department of Organizations and Bodies in the Sector.

    In Major International Celebration, Distribution of Certificates of Inscription on Islamic World Heritage Lists

    The Headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat hosted a major international celebration, on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, to distribute the certificates of inscription of heritage sites and elements on the Islamic World Heritage List to several ICESCO Member States’ ambassadors and representatives. The first-of-its-kind ceremony also witnessed the Presentation of the Heritage Sign Board of the Islamic World and a tribute to the members of the Islamic World Heritage Committee.


    The ceremony, which saw high-caliber participation, opened with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by an address by Dr. Mohamed Zinealabidine, Head of ICESCO Sector of Culture and Communication, who welcomed the attendees and expressed his delight at the organization of this event which commemorates the joint efforts of ICESCO and its Heritage Center and Islamic World Heritage Committee to inscribe the heritage sites and cultural elements of the Islamic world.

    In his welcoming address, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), stated that this historic moment highlights the essence of ICESCO’s new vision and its special journey in according due attention to the heritage of the Islamic world and promoting its civilizational landmarks which stand witness to the diversity and richness of Member States’ cultural heritage.

    The DG added that the Organization accords special attention to heritage as a component of nations’ culture and memory. “ICESCO worked toward reviving the Islamic World Heritage Committee, setting out clear standards and criteria for the inscription of heritage sites and cultural elements and selecting experts with extensive expertise in the field of human heritage”, the Director-General stated.


    Dr. AlMalik also called on the Member States to support the Islamic World Heritage Fund to support the Organization’s efforts to safeguard and preserve heritage in the Islamic world.

    In his address, Mr. Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication in the Kingdom of Morocco, congratulated the Member States for having inscribed their heritage on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage List, highlighting the Organization’s efforts to safeguard heritage, commending the key role of civil society institutions and bodies in supporting these efforts.

    Dr. Walid Al-Seif, Chairman of the Islamic World Heritage Committee, lauded the organization of this ceremony, which is considered a first in the history of the Organization since its inception. The Chairman also thanked the ICESCO Director-General for his support of the Committee’s work, calling on the Member States to inscribe more of their heritage sites and cultural elements to reach 1000 sites and elements by 2025.

    ICESCO International Symposium: Role of Civil Society is vital for Promoting and Safeguarding Heritage

    In a bid to promote the role of the civil society institutions in promoting and protecting cultural heritage, exchanging expertise in this field, and addressing its issues from a global standpoint, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Rabat Salé Mémoire Association organized a colloquium on “Role of Civil Society in Cultural Heritage Policy.” The event saw high-caliber participation including heritage officials and experts and a large number of heritage protection associations in the Kingdom of Morocco and other Arab and African countries.

    This symposium was held at ICESCO Headquarters, today, Tuesday, July 5, 2022, as part of the Programme of the celebration of Rabat as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022. The Colloquium reflects ICESCO’s vision and working strategy in the field of safeguarding and promoting the heritage of the Islamic world through opening up and cooperating with the competent parties in the Member States and the civil society institutions concerned with protecting tangible and intangible heritage.


    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), addressed the participants at the opening session and noted that civil society is a key element in the effective planning and implementation of heritage protection activities, given its functional abilities to support government authorities in this field. He added that guided by international standards, ICESCO accords special attention to building the capacities of professionals working in the various fields of cultural heritage.

    In addition, the DG announced that ICESCO will soon publish a collection of textbooks and guidebooks on the various forms of heritage and ways to deal with them, stating that ICESCO works on developing university heritage curricula and training programs, in cooperation with civil society institutions active in the field of heritage.

    In his address, Mr. Mohammed Fikri Benabdallah, President of Rabat Salé Mémoire Association, expressed his delight at the fruitful partnership between the Association and ICESCO, noting that urban heritage is key in light of the rapidly changing international context. He also highlighted the efforts of the Kingdom of Morocco to promote heritage.


    For his part, Mr. Mohamed Mahdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, highlighted the event’s importance, reaffirming the status of Rabat as a city of coexistence between various cultures.

    Taking the floor next, Mr. Abdelkrim Bennani, President of Ribat Al-Fath Association, talked about the role of the civil society in casting light on shortcomings in dealing with historical and civilizational landmarks and intellectual productions, stressing the need to adopt a participatory vision that engages all stakeholders in heritage protection.

