The Sector of Science and Environment at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, held a roundtable on ways to develop small projects in the field of renewable energies, given their roles in promoting sustainable development. The roundtable brought together a number of energy experts, academics and officials in international organizations.
During the opening session, held on Monday, October 2024, in person in Cairo and via videoconference, Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of the Sector of Science and Environment at ICESCO, reaffirmed the importance of promoting the transition to clean energies in the Islamic world to protect the environment and leverage this field’s potential to improve living conditions.
The roundtable reviewed ICESCO’s study on the best practices and standards to develop small projects in the field of renewable energies, which aim to promote renewable energies initiatives in ICESCO’s Member States.
Dr. Fahman Fathalrahman and Dr. Adel Smeda, Experts at ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sectors, took part in the roundtable proceedings.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received a Palestinian delegation from the Popular National Conference of Jerusalem and the Higher Islamic-Christian Authority for Al-Quds and Holy Sites. The meeting included discussions on ICESCO’s prominent efforts to support the development of education, science, and culture in Palestine, as well as specific programs and projects for Al-Quds, particularly in education and heritage preservation.
The Palestinian delegation was led by Mr. Bilal Al-Natsheh, Secretary General of the Popular National Conference of Jerusalem, and Mr. Hatem Muhammad Abdel Qader Eid, Secretary General of the Higher Islamic-Christian Authority for Al-Quds and Holy Sites, along with other officials from both organizations.
During the meeting held on Friday 25 October 2024, at ICESCO’s headquarters in Rabat, and attended by Mr. Mohamed Salem Echarkaoui, Director of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency, Dr. AlMalik emphasized ICESCO’s support for Palestine, especially Al-Quds, through the implementation of various programs and projects in its specialized fields.
Dr. AlMalik highlighted several initiatives launched by ICESCO to support Palestinian students studying at universities in Morocco and Egypt, offering assistance amid the difficult circumstances faced by their families in Palestine.
The delegation expressed appreciation for ICESCO’s efforts to support Palestine across its areas of expertise, noting that ICESCO consistently leads among international organizations in supporting the Palestinian people.
They also shared hopes that ICESCO would consider adopting several proposals aimed at bolstering resilience among Jerusalem residents in educational and cultural fields and encouraging Islamic nations worldwide to back these initiatives.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), emphasized that terrorism and violent extremism represent some of the most dangerous threats to global peace and security, affecting countries and communities across all cultures and religions indiscriminately. He noted that addressing the issue of terrorism requires a global commitment to cooperation, strategic knowledge exchange, and the development of specialized skills that adapt to continuously evolving threats.
This statement was part of Dr. AlMalik’s address today, Friday, October 25, 2024, during the graduation ceremony the 2024 Specialised Counter-Terrorism Investigations Training Programme (STOCTI). The Program was held at ICESCO’s headquarters in Rabat and organized by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and Training in Africa, in collaboration with Al Akhawayn University in Morocco. The event was attended by senior United Nations officials, ambassadors, and experts in the field. Certificates of graduation were awarded to 22 trainees from seven African countries.
Dr. AlMalik also reviewed ICESCO’s efforts over the years to counter violent extremism through a variety of initiatives, programs, and activities, including the International Conference on Combating Violent Extremism, which ICESCO headquarters hosted in its third edition in November 2023, as well as the launch of the “Encyclopedia on Deconstructing Extremist Discourse” in partnership with the Mohammadia League of Scholars in Morocco. The Publication aims to dismantle the ideological framework that underpins extremist rhetoric, foster values of moderation and tolerance, and bolster community resilience against extremism.
He further highlighted ICESCO’s work in promoting intercultural dialogue and the significant role that educational, religious, and intellectual institutions play in establishing an ethical value system based on a forward-looking scientific approach. Moreover, he warned that the increasing use of communication technologies, especially artificial intelligence applications, by extremist groups facilitates their future recruitment of children.
Dr. AlMalik concluded by reaffirming ICESCO’s continued commitment to combating violent extremism and eradicating radical ideologies at the root. He also commended the efforts of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism in Rabat, with the cooperation and support of Moroccan authorities.
