Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), stated that the International Book and Publishing Fair in Rabat, which opened as part of the Celebration of Rabat as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, is a unique festival of cultural, intellectual and civilizational exchange, which embodies the spirit of renewal and reflects the significance of books in nurturing thought and knowledge.
Dr. AlMalik made this statement in an address he gave during the ceremony that the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication organized on the occasion of the Fair opening, in the presence of the Moroccan Minister of Culture, Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid; Mr. Rachid El-Abdi, President of the Rabat-Salé-Kenitra Region, in addition to a large number of authors, officials and members of the diplomatic corps in Rabat.
“We are an Ummah that celebrates reading and writing, an Ummah that has created the largest multidisciplinary library a thousand years ago”, the ICESCO DG stated, noting that this Fair promotes the outreach of Rabat as the Capital of Lights and highlights the strong links of our civilizational legacy to books”.
He added that through its participation in this major international event, ICESCO reaffirms the importance it accords to promoting the values of reading in its activities and programs, in a bid to rekindle ties of the Islamic world to its glorious history which paved the way for such activities.
At the close of his address, Dr. AlMalik expressed his thanks to the Moroccan Minister of Culture, the Fair organizers, publishers, intellects and authors.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Younes Skouri, Minister of Economic Integration, Small Enterprises, Employment and Competencies in the Kingdom of Morocco, and together they discussed cooperation prospects between the Organization and the Ministry in the fields of youth capacity-building, training and empowerment, as well as the promotion of an entrepreneurial culture in technology and innovation.
During the meeting, which was held today, Thursday, June 2, 2022, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the major thrusts of ICESCO’s new vision and action strategy, which lays particular emphasis on building youth capacity and supporting youth entrepreneurship, mentioning the programme for training youth in creating and developing small-scale projects in the field of technology and innovation, which is implemented by ICESCO in a number of its Member States.
The meeting touched upon cooperation proposals through the joint implementation of initiatives that are geared towards supporting small businesses, training youth as part of ICESCO’s “Leadership Training in Peace and Security (LTIPS)” Programme, forging partnerships with institutions concerned with these areas, and jointly organizing relevant conferences and activities.
For his part, Mr. Skouri commended ICESCO’s support for its Member States’ efforts in distinct fields.
At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed on holding other meetings between their respective experts to establish a list of the practical programmes to be jointly implemented under a cooperation agreement.
The meeting was attended by Mrs. Sally Mabrouk, Director of ICESCO DG’s Cabinet, and Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Advisor at ICESCO’s Science and Technology Sector.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participate in the 27th International Book and Publishing Fair in the Kingdom of Morocco, which is held this year in Rabat, from June 2 to 12, within the framework of the celebration of Rabat, Culture Capital in the Islamic World 2022, under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, as part of ICESCO’s Programme for Cultural Capitals.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), and his delegation will attend the official opening of the fair, whose current session celebrates African literature, promising to bring renewal and offer exciting prospects.
The pavilion of ICESCO features a large collection of the Organization’s books and studies in the fields of education, science, culture, media, communication and human sciences, in addition to the publications and brochures that introduce the key initiatives, programmes and projects of ICESCO. Visitors can download these publications for free.
The pavilion will screen a series of videos produced by the Organization, introducing ICESCO’s fields of action, initiatives, programmes, achievements, and training sessions.
ICESCO pavilion will host seminars and intellectual meetings for the heads of sector, department and center of the Organization and many experts to discuss ICESCO’s programmes, projects, vision and action strategy.
The programme of the ICESCO pavilion features the distribution of prizes, including a prize that will be awarded every day to a winner from the pavilion’s visitors and a daily prize for a winner from among the participants in the ICESCO short video competition on the landmarks of Rabat. the best 3 videos will receive the shields of the competition.
