Category: Director General

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Ministry of Culture of the Arab Republic of Egypt have officially launched the celebration of Cairo as Culture Capital in the Islamic World with a ceremony organized by the Ministry in concert with the Organization. The ceremony was held on the evening of Sunday, April 10, 2022, at the Roman Amphitheater on the northern wall of Fatimid Cairo, and saw the presence of high-level officials of the Egyptian government, ambassadors of Arab and foreign countries to Egypt, members of the Egyptian House of Representatives and Senate, public figures, writers, intellectuals, artists, along with a wide public.

The year-long celebration of Cairo as Culture Capital in the Islamic World, which was scheduled for 2020, but has been postponed to 2022 due to the COVID- 19 pandemic, is held as part of ICESCO’s Programme for Culture Capitals in the Islamic World. The celebration’s program consists of 149 different activities, ranging from training courses and workshops to competitions, exhibitions and artistic performances, in which all sectors of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and various official cooperating parties will take part. The four-day inaugural program includes a vast array of activities, notably the opening of the “Cairo, Culture Capital in the Islamic World in Egyptian Archives” Exhibition organized by the General Authority for National Library and Archives, a book fair organized in cooperation between the General Authority for Books, the General Authority for Cultural Palaces and the National Center for Translation, a fine arts exhibition organized in cooperation between the Fine Arts Sector and the General Authority for Cultural Palaces, and an Arabic calligraphy exhibition organized by the Cultural Development Fund.

Before the start of the ceremony, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), Dr. Ines Abdel-Dayem, Egyptian Minister of Culture, and Major General Khaled Abdel Aal, Governor of Cairo, toured these exhibitions and listened to each presentation. They then answered the journalists’ questions during a press conference that saw the attendance of various Egyptian, Arab and foreign media outlets.

At the onset of the ceremony, ICESCO DG delivered an address in which he hailed the rich history of Cairo, the city of a thousand minarets, which was marked by the succession of several civilizations, and yet successfully preserved its prominence and heritage. He also reviewed Cairo’s most prominent luminaries and emblematic heritage sites, namely Al-Azhar Mosque, the Cairo Opera House and the House of Books.

Dr. AlMalik also praised the achievements that Cairo has undertaken within the framework of Egypt Vision 2030, the ambitious national strategy currently implemented under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, to fulfill the hopes of the Egyptian peoples who “mastered the art of living, catch sun rays, and bring hope to all.”

ICESCO DG conveyed his thanks to the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, represented by Minister Ines Abdel-Dayem, and the Egyptian National Commission, represented by its Chairman, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Egyptian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, President of ICESCO’s General Conference. In conclusion of his address, Dr. AlMalik extended his gratitude to all those who contributed to the celebration of Cairo, Culture Capital of the Islamic World, and recited a poem that he composed on Egypt and Cairo.

The Egyptian Minister of Culture began her address by thanking ICESCO and its Director-General for selecting Cairo as the culture capital in the Islamic world, noting that the city stands as a monument to harmonious coexistence, which earned the status of beacon of culture, civilization and enlightenment throughout ages, enumerating Cairo’s abundant landmarks that make the city a distinguished haven for cultural diversity.

She added that the celebration is a fresh, post-pandemic start for Cairo in 2022 that will enable the city to showcase its culture and civilization to the entire world through several cultural and artistic activities that reflect Cairo’s civilizational and cultural richness, which bear witness to the city’s ancient history.

ICESCO DG then handed over the flag of Cairo, Culture Capital in the Islamic World to the Egyptian Minister of Culture. The Minister then presented ICESCO DG with the celebration’s shield and a copy of the commemorative stamp issued by the Egyptian Postal Authority on this occasion.

The ceremony featured the announcement of the launch of an exceptional session of the Turathi Photography Competition, organized by the National Organization for Urban Harmony (NOUH), in cooperation with ICESCO, for photographers in Egypt and the other ICESCO Member States to draw inspiration from the abundance of the Islamic architectural heritage. The ceremony also featured the screening of a documentary entitled “Cairo,” produced by the Cinema Palace, and the “Here is Cairo” Operetta produced by the General Authority for Cultural Palaces, and concluded with an art show by the Sufi chanting troupe “Al-Hadra.”

