Category: Director General

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Muslim World League and the Mohammadia League of Scholars in the Kingdom of Morocco announced the launch of arrangements for hosting the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah, based in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah and Makkah Al-Mukarrama, in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco. This major project will be organized under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco, may Allah assist him, as part of the Celebration of Rabat as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022.

The three institutions made this announcement following a meeting between H.E. Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General; H.E. Dr. Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary-General of the League; and H.E. Dr. Nasser bin Musfir Al-Qurashi Al-Zahrani, Board Secretary of Exhibitions and Museums at the Muslim World League, who represented Dr. Muhammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the League. The meeting also saw the participation of officials from the three institutions.

At the beginning of the meeting, held Friday 25 February 2022, at the headquarters of the Mohammedia League of Scholars, the parties expressed their heartfelt thanks to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, for his high patronage, support and royal instructions to host this major landmark and facilitate all related procedures.

The meeting discussed the arrangements for hosting the Exhibition and Museum and agreed on the necessary organizational measures for this civilizational project, which numerous Arab and Muslim Capitals compete to hold.

In the same vein, given its special location in Rabat as well as its equipped and modern halls and infrastructure, the three parties agreed to host the Exhibition and Museum at ICESCO Headquarters, to tour its facilities and set the measures for the Exhibition and take stock of building plans and the infrastructure prepared for this purpose to ensure that the Exhibition is open to visitors shortly.

The International Exhibition and Museum of Prophet’s Seerah, which is based in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, receives the special attention and high patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, may Allah preserve him, and the Crown Prince, HRH Prince Mohamed bin Salman, may Allah preserve him. The Exhibition seeks to highlight the message of Islam which promotes justice, peace, mercy, tolerance, coexistence and moderation, based on the Holy Quran, the Noble Sunnah and the long-standing Islamic history. The Exhibition employs advanced technology to give visitors a real-life experience of the Seerah and historical events. The Exhibition is considered an international and civilizational landmark which was visited by kings, leaders and scholars and was commended by preachers and more than a thousand specialized experts.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Patrick Mouguiama-Daouda, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, Technology Transfer and National Education, President of the Gabonese National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, to explore cooperation developments between ICESCO and Gabon in the fields of Education, science and culture.

During the meeting, held on Friday, February 25, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, the two parties renewed their eagerness to strengthen relations between the Organization and Gabon, through the Gabonese National Commission for Education, Science and Culture. This distinguished cooperation witnessed great development and a new starting point after the official visit of Dr. AlMlik to Gabon in October 2021 and the talks he held with senior officials there, as well as the meeting with His Excellency Ali Bongo, President of the Gabonese Republic, at the presidential palace in the capital, Libreville.

ICESCO DG reiterated his gratitude to the Gabonese leadership and government for their hospitality during his visit, pointing out that ICESCO organized several training sessions and workshops in Gabon by relying on the Organization’s experts from the Culture and Communication Sector and the Center for Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers.

Dr. Daouda reaffirmed the Gabonese President’s personal interest in cooperation with ICESCO, commending the Organization’s achievements and its strategic orientations, which were reviewed during ICESCO’s Executive Council and General Conference in the Arab Republic of Egypt in December.

The meeting touched upon areas of common interest between ICESCO and Gabon, mainly education, women and youth capacity building, heritage inscription and introducing Gabonese culture, through organizing a cultural week within the framework of celebrating Culture Capitals in the Islamic world.

At the outset of the meeting, the two parties agreed to hold periodic meetings between experts from ICESCO’s various sectors and departments and the concerned Gabonese authorities, with the National Commission coordination, to identify Gabon’s priorities, design appropriate programs and activities and develop their implementation plans.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Sheikh Dr. Nasser Bin Misfer Al-Zahrani, Secretary-General of the Exhibitions and Museums of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization, and his accompanying delegation. The meeting aimed at exploring means to enhance cooperation between the Organization and the League and discussing implementation arrangements of joint civilizational programmes and projects geared towards promoting the Islamic civilization and presenting a true portrayal of the Islamic values and principles.
At the outset of the meeting, held on Thursday, February 24, 2022, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. Al-Zahrani conveyed greetings from Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL), to Dr. AlMalik, and reaffirmed the League’s keenness to sustain cooperation with ICESCO towards the attainment of shared objectives.

For his part, ICESCO DG noted that the Organization takes pride in its partnership with MWL given their common objectives of anchoring justice, peace, mercy, tolerance and moderation, and dispelling misconceptions about Islam.
The two parties discussed the latest developments in their partnership, reviewed their future joint programmes and agreed on holding continuous meetings between their respective experts to develop implementation plans for these programmes.

Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Ms. Louisette Renée Thobi Etame-Ndedi, Secretary-General of the Conference of Ministers of Youth and Sports of the Francophonie (CONFEJES). The meeting explored ways to strengthen cooperation between the two parties within the framework of their agreement, signed in March 2021.
During the meeting, held on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at ICESCO headquarters, in Rabat, Dr. Al-Malik reiterated that ICESCO’s new vision and action strategy attach particular importance to youth capacity-building in its Member States.
“The Organization has implemented numerous programs and training sessions, including the Youth Leadership Training in Peace and Security, which has trained 30 ICESCO Ambassadors for Peace from 24 countries inside and outside the Islamic world, in addition to the Support Program for Young Entrepreneurs in Technology and Innovation,” the DG added.

For her part, Ms. Louise Renée Thobi stressed CONFEJES’s keenness to cooperate with ICESCO on a set of programs for the benefit of young people.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed to strengthen cooperation in their areas of common interest and hold expert meetings to consider a set of practical programs and develop implementation plans.

The meeting also brought together Dr. Boly Barry Koumbou, Head of Education Sector, Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of Social and Human Sciences Sector, and Ms. Sally Mabrouk, Director of the Director General’s Cabinet.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Sheikh Abdullah bin Thamer bin Mohammed bin Thani Al Thani, Qatar’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, and together they explored ways to strengthen the distinguished cooperation between the Organization and the State of Qatar.

Dr. AlMalik began the meeting, held on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, by congratulating the Qatari Ambassador on his appointment as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, wishing him every success and emphasizing ICESCO’s keenness to further the existing cooperation and partnership with several institutions and authorities in the State of Qatar, in concert with the Qatari National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.

ICESCO DG reviewed the main thrusts of the Organization’s new vision and action strategy that rest upon communication and consultation with the Member States in designing programmes and activities that are implemented in cooperation between ICESCO and the competent authorities in each country. He also noted the Organization’s openness to non-Member States as well as international organizations and bodies that is underpinned by the endeavor to serve the Islamic world countries and Muslim communities around the world.

Dr. AlMalik explained that ICESCO attaches great importance to building the capacities of young people and women and anchoring the values of coexistence, peace and dialogue among civilizations.

“ICESCO is committed to contributing to the development of scientific research in the Member States, encouraging them to invest in space sciences and harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to advance the fields of education, science and culture,” added ICESCO DG.

During the meeting, the two parties discussed cooperation between ICESCO and the State of Qatar in various fields and the success of the celebration of Doha as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2021.

For his part, the Qatari Ambassador commended his country’s cooperation with ICESCO, stressing Qatar’s keenness to strengthen partnership in the Organization’s areas of competence.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Enrique Graue Wiechers, President of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, explored prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and the University, especially in the areas of developing scientific research, granting scholarships, organizing training sessions and exchanging experiences with Member Universities of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW).

During the meeting, held today, Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, with the participation of the delegation accompanying the President of the National Autonomous University of Mexico and several ICESCO leaders, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the key components of the new vision and the organization’s action strategy, which prioritize cooperation and opening up to prestigious international universities around the world and enhance cooperation between them and FUIW Member Universities in terms of developing scientific research, conducting joint research, sharing experiences between faculties and student exchange through scholarships.

ICESCO DG reviewed the Organization’s key programs and actions in its fields of competence, mainly programs to support young people and girls and train them on leadership for peace and security and to consolidate a culture of coexistence and civilized dialogue. ICESCO further urges Member States to invest in space science as it is the science of the future and to take advantage of the potentials offered by AI applications to achieve sustainable development.

The meeting also touched upon proposals for cooperation between ICESCO and the University in areas of common interest, including scientific chairs, granting scholarships for students and enhancing cooperation with universities in the Islamic world. In this regard, the two sides agreed to prepare a cooperation agreement based on practical programs and initiatives, which will be signed soon.

For his part, Dr. Enrique Graue Wiechers valued ICESCO’s roles in its fields of competence, its approach of openness to educational and research institutions and its support for studies and scientific research, stressing that this meeting is a starting point for constructive cooperation between ICESCO and the National Autonomous University of Mexico to exchanging science, culture, thought and research networking.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), took part in the inaugural ceremony of the Executive Bureau of the Pan-African Youth Union. The ceremony was held as part of the inauguration of the new Union headquarters in Rabat, Morocco, which saw the participation of Mr. Mahdi Bensaid, Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, the president of the Youth African Union, members of the Union’s Executive Bureau and several youth ministers of African countries.

The Pan-African Youth Union is an entity dedicated to young people and youth national councils at the African Union and aims to promote the principles and values of peace, democracy and sustainable development to achieve African complementarity.

In his address at the ceremony, held on Monday 21 February 2022, at the archeological site Challah in Rabat, Mr. Bensaid stressed that Africa is a space for solidarity among nations, intercultural dialogue, openness and substantial potential, reaffirming that youth is Africa’s promising asset for a better future.

Morocco and the Union signed in November 2021 an agreement to transfer its headquarters to Rabat, in harmony with the Kingdom’s keen interest in youth and investment in African human capital.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary-General of Mohammadia League of Scholars, examined the cooperation developments and the main joint programs and activities for the succeeding period.