The pavilion includes a section of cultural and artistic activities for children, such as drawing and coloring, and an introduction to children’s fashion in various Islamic countries. Children can take pictures while wearing these costumes.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the Conference to launch the Document on Education Development in the Arab World, which was held by the Arab Parliament in cooperation with the Ministry of Education in the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Supreme Council for the development of education and training in Bahrain, under the theme: “Bahrain the gateway to the development of education in the Arab world.” The Conference saw the participation of the speakers of Arab legislative councils and parliaments, as well as representatives of the organizations concerned.
The Document on Education Development in the Arab World aims to contribute to the establishment of high-quality Arab educational systems that would instill the values of belongingness, good citizenship, loyalty, sense of responsibility and devotion to the homeland, in a way that contributes to achieving development and progress.
Dr. Omar Halli, Advisor to the Director-General for the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW) represented ICESCO at the Conference, which kicked off on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. In his presentation, Dr. Halli highlighted the Organization’s involvement in educational development programs at all levels, from primary education to higher education, through launching and implementing practical programs. He also reaffirmed ICESCO’s eagerness to work on networking in various programs as part of the objectives of the Document, which provides an integrated vision for the development of the educational system in the Arab countries, in accordance with the requirements of the current stage and the present and future challenges facing education in the Arab world.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the Virtual Informal Regional Consultation of Arab Region and Western Asia, held by the State of Qatar, the Education Above All Foundation in Qatar, and the United Nations, in preparation for the “Transforming Education Summit 2022,” to be held in New York next September. The meeting brought together ministers of education, representatives of ministries, international organizations, and civil society from 23 countries in the Arab region and West Asia.
The meeting took place on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, and was chaired by Mrs. Buthaina Bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, Qatari Minister of Education and Higher Education. In their interventions during the meeting, the participants emphasized the importance of ensuring education, pointing out that the Summit will take place at an opportune time when the world is adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic and recovering from its aftermaths, and where their countries are exerting tireless efforts to transform their education systems and taking various measures to cope with the crisis.
For her part, Dr. Boly Barry Koumbou, Head of ICESCO’s Education Sector, underscored the need for international cooperation and solidarity with marginalized groups, noting the Organization’s efforts toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) and transforming education. She also presented an action plan for organizing a high-level international forum on guaranteeing girls’ right to education, on the sidelines of the Transforming Education Summit in New York.
The meeting saw the participation of Mrs. Amira Fadel, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and a host of experts at ICESCO’s Education Sector.
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 that Monday, 25 July 2022, will mark the opening of the Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, as part of the Celebration of Rabat as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco, may Allah assist him.
The three organizations made this statement in a press conference, held at ICESCO Headquarters, on Wednesday, 1 June 2022. The press conference featured remarks by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG); Sheikh Dr. Muhammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League; and Dr. Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary-General of the Mohammadia League of Scholars, who gave detailed presentations on all aspects about the Exhibition and Museum.
The press conference was opened with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by an address by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy DG, who welcomed the attendees and highlighted the importance of this major civilizational project and the significance of hosting it at ICESCO in 2022, the year of celebration of Rabat as Culture Capital in the Islamic World.
In his address, Dr. AlMalik commended the strategic partnership between ICESCO, the Muslim World League, and the Mohammadia League of Scholars, which led to the organization of the Exhibition and Museum in its first sojourn outside of Al-Madinah AL-Munawarra, where it was first established under the generous patronage of the Kingdom Saudi Arabia, under the wise leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, may Allah preserve him, and the Crown Prince, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman, may Allah preserve him.
ICESCO DG added that the selection of the Kingdom of Morocco to be the first destination of the Exhibition and Museum outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reflects the special relations between the two countries, seizing the opportunity to express profound thanks to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, for his royal patronage of this project.
For his part, Dr. Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary-General of the Mohammadia League of Scholars, stated that the institutions that assume the responsibility of the publicizing and raising awareness of the Prophet’s Seerah have to keep up with technological advancements such as virtual reality and metaverse to be able to reach the targeted audience and promote younger generations’ interaction with this subject, especially that younger people spent the longest time following digital contents.
In addition, Dr. Abbadi commended the tremendous efforts that the Muslim World League exerted to create and ensure the continuity of the Exhibition and Museum, and announced the organization of a presentation on monitoring mercy manifestations across the globe as part of the activities of the Exhibition.