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met Ambassador Nabila Makram Abdel Shaheed, Minister of State for Immigration and Egyptians Abroad Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, where they discussed prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and the Ministry in areas of common interest.

During the meeting, held on Sunday (April 10, 2022), at the Ministry’s headquarters in Cairo, Dr. Al-Malik reviewed ICESCO’s forward-looking vision and the mainlines of its strategic orientations by 2025, which adopts an open-door approach for cooperation with all parties to serve the Member States and Muslim communities around the world.

Besides, Dr. AlMalik pointed out that ICESCO devotes special attention to training and building the capacities of young people in leadership for peace and security to consolidate the values of coexistence and civilizational dialogue. “In a bid to promote the status of the Arabic language, ICESCO has established the Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers as well as several regional centers to contribute to the preservation of the identity of young people in the Islamic world and the children of Muslim immigrants, especially the second and third generations,” he added.

For her part, Ambassador Nabila Makram welcomed Dr. AlMalik and his delegation and reviewed the main axes and objectives of the presidential initiative “Speak Arabic” that the Ministry of Immigration launched under the kind patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to foil any attempts to destabilize the identity of Egyptians living abroad, strengthen their spirit of patriotism, and consolidate the values of peaceful coexistence, citizenship and acceptance of the other.

The Minister referred to her meeting with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, which touched upon the developments of the presidential initiative “Speak Arabic,” stressing that the President gave his instructions to expand the scope of the interactive educational programs aimed at linking Egyptian youth abroad to their homeland and urging them to learn Arabic and consolidate their Egyptian identity.

The meeting also discussed proposals for cooperation between ICESCO and the Ministry within the framework of the Celebration of Cairo, Culture Capital in the Islamic World. The proposals mainly focus on the mechanisms for disseminating the messages of the “Speak Arabic” initiative, emphasizing its importance and promoting its objectives, foremost of which is the preservation of identity.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Arab Republic of Egypt, President of the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, President of ICESCO’s General Conference, explored the latest developments regarding cooperation between ICESCO and Egypt in the Organization’s areas of competence.

At the beginning of the meeting, held on Sunday, April 10, 2022, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Higher Education in Cairo, the Director-General reiterated his thanks to His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El Sisi for his kind patronage and attendance of the opening of the 14th Session of ICESCO’s General Conference. He also extended his thanks to the Egyptian Government, represented by Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, for Egypt’s hosting of ICESCO’s Executive Council and General Conference at the New Administrative Capital last December, commending the high level of organization and the warm hospitality the ICESCO Member States’ delegations received during their participation in these two major events, all factors that contributed to their success.

The meeting, which was attended by Dr. Ghada Abdel Bari, Secretary-General of the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, reviewed the outcomes of key programs and activities implemented in cooperation between ICESCO and the Egyptian competent authorities last year. The meeting also discussed the programs and activities to be implemented in cooperation between the two parties this year, particularly those implemented within the framework of the celebration of Cairo as Culture Capital in the Islamic World such as ICESCO’s Young Professionals Program.

Likewise, Dr. AlMalik and Dr. Abdel Ghaffar discussed the arrangements for setting up an education fund and supporting young talents in the Islamic world, as proposed by H.E. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi during his attendance at the opening of ICESCO’s General Conference and the Global Forum of Higher Education.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties reaffirmed their keenness to sustain their efforts to consolidate the special cooperation relations between ICESCO and the Arab Republic of Egypt in the Organization’s areas of competence. They also agreed that such cooperation can be developed through goal-oriented programs and activities, agreed upon based on the priorities and needs of each specialized Egyptian authority. Likewise, the two parties stressed the need to sustain expert meetings to layout and follow up on the implementation of these programs.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), called for investing in modern knowledge and technologies and for developing and training human capital to build advanced societies capable of meeting challenges. He also pointed out that ICESCO’s vision adopts openness to all international organizations, bodies and institutions specialized in space sciences to cooperate in solving future challenges and contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.

