Category: Front Page

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation of the Republic of Azerbaijan signed, on Monday, 8 December 2025, a sponsorship and funding agreement for the project “Educational and Social Support for Displaced Girls and Boarders” in the Republic of Niger. The signing took place on the sidelines of the International Conference to Launch the ICESCO AI Index for the Islamic World, held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, and Mrs. Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, in the presence of Dr. Abdulhakeem AlSenan, Director of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku, and Mr. Anar Alakbarov, Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

Following the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik expressed his appreciation for Azerbaijan’s continued support for ICESCO’s activities and programs across the Islamic world, and commended Baku for its distinguished hosting of numerous international conferences organized by the Organization.

For her part, Mrs. Leyla Aliyeva extended her gratitude to ICESCO for its initiatives and programs in the fields of heritage preservation, valorization, and the promotion of Azerbaijani culture.

Both parties affirmed that the close relations between ICESCO and the Foundation, chaired by Azerbaijan’s First Vice-President, Mehriban Aliyeva, constitute one of the pillars of the solid strategic partnership between the two sides.

It is worth noting that ICESCO and the Foundation previously implemented a project to support the education of displaced girls in the Republic of Burkina Faso. It provided essential educational resources, guidance, and life-skills training for girls affected by displacement and economic hardship.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Labour Center of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation in promoting human capital development and enhancing social protection in Member States.

The memorandum was signed on Monday, 8 December 2025, in Baku, Azerbaijan, by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, and Mr. Azar Bayramov, Director-General of the OIC Labour Center, in the presence of senior officials from both parties.

Following the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik emphasized that this partnership represents an important step toward reinforcing ICESCO’s role in supporting Member States and coordinating joint efforts to achieve sustainable development in the labor and education sectors, while building resilient, inclusive, knowledge-based societies.

For his part, Mr. Bayramov stated that the memorandum lays a solid foundation for practical cooperation with ICESCO, enabling the OIC Labour Center to contribute more effectively to developing labor policies, improving working conditions, and expanding social protection mechanisms across Member States.

The OIC Labour Center serves as a strategic institution aimed at enhancing labour conditions, promoting employment opportunities, and fostering social protection systems across its Member States. It emphasizes the crucial need to ensure decent work, sustainable social protection, and poverty reduction within OIC Member States.

H.E. President Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of the Comoros, visited the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat on Friday, December 5, 2025. He was warmly received by Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Organization.

The ICESCO DG accompanied H.E. the President on a tour of the museum, explaining that it is the fruit of a strategic partnership between ICESCO, the Muslim World League, and the Mohammadia League of Scholars. He also pointed out that the museum is part of ICESCO’s efforts to present an accurate image of Islam and convey its civilizational message, noting that over nine million visitors have toured the musuem since its opening in November 2022.

During the tour, H.E. the President explored the interactive exhibits showcasing key moments from the life of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), highlighting Islam’s message of justice, peace, mercy, tolerance, and coexistence, through modern technologies that allow visitors to experience the atmosphere of the Prophet’s era as if firsthand.

At the conclusion of the tour, H.E. President Azali Assoumani expressed his admiration for ICESCO’s work in preserving the Prophet’s Seerah and advancing the causes of the Islamic world, praising the museum as a contemporary civilizational model for presenting Islam’s message.

His Excellency President Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of the Comoros, visited the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat, Morocco, on Friday, 5 December 2025. He was received by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), along with several heads and directors of sectors, centers, and departments at the Organization.

As part of the visit, a meeting was held with the participation of Mr. Youssouf Said Ali, the President’s Advisor for Education Affairs, and Ambassador Yahya Mohamed Elias, Ambassador of the Union of the Comoros to the Kingdom of Morocco, to discuss ways of strengthening cooperation between ICESCO and the Comoros in the fields of teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers, scientific research and higher education, and heritage preservation and valorization.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik welcomed H.E. President Azali Assoumani at ICESCO’s headquarters, and presented the key pillars of the Organization’s vision and strategic directions, as well as its activities, programs, and initiatives. He further reviewed the programs jointly implemented during the past period.