In his address, Sheikh Dr. Muhammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, expressed his delight with the preparations to host the Exhibition and Museum, noting that the latter arrives from the holy land of Al-Madinah Al-Munawarrah to its first destination outside of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Rabat, Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022.
Dr. Al-Issa also stated that the Exhibition capitalizes on modern technology to document and highlight the life of our Prophet (PBUH), which is the result of the collective efforts of a team of Seerah scholars. He added that the exhibition relies on an appealing style and approach to bring the Prophet’s Seerah closer to the public, and presents key information, civilizational values, and messages to redress misconceptions through soft power and refute unsupported claims through solid evidence.
Afterward, a video was screened in the sections and collections of the Exhibition and Museum and featured the testimonies of several leaders and senior scholars in the Islamic world. The discussion was then opened where journalists and media outlets addressed their questions to the panel on the Exhibition’s goals and Rabat’s expectations from hosting this project.
The Center of Strategic Foresight at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in an international symposium on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on academia and the labor market, organized by King Abdulaziz University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on May 30-31, 2022, to raise awareness on the importance of AI among faculty members and university students, and the need to incorporate the basic knowledge on AI in the curricula.
During the symposium, Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of the Center of Strategic Foresight, gave a virtual lecture on the present and future of AI, wherein he stressed the great contribution of AI to achieving sustainable development goals, pointing out its great opportunities to facilitate digital transformation and reduce gaps between countries by providing universal access to information and knowledge.
Dr. Hammami stressed that ICESCO accords special attention to foresight in its vision to anticipate future trends and explore the future of AI, which ICESCO Center of Strategic Foresight aims to promote by integrating artificial intelligence applications and technologies in all fields, contributing to the creation of a common global language and promoting the culture of foresight in Islamic world countries.
He reviewed the Center’s major initiatives and projects, which consist of studies and research aimed at determining future trends to mobilize stakeholders, build fruitful partnerships, develop an “AI dictionary” aimed at introducing the basic concepts of artificial intelligence and its ethics, organizing seminars and conferences to discuss its developments and challenges, and cast light on the importance of promoting the concept of AI to build a better future, and present ideas and visions about the skills needed for the jobs of the future.
The Culture and Communication Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the Conference on UNESCO 1970 Convention on Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property: Prospects and Challenges, held in Doha, State of Qatar.
Dr. Osama Al Nahas, heritage expert, represented the Sector at the Conference, held on May 31, 2022, via videoconference. He delivered a presentation where he reviewed ICESCO’s efforts in safeguarding heritage in the Islamic world and fighting illicit trafficking of cultural property, noting the fast spread of this crime.
He explained that illicit trafficking is not only a violation of human heritage and people’s identity but also a source of financing terrorist operations across the world, commending ICESCO’s efforts in this field, through the establishment of a special unit for legal assistance for the benefit of the Member States to recover their looted heritage and cultural property.
He added that ICESCO has established an artificial intelligence unit as part of the components of the Islamic World Heritage Center to protect heritage sites and museums, as well as account for what has been looted and smuggled. He also referred to ICESCO’s organization of a conference in July 2020 on developing mechanisms to fight illicit trafficking in cultural property, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in the Arab Republic of Egypt.
At the end of his presentation, he noted that ICESCO is preparing to hold an international conference, to develop more effective mechanisms to fight this crime, by enacting rigorous laws to confront the phenomenon of illicit trafficking of cultural property as well as strengthening and implementing relevant international agreements.