As part of ICESCO’s Young Professionals Program, the Organization’s Human and Social Sciences Sector and the Department of Legal Affairs and International Standards organized a workshop to empower youth in peacebuilding through combating violent extremism. Held in Parakou, Benin, the workshop aimed to educate participants and equip them with the tools necessary to promote peace, tolerance, and coexistence within their communities, particularly in border areas.
In his opening address on Thursday 24 October 2024, Mr. Salimane Karimou, Minister of Nursery and Primary Education, represented by Mr. Diwano Afodagbi, Chief of Staff at the Ministry, highlighted the workshop’s importance in supporting Benin’s efforts to combat violent extremism, especially among youth. Dr. Paulette Okpécha-Gnanvi, Secretary-General of the National Commission for UNESCO and ICESCO in Benin, expressed her appreciation for the workshop and encouraged participating youth to contribute to peacebuilding.
ICESCO was represented by Mr. Ali Ndiaye, Head of the Peace Department in the Social and Human Sciences Sector, alongside young professionals Paul Kpakpanon, Raïssa Ramatoulaye Djassi, and Djifa Agbezoukin. Mr. Ndiaye presented ICESCO’s peace and security initiatives, and efforts to combat extremism, while Ms. Osnia Mannou Gbankoto, ICESCO Peace Ambassador, shared her experience in the Leadership Training in Peace and Security Program (LTIPS).
In parallel with the workshop, Mr. Salimane Karimou, Minister of Nursery and Primary Education, received ICESCO’s delegation.
During the meeting, he praised the cooperation between ICESCO and the Republic of Benin, and expressed appreciation for ICESCO’s initiatives and programs supporting education, science, and culture in his country. The Minister called for intensified collective efforts among Islamic countries to address economic challenges and high unemployment rates, which can drive youth towards violent extremism.
Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Shahabudeen Adam Shah, Ambassador of Malaysia to Morocco, and Dr. Mohd Farid Ravi, President of Selangor Islamic University (UIS). The meeting discussed ways to develop cooperation between ICESCO and Malaysia in the fields of education, science and culture, and tackled the proposal to establish ICESCO’s center for teaching Arabic language at the University’s headquarters.
At the outset of the meeting, held on Thursday (24 October 2024), at ICESCO headquarters, in Rabat, Dr. Al-Malik affirmed that the Organization, as part of its new vision and strategic orientations, is open to cooperation with all parties to benefit its Member States and Muslim communities around the world, expressing his aspiration to enhance cooperation with Malaysia.
He also reviewed ICESCO’s programs and projects on building women and youth capacities, promoting the values of coexistence, peace and civilizational dialogue, encouraging investment in technology, innovation, artificial intelligence and space science, disseminating the foresight culture, and promoting the status of Arabic language globally.
For his part, the Malaysian Ambassador commended ICESCO’s roles in contributing to the advancement of its areas of competence in the Islamic world, and invited Dr. Al-Malik to pay an official visit to Malaysia to meet the country’s senior officials and discuss developing cooperation in areas of common interest; an invitation that ICESCO Director General welcomed and affirmed that he would respond to it at the earliest convenience.
Dr. Ravi expressed his thanks to ICESCO for its continuous cooperation with UIS, reviewing the major areas of cooperation between the two parties, particularly in teaching Arabic language and harnessing the latest digital applications in this field, highlighting the training sessions organized by ICESCO Educational Center in Malaysia, in cooperation with UIS, for the benefit of hundreds of Arabic language teachers.
Moreover, the meeting tackled a number of proposals for future cooperation between ICESCO and the University, including the establishment of ICESCO’s center for teaching Arabic language at the University’s headquarters, and the provision of a number of scholarships by the Organization for Malaysian students in a number of prestigious universities in the Islamic world.
After the meeting, Dr. Al-Malik took Ambassador Adam Shah, Dr. Ravi and the accompanying delegation on a tour of the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, which is currently housed at ICESCO’s headquarters.
As part of ICESCO’s Leadership Training in Peace and Security (LTIPS) program, the Social and Human Sciences Sector at the Organization held a seminar titled “AI and Peace: Harnessing Technology in Peacebuilding and Development” for ICESCO’s Young Peace Ambassadors. The event aimed to highlight the potential of artificial intelligence in promoting peace, development, and social cohesion, and to discuss global challenges impacting humanity worldwide.
