Category: Front Page

The headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat witnessed, on Monday, February 2, 2026, the inauguration of the art exhibition, “The Childhood & Life of Al-Farabi”, by renowned Kazakh artist and painter Zhanuzak Musapir. The exhibition was organized by ICESCO in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Kingdom of Morocco, with the aim of highlighting the legacy of the great Muslim philosopher and scholar Abi Nassr Al-Farabi through an artistic vision that casts light on his childhood, scholarly journey, and contributions to Islamic civilization.

The inauguration ceremony saw high-caliber participation, including several representatives of embassies accredited in Rabat and a host of world-renowned painters. In an address delivered on his behalf at the opening ceremony by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, stated that the exhibition constitutes a new path of cultural cooperation between ICESCO and Kazakhstan and reflects the Organization’s recognition of the great role Al-Farabi played in shaping human thought as an encyclopedic reference known for his wisdom, vast knowledge, and avid interest in literature and music.

The Director-General also stated that, through this exhibition, Mr. Musapir uses his artistic acumen and sense of creativity to take visitors on a journey through the key moments of Al-Farabi’s life, thus contributing to safeguarding his legacy and transmitting his message to a wider audience.

For her part, Ms. Saulekul Sailaukyzy, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of Morocco and Kazakhstan Permanent Delegate to ICESCO, stated that the exhibition highlights the special partnership between the two parties and offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore Al-Farabi’s contributions to the development of thought in the Islamic world through art. She added that Mr. Musapir’s paintings add a spiritual dimension to Al-Farabi’s life and intellectual journey.

Speaking at the exhibition, Mr. Zhanuzak Musapir noted that he sought to explore, through his paintings, the philosophical, humanistic, and spiritual foundations of Al-Farabi’s teachings and highlight his timeless ideas. He also announced the gifting of all the paintings on display depicting Al-Farabi’s life to ICESCO, as a testament to the strong cultural ties between Kazakhstan and the Organization.

At the close of the ceremony, the National Academy of Arts of Kazakhstan presented certificates of appreciation to Dr. Salim M. AlMalik and a host of ICESCO leadership figures in recognition of their roles in celebrating intellectual figures and preserving human heritage for new generations.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has launched the programme entitled “Future Leaders Qualification: Developing International Skills for Sustainable Youth Leadership in the Middle East and North Africa,” in partnership with Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University in Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Education, and National Youth Observatory. The programme is implemented as part of the activities of the Prince Mohammad bin Fahd – ICESCO Chair for Intergenerational Human Leadership and Building Future Societies.

Launched on Monday, 19 January 2026, in Tunis, the programme aims to strengthen the skills of young leaders from the MENA region and promote a culture of foresight and strategic planning. It also seeks to develop communication and critical thinking skills to keep pace with technological and socio-economic transformations, and to raise awareness of the ethical use of artificial intelligence through interactive workshops, youth-led dialogue sessions, and experience-sharing activities on mechanisms of innovation and creativity.

Representing ICESCO at the opening session of the launch ceremony, Dr. Kais Hammami, Head of the Center for Foresight and Artificial Intelligence, highlighted the Organization’s efforts to build youth capacities and enhance their skills through various programmes and projects in the fields of entrepreneurship, modern technologies, and innovation. He also underscored the Center’s role in advancing strategic foresight, artificial intelligence, critical thinking, and future skills and professions across Member States.

For his part, Foued Ouni, Director-General of the National Youth Observatory in Tunisia, emphasized the central role of national youth policies and regional initiatives, noting the importance of adopting a culture of foresight as a key component of building the future.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) concluded the activities of the regional project “Language Immersion for Arabic Learners in Southeast Asia,” which were held in Indonesia, Cambodia, and Malaysia over a period of two months in each country, with the aim of providing a stimulating learning environment that makes learning Arabic an enjoyable experience with cognitive and communicative impact.

The activities, held in partnership with the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences and in collaboration with MS Asia for Educational Services and Development, concluded with a ceremony on Saturday, January 17, 2026, in Putrajaya, Malaysia, attended by a number of high-level officials, experts, and public figures. Dr. Majdi Haji Ibrahim, head of ICESCO’s Center of Arabic Language for Non-Native Speakers, represented the Organization.

In his speech, Dr. Majdi emphasized the Organization’s commitment to expanding the presence of the Arabic language globally through quality educational projects, highlighting that language immersion programs are a practical lever for promoting Arabic language teaching and supporting sustainable educational and cultural development goals.

As part of strengthening the capacities of program supervisors, ICESCO organized a training session titled “Preparing Programs and Curricula for Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language” for experts, teachers, and researchers from several countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Yemen, Sudan, and Somalia.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has released the fifth issue of its quarterly cultural magazine, published under the supervision of the Organization’s Center for Poetry and Literature. The issue includes a collection of articles, interviews, and studies addressing contemporary intellectual, literary, and cultural issues in the Arab and Islamic worlds.

The issue features a main dossier entitled “Women’s Literature: The Crisis of Terminology and the Horizons of Imagination,” comprising a set of articles by a number of critics and specialists. Among them are an article by critic and writer Dr. Abdullah Ibrahim entitled “Feminist Narrative: The Boundaries of the Concept and Its Conditions,” and an article by Saudi writer Dr. Mona Al-Maliki entitled “From the Question of Existence to the Stakes of Writing: On the Problematics of Terminology and the Necessity of the Feminist Question.”

The issue also includes a special interview with Dr. Hussein Abdel-Razzak Al-Jazairy, former Saudi Minister of Health and founder of the first Faculty of Medicine in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1969, who also served as Director of the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean for thirty years. In addition, Dr. Salim Al Habsi, Director of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences at ICESCO, offers a reading of the roles of the ICESCO Regional Center in Sharjah in an article entitled “The Sharjah Center: ICESCO’s Radiance on the Shores of the Arabian Gulf.”

The content of the issue extends to topics in language, literature, and cultural history. Among them is an article by researcher Uday Sattam from Syria on the influence of the Arabic language on the poetry of Hafez Shirazi; a study by Dr. Turba bent Ammar from Mauritania entitled “Sufi Literature in the Western Islamic World during the Medieval and Modern Periods: A Reading in Methodology and Style”; and a study by Dr. Adel Aref from Jordan entitled “Artificial Intelligence as an Authoritarian Discourse,” which traces transformations in technological discourse and its intersections with power and meaning, reflecting the diversity of approaches and multiplicity of perspectives within the issue.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) organized a training workshop titled “Exploring the Role of 3D Printing in the Fourth Industrial Revolution” in Dakar, Republic of Senegal, in cooperation with CNC Shape-Dakar and the COMSTECH Committee. The workshop aimed to build the capacities of students, professionals, and entrepreneurs through practical knowledge and applied skills in innovative industries.

Held from 12 to 15 January 2026, both in person and via videoconferencing, the workshop featured theoretical sessions and hands-on training to familiarize participants with mechanisms for designing 3D models, building prototypes, and applying practical uses in various sectors such as mechanical manufacturing, healthcare, construction, and the automotive industry.

Dr. Adel Smeda, Supervisor of the Science and Environment Sector, represented ICESCO at the opening session, emphasizing that the initiative reflects the Organization’s vision and strategy to support and equip youth with the skills needed to lead digital and industrial transformation efforts.

He also highlighted the importance of developing young people’s capacities in modern technology to build inclusive, resilient economies capable of meeting future requirements, as well as raising awareness of the potential of 3D printing to foster innovation, boost local production, promote entrepreneurship, and create job opportunities.