This was part of Dr. AlMalik’s speech at the Symposium, which was delivered on his behalf by Dr. Muhammad Sharif, advisor to ICESCO’s Science and Technology Sector, at the end of the 37th Space Symposium, held by the American Space Foundation between 4 and 7 April 2022, in Colorado, USA, with the participation of astronauts, high-level officials from space agencies from all over the world, as well as from the private sector operating in this field.

In his speech, Dr. AlMalik said that ICESCO is working to raise awareness of the importance of space science and technology and to build the youth’s capacities in the Islamic world, in cooperation with several academic, industrial and ministerial bodies in the Member States, to contribute to their training for the jobs of the tomorrow and to promote equal opportunities within societies.

At the end of his speech, Dr. AlMalik stressed that the ongoing technological boom requires the federation of efforts to invest and innovate in digitization and space sciences to benefit from their applications and the opportunities they offer across borders, cultures and traditions.

ICESCO’s participation in this session of the Symposium is part of its new vision and action strategy, which adopts cooperation with its Member States in promoting space sciences and investing in their applications, the aim being to anticipate future challenges, keep up with global scientific developments, promote peace and achieve sustainable development.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) paid tribute to the young people who spend a period of professional training as interns in one of ICESCO’s sectors, departments and centers. On this occasion, ICESCO organized a major celebration which saw the participation of a number of key figures in the Islamic world, who shared their successful experiences and gave valuable pieces of advice to the young people to help them stand out and succeed on their professional life.

The ceremony was held today, Friday, April 1st 2022, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, in recognition of the efforts and achievements of the young men and women who spent internship periods at ICESCO. The ceremony was also an opportunity to highlight ICESCO’s Young Professionals Program which was launched on March 23rd, 2022.

In his address, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, stated that interns exerted remarkable efforts in service of ICESCO and worked with dedication and integrity to contribute to the preparation of its activities and programs across the Organization’s sectors, departments and centers.

Dr. AlMalik added that both nations and institutions prosper with the visions of their youth, given their renewal spirit and different perspectives likely to impact the world. “We are living in a rapidly changing world as a result of significant technological revolution, led by young people”, the Director-General stated.

Likewise, the Director-General gave the young interns several pieces of advice, notably respecting the values of integrity, dedication, honesty, good manners and perfection. He also stressed the importance of having clear goals to strive to achieve, the ability to understand and accept other views and the need to be kind to parents.

Taking the floor next was Mr Nasreddine Nsibi, Tunisian Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, who stated that ICESCO’s Young Professionals Program aims to lay down a practical strategy to build the future. For her part, Dr. Afnan Al Shuaiby, Executive Director of the Women Development Organization, talked about her experience as a young intern and the skills she learned in her early professional training days.

ICESCO officials also gave addresses at the ceremony, including Dr. Nidal Muhammad Abuzuhri, Head of ICESCO Administrative Affairs, who noted that professional training is one of ICESCO’s main priorities as part of the Organization’s new vision. As for Mr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Head of ICESCO Legal Affairs, he gave a detailed presentation on ICESCO’s Young Professionals Program and highlighted its goals.

Afterwards, a video was screened where interns talk about their internships at ICESCO. Another video was screened about ICESCO’s journey to obtain the ISO certification (9001:2015) for quality management system whose files were prepared with the participation of interns.

The ceremony featured remarks by Mr. Samir Benmakhlouf, Former CEO of Microsoft Morocco, Ms. Instantly Benalluch, Moroccan social media influences, Mr. Mohammed Amine Zariat, Social Entrepreneur, and Mr. Amine Belghazi, Interpersonal Communication and Soft Skills Coach. The speakers talked about their personal experiences and gave advice to the young interns.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a major international celebration, both at its headquarters and via videoconference, on Thursday (March 31, 2022), under the theme “Perspectives of Women’s Poetry.”| The event brought together creative women poets, some of whom have won the ICESCO Women’s Poetry Prize “Poem of the Year of Women 2021.” ICESCO also released the first edition of its collection (diwan) “Women’s Poetry Shining in Darkness (Hina Asrajna adayajira shi’ran)” and the launch of the ICESCO Women Poets Forum.