During the meeting, held on Friday (February 18, 2022), at the League headquarters, in Rabat, in the presence of several officials from the League and ICESCO, the two parties underlined their desire to continue fruitful cooperation in the areas of common interest.

The meeting also examined the programs and activities of cooperation between the two parties in 2022, particularly the publication of the second volume of the Encyclopedia on the Deconstruction of the Discourse of Extremism, the first volume of which was published, in July 2021, as part of the partnership agreement between the two parties. This project aims at protecting young Muslims against various extremist and hate speech inside and outside the Islamic world.

ICESCO and the League also discussed the arrangements for holding the 2nd International Conference on the Civilizational Values ​​in the Prophet’s Seerah, the first session of which was held in May 2021, under the theme “Towards a Future Vision of the Prophet’s Seerah,” in partnership between ICESCO, the Mohammadia League of Scholars and the Muslim World League, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
Moreover, the two parties explored the League’s participation in ICESCO’s Leadership Training for Peace and Security Program (2022 edition), which benefited 30 young men and women from 24 countries in the Islamic world and beyond, to benefit from League’s publications on the dissemination of peace.
At the end of the meeting, the two parties agreed to hold other meetings to strengthen their partnership and design the implementation plans of the joint programs and activities.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received today (Thursday, February 17th, 2022) at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Ambassador Yasser Mostafa Othman, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Kingdom of Morocco, and discussed ways and means of strengthening the outstanding cooperation relations between ICESCO and Egypt in the fields of education, science and culture.

At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik reiterated his thanks to H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sissi for sponsoring and inaugurating ICESCO’s 14th General Conference, hosted by Egypt on 8-9 December 2021, and for his initiative to grant 100 scholarships to students from the Islamic world in Egyptian universities. He also thanked the Egyptian government, represented by Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Chairman of the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, as well as all the officials of the Commission, for the good organization of ICESCO’s Executive Council and General Conference in Cairo, and for the generous hospitality extended to the delegations participating in these two events.

The Director-General also congratulated Egypt’s Ambassador on the beginning of his mandate in the Kingdom of Morocco, wishing him every success.

Dr. AlMalik reviewed the main programs implemented by the Organization, within the framework of its new vision and strategic orientations based on openness and cooperation with all stakeholders for the benefit of Member States and Muslim communities worldwide. He underscored ICESCO’s interest in promoting the culture of foresight, promoting the values of peace, civilizational dialogue and coexistence, and strengthening the capacities of women and youth. He also urged Member States to invest in space sciences and sustain the efforts geared to benefit from the capabilities offered by modern technologies and artificial intelligence applications, with a view to achieving sustainable development.

The meeting touched also upon the main cooperation programmes between ICESCO and Egypt in the Organization’s fields of action, notably the celebration of Cairo as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022, which was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cairo’s celebration this year coincides with the celebration of the Moroccan capital Rabat as Culture Capital, and is part of the development of ICESCO’s program of Culture Capitals in the Islamic World, which offers opportunities for exchange and organization of joint activities between the two capitals.

For his part, the Egyptian Ambassador affirmed his country’s strong support for ICESCO and its Director-General, in recognition of the pioneering role played by the Organization in presenting the correct image of Islam, which reflects the greatness and evolution of this noble religion, particularly through science, culture, arts and literature. He also stressed the desire of the Egyptian government to maintain constructive cooperation with ICESCO.

Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General (DG )of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat, today, Wednesday, February 16, 2022, Mrs. Saulekul Sailaukyzy, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Morocco, who presented her credentials as a permanent representative for her country to ICESCO.

The meeting explored aspects of cooperation between ICESCO and Kazakhstan in the Organization’s field of action and reviewed the key programs that were implemented recently in cooperation between the two sides, such as youth training program on setting up and developing start-ups in the field of technology and innovation and the agreement with the Space Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan to cooperate in the field of publicizing science space culture for new generations.

The two sides discussed several future proposals for cooperation between ICESCO and Kazakhstan, especially training workers in the field of safeguarding heritage and how to prepare files for inscribing historical sites and cultural elements on heritage lists. The meeting also touched upon coordination between Kazakhstan which this year celebrated as Cultural Capitals in the Islamic World to participate in the activities of these festivities and introduce the Kazakh culture.

At the conclusion of the meeting, ICESCO DG reaffirmed the Organization’s eagerness to develop its cooperation with Kazakhstan, within the framework of the Organization’s new vision and strategy, which adopts an approach of communication with Member States competent authorities to identify their priorities and needs and design appropriate programs and activities for each country.

For her part, Ambassador Saulekul Sailaukyzy confirmed that she will develop this cooperation, as a permanent delegate of Kazakhstan to ICESCO, commending the roles ICESCO plays in its fields of competence.