    As for Mr. Noureddine Chemaou, President of Bouregreg Association, he highlighted the roles of the civil society in promoting cultural heritage and talked about his association’s efforts to safeguard heritage and promote its cultural components, stressing the importance of fostering cultural heritage industries.


    At the close of the opening session, a framework agreement was signed between ICESCO and the Rabat Salé Mémoire Association for cooperation in the field of heritage.

    The first session of the colloquium discussed the role of civil society in the Kingdom of Morocco in promoting cultural heritage, while the second focused on leading experiences in cultural heritage promotion in the Islamic world.

    Inscription of 141 Sites and Elements on ICESCO’s IWHL

    The Islamic World Heritage Committee (IWHC), during the final report of its 10th meeting, held at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, on Monday, July 4, 2022, decided to inscribe 141 historical sites and cultural elements on the Final and Tentative Islamic World Heritage Lists (IWHL). The total number of inscriptions on ICESCO’s IWHL has reached 473 historical sites and cultural elements from 34 countries.

    After examining the files submitted for inscription on ICESCO’s IWHL, IWHC decided to inscribe 49 historical sites and cultural elements on the Final List, including 21 historical sites (tangible heritage) and 28 cultural elements (intangible heritage), from 10 ICESCO Member States, and 80 files on the Tentative List, including 61 historical sites (tangible heritage) and 19 cultural elements (intangible heritage) from 8 countries.

    The decisions issued by the Committee at its 10th meeting also included the establishment of a new list under the name: “List of Best Practices for Safeguarding the Elements of Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage,” the adoption of an IWHC achievements report between the two sessions of 2019 and 2022 and the adoption of the vision of the Islamic world Heritage Center (IWHC) for the valorization of heritage within the 2022-2023 action plan. The Committee also adopted the “ICESCO Young Ambassadors Program for the Islamic World Heritage” and decided that the duration of the first cycle of the Program would be two years, aiming to train 3000 young men and women and selecting 30 ambassadors from among them, provided that they will represent the three geographical regions of the Organization’s Member States.

    The Committee’s Members authorized the IWHC Head to review the book “Heritage of the Islamic World”, the first part of which was prepared by the Committee’s General Secretariat based on a previous decision, and to make the necessary amendments to it, with the help of the expert of the Scientific Assistance Committee and to prepare the final version for printing and distributing to the Member States.

    The IWHC’s 10th Meeting brought together representatives of the following Member States: The State of Kuwait, the Republic of Iraq, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Cameroon, the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of the Scientific Committee from the Kingdom of Moroccan). Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia and the Federal Republic of Nigeria did not attend the Meeting.

    ICESCO Honors Participants in Project Management Training Session

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), presided over, on Monday 4th July 2022, the closing ceremony of the training session on project management, held by ICESCO in partnership with the Institut des Hautes Études de Management (HEM) in Casablanca, for the benefit of the experts and staff of the Organization’s Departments and Centers, with a view to developing their skills and strengthening their capacities in preparing and proposing projects.

    The DG presented to the participants the certificates of completion of the five-day session that included training on the basics of project management, scheduling action plans for their implementation, identification of ways to create an appropriate environment for their success, and the necessary financial and human resources, preparation of reports and evaluation and follow-up documents, and allocation of the project budget, determining stakeholders, as well as identification of potential risks and challenges.

    In his speech at the ceremony which was attended by the heads of ICESCO’s Sectors and Departments, Dr. AlMalik expressed his appreciation of the efforts made by the experts of HEM and the participants in the session aimed at enhancing the skills of the Organization’s human resources.

    For her part, Mrs. Amira El Fadil, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector at ICESCO, stressed the importance of the training session to enhance the skills of ICESCO staff to train them to submit project proposals that the Organization could adopt as future projects, indicating that the session is the first in a series of upcoming training sessions.

    In his turn, Dr. Kais Hammami, Head of ICESCO’s Strategic Foresight Center, welcomed the partnership initiative between the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, the Strategic Foresight Center, ICESCO’s Department of Administrative Affairs and HEM, pointing out that there is a need to continue the training sessions that combine theory and practice.