ICESCO held this event to celebrate International Poetry Day and mark the close of ICESCO Year for Women 2021, which was honored by the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. The celebration saw the participation of high-level officials, diplomats and creative poets from the Islamic world.

At the outset of the ceremony, the participants listened to a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran followed by the presentation by Ambassador Khaled Fathalrahman, Director of ICESCO Center for Civilizational Dialogue, wherein he welcomed the participants, noting that this celebration gathers a host of distinguished women poets to celebrate their achievements.

In his address, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, noted that the poem has always been a witness to history and peoples’ dreams, adding that the rhyme listens to our passion and the celebration the World Poetry Day is a universal celebration of the human civilization, which is based on tolerance, coexistence and peace. “This celebration shows our pride in poetry because we are a nation of poetry par excellence” he underscored.

He reaffirmed that this celebration, marking the close of ICESCO Year for Women 2021 and the start of the Celebration of Rabat, Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022, is part of our effort for a brighter future and a sign that poetry will always remain a source of hope, optimism and brilliance.

At the close of his address, ICESCO Director-General announced the launch of the ICESCO Women Poets Forum as a new space for creativity. The participants then watched a video featuring Dr. AlMalik’s poem “Im’a Fi Yawm Achi’r (Gesture in the Day of Poetry)”, read out by Majdouline Bencherif, as well as another video of Ambassador Fathalrahman’s poem “Sawtuha Wa Zaman (Women’s Poetry Throughout History).”

During the opening session, the Lebanese poet, Nada El Hage, read some of the poems from her collection ‘Aber Adahcha’, commending ICESCO’s Celebration and highlighting her love for the Kingdom of Morocco and the spiritual connection she has with this country.

After that, ICESCO Director-General awarded ICESCO Prize for Women’s Poetry along with certificates of appreciation to the three winners, namely Hajar Muhammad Omar from the Republic of Egypt, Sherihan Al-Tayeb Kalbash Daleel from the Republic of The Sudan, and Laila Naji Ali Al-Omari from the Republic of Yemen. ICESCO also revealed the first release of its collection “Women’s Poetry Shining in Darkness (Hina Asrajna adayajira shi’ran),” which includes the distinguished poems that participated in the competition.

During the first session, the first and second winners, Hajar Omar and Sherihan Al-Tayeb Kalbash Daleel recited their respective winning poems “Hya Saydatu al-Ard (Lady of Earth)” and “Mir’at Lavinus.”

Afterward, ICESCO honored the Moroccan poet Fatima Bouhraka, who expressed her happiness and dedicated her second book, which is part of her series, entitled “Encyclopedia of Contemporary Arab Women’s Poetry between 1950 and 2020” to ICESCO.

In the following sessions, the participants enjoyed listening to the distinguished poems of the ICESCO Women’s Poetry Competition, in rhythm with the music.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) officially concluded its “ICESCO Year of Women 2021,” launched last year under the theme “Women for the Future,” under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco.

Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem, Chairwoman of the National Union of Moroccan Women (UNFM), chaired the official ceremony, which took place on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, with the presence of high-level officials and leading women figures in different fields from Morocco and the Islamic world.

After a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), delivered an address in which he stated that it is a distinct pleasure to celebrate the conclusion of the ICESCO Year of Women 2021 under the high royal patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, and with the gracious presence of H.R.H. Princess Lalla Meryem, who has always shown great interest in women issues.

ICESCO DG noted that this celebration is not fortuitous, but is rather a carefully-thought-out initiative aimed at paying homage to women for being at the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19, one of the most deleterious crises in contemporary history that impacted all aspects of our lives and had serious repercussions on various fields.
He also reviewed the key programmes and activities held as part of ICESCO’s Year of Women 2021, notably:

• ICESCO Program for Building Women’s Entrepreneurial Capacity.
• ICESCO Program for Improving Sanitation Services in Rural Schools;
• Celebrating International Days and dedicating them to women;
• ICESCO Peace Ambassadors Program;
• Allocating ICESCO prizes to women;
• Establishing ICESCO Scientific Chairs for Women;
• The “Women Pioneers Around the World” Program.