As part of the activities of ICESCO’s Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers for 2022, the “National Training Session on Writing African Languages in Arabic Script” kicked off at the headquarters of ICESCO Regional Educational Center in N’Djamena, capital of Chad, on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. The ten-day activity was organized in cooperation between ICESCO, its Regional Educational Center in Chad, the Ministry of National Education and Civic Promotion in Chad, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the Yusuf Al-Khalifa Center for Writing Languages in Arabic Script.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Dr. Saleh Bourma Ali, Secretary of State at the Chadian Ministry of National Education and Civic Promotion, in the presence of ICESCO representative Mr. Adel Bouraoui, Advisor to the Director-General for External Centers and University Chairs on Arabic Language, Dr. Ali Mohamed Qamar, Director of ICESCO Regional Educational Center in Chad, and Dr. Ashraf Mohamed, representative of the Yusuf Al-Khalifa Center at the International University of Africa (IUA).
In his address, Mr. Bouraoui reviewed the main components of ICESCO’s new vision, emphasizing that the computerization of Arabic Script-based African languages has become a key priority to keep pace with technological and digital advances in areas of production and development.
The training session benefits thirty (30) Chadian education professionals specializing in Arabic studies and features various presentations on African languages written in the Arabic script, their linguistics, their phonetic symbols adopted by ICESCO, and their teaching methods. The activity also includes practical training on the use of computers for writing African languages.
Dr. Ashraf Mohamed and Professor Mubarak Mohamed, experts from IUA in The Sudan, and the Chadian education expert, Dr. Suleiman Ibrahim, supervise the activity, while Dr. Ali Mohamed Qamar, Director of ICESCO Regional Educational Center in Chad, is responsible for organizational oversight.
The Headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in Rabat, hosted an intellectual meeting on the book “Hadi Al-Oshaq,” written by Dr. Al-Tohamy Al-Harraq, to introduce the mystical and artistic experience of his mentor, Sheikh Abdellatif Benmansour, one of the masters of Sufi Samaa and music in the Kingdom of Morocco, with the participation of a host of researchers, writers and music composers.
The meeting, held on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, falls within the activities of the celebration of Rabat, Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022, and within the framework of ICESCO’s efforts to introduce and promote the rich intangible heritage of Muslim countries, where the arts of Madih and Samaa are part of this unique authentic heritage.
The meeting began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an, then a general presentation by Dr. Saber Moulay Ahmed, Expert at ICESCO Center for Civilizational Dialogue, wherein he indicated that the book “Hadi Al-Oshaq” highlights a great figure and mentor in the fields of Madih, Samaa and authentic culture. Afterward, Dr. Al-Tohamy Al-Harraq, writer and researcher in Sufi thought and music, emphasized that his book is an expression of gratitude to his mentor, Sheikh Abdellatif Benmansour, praising his talent and strong memory, his memorization of the Qur’an, and his rare knowledge of its verses, which contributed to his unique achievements in the field of Sufi art and music.
Dr. Al-Harraq added that Benmansour had a unique musical and literary knowledge base, as he composed more than a thousand tunes and presided over several Madih performances.
Dr. Nabil ben Abdeljalil, researcher and music composer, presented scientific and academic insights into the theoretical concepts of the book, which adopted an approach that analyzes the personality of the late Benmansour and explained the concepts related to Sufi music, the method of performance, rhythm, Madih, Samaa and Mizan a’Durj.
Dr. Abdelaziz Baya, researcher in Moroccan literature and Sufism, highlighted that the book “Hadi Al-Oshaq” is an opportunity to introduce and remind the world of the originality of the Moroccan civilization.
In his address, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), thanked Dr. Al-Harraq and welcomed the participants to discuss an outstanding book in the field of music and art. “We celebrate and review the key ideas and values depicted in the book, particularly loyalty, which is very valuable because it recognizes the fulfilments of Sheikh Benmansour in the arts of Madih and Samaa.
Dr. AlMalik presented a shield to Dr. Al-Harraq in appreciation of his efforts to preserve the heritage of the art of Samaa, while Dr. Al-Harraq presented a collection of his books to ICESCO DG.
Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy DG of ICESCO, indicated that the Organization holds this meeting as a house of expertise, which strives to protect and document the tangible and intangible cultural heritage, adding that Benmansour had composed over a thousand tunes.
After that, the floor was open for discussion and questions before Dr. Al-Harraq and his group presented a musical interlude from the musical heritage of the late Sheikh Benmansour.