Dr. AlMalik underscored the Organization’s significant progress in the project to rehabilitate its Delegation for teaching Arabic in the capital, Moroni, in partnership with the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences. Moreover, he extended an invitation to H.E. the President to attend the opening ceremony of the Delegation, scheduled for the end of next year.

For his part, H.E. the President expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and reiterated his full support for efforts to strengthen bilateral relations. He also voiced his hope that discussions between the two sides would continue, paving the way for broader prospects that further advance and support the educational, scientific, and cultural fields.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik presented President Azali Assoumani with a copy of ICESCO’s book Peace 360, for which he had written the foreword of its second edition. He also offered him a copy of a study prepared by the Organization on the Comorian kofia, in addition to a report on bilateral cooperation since 2019.

Following the meeting, President Azali Assoumani wrote a message in ICESCO’s Golden Guestbook.

On ICESCO’s side, the meeting was attended by Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Advisor to the General Directorate; Mr. Adel Bouraoui, Advisor to the Director-General in charge of ICESCO’s external bodies in the field of the Arabic language; and Dr. Salim Al-Habsi, Director of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is taking part in the international conference “Yusif Mammadaliyev: Science, Heritage and Innovations,” organized by the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan in cooperation with the Azerbaijani National Academy of Science. The event, held on 4-5 December 2025 in Baku, Azerbaijan, commemorates the 120th anniversary of Azerbaijani academician Yusif Mammadaliyev, who made outstanding contributions to the development of the chemical industry globally. The conference brings together a high-level attendance, including senior officials, representatives of relevant international organizations, scientists, and experts.

In a recorded address shown during the opening session, ICESCO Director-General Dr. Salim M. AlMalik praised the strategic partnership between the Organization and Azerbaijan in education, science, and cultural development. Furthermore, he emphasized the key role that Mammadaliyev’s significant contributions in petrochemistry played in advancing scientific progress worldwide, stating that: “His legacy continues to elevate minds, inspire generations, and enrich humanity’s scientific journey.”

Moreover, Dr. AlMalik highlighted that the prosperity of nations stems from harmony between science and culture, intellect and spirit, progress and heritage. He also underscored ICESCO’s vision to foster creativity and innovation among youth in the Islamic world and to support scientific advancement in its Member States.

ICESCO is represented at the conference by a delegation including Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Wissam Chehade, expert at the Science and Environment Sector, along with the participation of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku.

During a panel discussion on emerging challenges in chemical sciences, Mr. Karimov shed light on current issues in the chemical industry, the environment, and sustainable development, noting that Artificial Intelligence represents at once both a challenge and an opportunity for advancing modern sciences, particularly in enhancing scientific research accuracy. For his part, Dr. Chehade affirmed ICESCO’s steadfast commitment to promoting scientific research and building capacities that contribute to social and economic development.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Lebanese artist and musician Marcel Khalife at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat.

During the meeting, held on Thursday, December 4, 2025, in the presence of Amb. Ali Daher, Ambassador of the Republic of Lebanon to the Kingdom of Morocco, Dr. AlMalik proposed the implementation of a joint art and cultural project between ICESCO and the renowned Lebanese artist, within the framework of the Organization’s openness to symbols of culture and creativity in the Arab and Islamic world.

The Director-General also highlighted the Organization’s main sectors and specialized centers, and reviewed the major cultural projects and initiatives it implements for the benefit of its Member States, with a view to promoting cultural presence, enhancing creativity, and safeguarding heritage. Likewise, Dr. AlMalik shed light on the quality certificates and international recognition that ICESCO has received in recent years.

For his part, Mr. Marcel Khalife commended ICESCO’s endeavors to promote culture and the arts and support creative artists, praising Dr. AlMalik’s distinguished efforts to serve culture in the Arab and Islamic worlds and entrench the values of dialogue, openness, and cultural diversity.