In conclusion of his address, Dr. AlMalik conveyed his gratitude to H.R.H. Princess Lalla Meryem for gracing the event with her generous presence, extending thanks to the honorable guests, before reciting a poem that he composed in recognition of women’s role in society.

The “Awareness Bells on the Role of Women in the Future of the Islamic World” were then launched, followed by the Princess’s visit to an exhibition showcasing handicrafts and products made by Moroccan women’s cooperatives.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Ms. Camélia Ntoutoume Leclercq, Minister of National Education of the Republic of Gabon, and together they explored prospects of cooperation between ICESCO and Gabon in the fields of education and women empowerment.

At the beginning of the meeting, held Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik congratulated Ms. Leclercq on her appointment as Minister of National Education in Gabon, wishing her all success in assuming this great responsibility. Dr. AlMalik also thanked the Minister for accepting ICESCO’s invitation to attend ICESCO’s closing ceremony of the Year of Women 2021, which was granted the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco.

For her part, the Gabonese Minister expressed her delight to visit ICESCO Headquarters and conveyed the greetings of the Prime Minister of Gabon, who she represents in the ceremony. The Minister also noted that Gabon takes great pride in its special partnership with ICESCO, which first saw the light in October 2021, when the Director-General visited Libreville and met with senior Gabonese officials, most notably, H.E. President Ali Bongo.

The meeting addressed areas of ongoing cooperation between ICESCO and Gabon, the key programs and activities recently implemented in the country, and the visit of the ICESCO delegation to Libreville to take stock of the priorities and needs of Gabon in the fields of education, science and culture in the next period.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties reiterated their keenness to maintain the fruitful cooperation between ICESCO and Gabon, especially in the fields of education, women empowerment and youth capacity building.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met Ms. Benita Diop, African Union Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security. The meeting discussed the prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and the African Union for supporting and building women’s capacities and consolidating the values of coexistence and peace.

At the outset of the meeting, held at ICESCO Headquarters, in Rabat, Ms. Diop thanked Dr. AlMalik for the invitation to attend the closing ceremony of ICESCO Year of Women 2021, commending the Organization’s programs and activities to support women and enhance their roles.
For his part, ICESCO DG stressed that supporting women is part of the priorities of the Organization’s new vision and action strategy. 2021 was proclaimed as the Year of Women in appreciation of the great roles that women play at all levels. The end of this celebration does not imply the discontinuation of the programs and activities implemented to support women in the Members States and encourage policies aimed at achieving gender equality.

The meeting touched on the prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and the African Union for supporting women and building their capacities.

In conclusion, the two parties agreed to hold expert meetings to agree on several programs and activities of cooperation.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Isatou Touray, Vice-president of the Republic of the Gambia, and together they explored prospects of cooperation between ICESCO and the Gambia in the fields of education, science and culture.

During the meeting, held on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik expressed his thanks to Dr. Touray for accepting ICESCO’s invitation to attend the closing ceremony of ICESCO’s Year of Women 2021, which was granted the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco.
For her part, the Gambian Vice-president expressed her delight to take part in this ceremony in support of ICESCO’s determination to empower and build the capacities of the women in the Member States, commending the initiatives, programs and activities held as part of the Organization’s celebration of women.

The meeting was attended by several ICESCO’s leaderships and reviewed the main focuses of the Organization’s vision and strategic orientations by 2025, which are based on extensive communication with the Member States to identify their priorities and needs in order to design the appropriate programs and activities for each country. The ICESCO officials also gave an overview of the many programs the Organization is implementing in cooperation with the competent authorities in the Member States.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed to hold expert meetings between ICESCO and the Gambian competent authorities to identify programs and activities that can be the stepping stone for fruitful cooperation and partnership between the two parties.