At the opening of the seminar, held on Wednesday 23 October 2024 in-person and via videoconference, Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of the Social and Human Sciences Sector, emphasized ICESCO’s commitment to fostering a comprehensive concept of peace by leveraging the vast potential offered by modern technology.
For his part, Mr. Isa Ali Ibrahim, former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy of Nigeria and Co-chairman of the African Council for Science, Research and Innovation, elaborated on ways technology is transforming peacekeeping efforts and conflict prevention globally.
Following the opening remarks, Mr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Head of the Department of Legal Affairs and International Standards at ICESCO, delivered a presentation on the ICESCO’s Islamic World Charter for Artificial Intelligence, which aims to establish a comprehensive framework for the development of AI technologies in alignment with the values and principles of the Islamic world.
In addition, Ms. Lama Arabiat, Head of the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies Directorate at the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship in Jordan, presented the Ministry’s initiatives to support capacity-building programs for youth in AI. Dr. Syed Iftikhar Shah, Director of Digital Research at the Digital Cooperation Organization in Saudi Arabia, discussed the role of AI in advancing the digital economy and fostering sustainable development. Additionally, Mr. Emad Kiyaei, Co-Founder of AiXist, addressed global challenges arising from the convergence of AI technologies with advanced weapon systems, such as nuclear and biological weapons.
The seminar concluded with an interactive Q&A session during which ICESCO’s Young Peace Ambassadors posed questions to the speakers, who responded and engaged in a fruitful discussion.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Sheikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Government Relations in Sharjah, State of the United Arab Emirates, and together they discussed ways to promote cooperation between ICESCO and Sharjah in areas of common interest.
At the beginning of the meeting, held at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reiterated his thanks and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah, for his sustained support to ICESCO’s efforts as well as to its Regional Office in Sharjah, whose new headquarters will be inaugurated soon to serve as a house of knowledge, thought and culture.
For his part, Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi conveyed the greetings of H.H. the Ruler of Sharjah to ICESCO DG, stressing that this visit to ICESCO headquarters is made based on His Highness’s directives to ensure the promotion of the Emirate’s cooperation relations with ICESCO through the implementation of a number of initiatives and programs that bring together ICESCO’s vision and Sharjah’s strategy in the fields of education, science and culture.
In addition, the DG highlighted the key axes of ICESCO’s new vision and strategic orientations, through which the Organization seeks to become a global beacon of civilizational and knowledge outreach within its areas of competence. He added that ICESCO adopts openness to the Member States to take stock of their priorities and needs to design projects and programs tailored to each country.
Following the bilateral meeting, Dr. AlMalik and Sheikh Al Qasimi attended an extended meeting with ICESCO officials including Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy DG, and several heads of sectors, departments and centers. The ICESCO officials put forth proposals for cooperation programs between ICESCO and Sharjah for the upcoming period.
Afterwards, Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi held a series of meetings with heads of ICESCO’s sectors and centers, where he was briefed about each sector and center’s action strategy, major initiatives, programs and activities implemented, and prospects of cooperation between ICESCO and Sharjah regarding some of these initiatives and programs.
At the end of the visit, the Chairman took a tour of the various sections and pavilions of the International Museum and Exhibition of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, currently housed at ICESCO, which is the outcome of a trilateral partnership among ICESCO, the Muslim World League and the Mohammadia League of Scholars.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with Intergen Foundation of the Republic of Türkiye and COMSATS University in Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, organized a seminar on the challenges of rare diseases in healthcare. The event aimed to discuss the medical, scientific, and ethical implications posed by rare diseases and was held within the framework of ICESCO’s initiative to build the future global genomics workforce.
In his opening remarks at the seminar, held via videoconference on Wednesday 23 October 2023, Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sector, highlighted the latest developments and discoveries in rare disease research.
Dr. Raheel reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to fostering innovation and research in technology and healthcare among its Member States through the implementation of various programs, projects, and competitions targeting youth, students, and researchers, most notably ICESCO’s youth training program on creating and developing small-scale projects in technology and innovation, and “My Thesis in 1000 Words” award for PhD students at universities in the Islamic world.
The seminar featured contributions from several experts, scientists, and healthcare officials, and saw the participation of students from six universities across Pakistan and Bangladesh. The speakers discussed various methods and mechanisms for treating rare diseases and emphasized the importance of fostering dialogue and cooperation in the healthcare sector.
The participants of the International Seminar: “Civilizational Insights in the Thought of Abu Hayyan al-Tawhidi”, organized by the Islamic World Organization for Education, Science and Culture (ICESCO), commended the choice of this theme to highlight the rich legacy of this great writer and philosopher and his advocacy of the values of dialogue, debate and tolerance, and emphasized the importance of revisiting the civilizational dimensions in Al-Tawhidi’s thought. As several of his works provide a theoretical framework for dialogue between individuals, communities and cultures, his thought can be instrumental today in addressing the root causes of cultural conflict.
The seminar, which was held at the ICESCO headquarters in Rabat and was attended by high-level participants, began on Monday, October 21, 2024, with some verses from the Holy Quran. Then Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Director of the ICESCO Center for Civilizational Dialogue, gave a general introduction in which he presented the most remarkable philosophical and critical features of the thought of Abu Hayyan al-Tawhidi and his famous works.
In his opening speech, Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), affirmed that the celebration by every nation of its great scholars is an obligation dictated by a sense of loyalty, responsibility, and pride, pointing out that Abu Hayyan al-Tawhidi deserves this tribute and recognition for what he has done in restoring the thought of nations and civilizations, a thing that has earned him to be at the forefront of those who call for upholding multiculturalism, which confirms the pioneering call of Islamic thought for the rejection of bigotry and racism.
He then reviewed the most prominent thoughts and sayings of Abu Hayyan al-Tawhidi, who founded wise convictions based on his belief that man is the problem and the solution at the same time. Dr. AlMalik also pointed out that al-Tawhidi called for the avoidance of comparing nations in incomparable things and established the concept of adapting to the environment, drawing attention to the need to make renewal a vital method.
Praising al-Tawhidi’s book “Enjoyment and Sociability” for its emphasis on human partnership in building civilization and for being a reference for all advocates of dialogue among cultures and civilizations, ICESCO Director General concluded his speech by saying that the Organization’s celebration of al-Tawhidi is part of its commitment to linking the past with the future in such a way as to avoid fanatical attachment to the past and embracing the future to the detriment of inherited foundations and legacies.
The first session of the seminar, moderated by Dr. Saber Moulay Ahmed, a Moroccan writer and researcher, featured rich working papers and discussions by a number of researchers from Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Italy. The papers all agreed that al-Tawhidi was at the forefront of touching on the relationship with the other, excelled in mixing philosophy and literature, and was a pioneer of modernity. His thought also contributed to understanding the deeper meanings of human differences.
The second session, moderated by Dr. Mohammed Al-Masaoudi, professor at the Faculty of Humanities of the Mohammed V University in Rabat, featured presentations by a number of researchers and academics on the dialogue of civilizations in al-Tawhidi’s thought and the humanistic tendency in his Sufism, as highlighted in his art of debate and his encyclopedic thought, which showed the central place of humanism in his thought, as he focused on the spiritual dimension of the human being in his book “The Divine Signs”.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), took part in the first International Religious Summit, held by the Islamic Council and the Federal Government, in St. Petersburg, Russia, which concluded on Thursday, 17 October 2024.
In his address at the opening session of the Summit, Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Director of ICESCO’s Center for Civilizational Dialogue, expressed the Organization’s thanks for this invitation, which affirms the importance of international partnership in religious dialogue to build safe and coexisting human societies, calling for adopting the “civilizational diplomacy” approach proposed by ICESCO, as an innovative concept and an alternative to civilizational clash.
He pointed out that the Center for Civilizational Dialogue has adopted ICESCO’s open-door approach by attracting major parties capable of enhancing fruitful international cooperation, adding that the “read it to understand it” initiative is a rational initiative that seeks to establish communication based on the necessary intellectual courage for building human civilizational edifice.
The Summit adopted the recommendation proposed by the Director of ICESCO’s Center for Civilizational Dialogue, calling for strengthening Organization’s efforts to consolidate the concept of “civilizational diplomacy” and its promising aspirations within the framework of humanitarian partnership.
During the symposium, held by the International Public Law St Petersburg University, Ambassador Fathalrahman reviewed ICESCO’s efforts and projects in the field of cooperation with universities, in line with the vision of the Federation of Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW), as well as ICESCO’s various programs and projects as a “youth Organization” that gives priority to youth in its activities, particulalry ICESCO Year of Youth.