The meeting was attended by ICESCO’s Mr. Osama Heikal, Head of the Media and Communication Sector, and Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of the Culture Sector.

The Moroccan capital, Rabat, hosted the 3rd edition of the ICESCO Marathon on Sunday, 30 November 2025, under the theme “Sport, a pathway to empowerment and inclusive socio-economic development.” The event saw the participation of around 700 runners from various age and social groups, including categories for those under 15, adults, and those over 45, for both men and women. The marathon also featured runners with special needs and some members of the diplomatic corps.

The 3rd edition of the ICESCO Marathon was organized in partnership with the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, the Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports, the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the Royal Moroccan School Sports Federation, and the Wilaya of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region, along with several sponsors.

Dr. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, officially launched the marathon, which started in front of ICESCO headquarters and covered approximately 9 kilometers. In his speech, Dr. AlMalik emphasized the importance of sports as a lever for sustainable development and a tool for developing youth skills, fostering values of discipline, teamwork, and positive citizenship.

After the race, Dr. AlMalik, Karim Hamidouche, Deputy Secretary-General of the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, and Ms. Kenza Abourmane, Director of the Youth Sector at the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, distributed medals and prizes to the winners in various categories.

The first-place winner received a fully funded week-long trip outside Morocco. Incentive prizes were also awarded to the winners, and participation certificates were given to the runners in recognition of their commitment and sportsmanship.

The sports event, overseen by ICESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector, headed by Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, aimed to use sports as a means to promote values of coexistence and peace, enhance social cohesion and solidarity, and contribute to improving the physical and mental health of various groups, with a special focus on involving and empowering people with special needs and encouraging their integration into sports and community life.

On the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) hosted a major celebration at its headquarters in Rabat on Saturday, 29 November 2025. The event was organized by the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Morocco, in partnership with the Bayt Mal Al Qods Asharif Agency and several Moroccan civil society associations. The high-level participation was led by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, along with ministers, officials, a group of ambassadors accredited to Morocco, Moroccan party leaders, and around 600 participants.

The event began with a speech by Ambassador Jamal Al Shobaki, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Morocco, who stated that the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is an annual occasion to reaffirm the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the right to self-determination, sovereignty over their land, and the right of return.

Ambassador Al Shobaki emphasized the Palestinians’ steadfastness in their land and rights without any retreat or compromise, noting the increasing shift in the positions of peoples and international institutions that reject ongoing violations and increasingly raise their voices for justice and to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.

In his speech on behalf of the Kingdom of Morocco, Dr. Nizar Baraka, Moroccan Minister of Equipment and Water, highlighted the pivotal roles played by his country in supporting the Palestinian people and defending their legitimate rights, calling on the international community to intensify efforts to ensure the protection of Palestinians and safeguard their fundamental rights.

Mr. Fethi Debbabi, Director of the United Nations Information Center in Morocco, read the message of the UN Secretary-General on this occasion, which emphasized the importance of supporting the Palestinian people and granting them their legitimate rights through the implementation of international legitimacy resolutions in this regard.

Following this, Ambassador Jamal Al Shobaki and the late Mohamed Benjelloun Al Andaloussi, former president of the Moroccan Association for Supporting the Palestinian Struggle, were honored for their roles in supporting the Palestinian cause.

The celebration included cultural segments featuring a photo exhibition on Palestinian heritage, a documentary film on the current situation, and folkloric performances reflecting the richness of Palestinian heritage and national identity.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Ms. Lolwah bint Rashid AlKhater, Qatari Minister of Education and Higher Education, on the sidelines of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE), hosted in Doha. The meeting discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between ICESCO and the State of Qatar in education, higher education, and innovation.

Dr. AlMalik opened the meeting, held on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, by expressing his deep appreciation for the outstanding organization of WISE, which featured enriching lectures and sessions, attracting over 4,500 participants from various countries. He stressed that the quality of content and organization reflects Qatar’s leadership in the educational field.

The two sides explored areas of joint cooperation to support educational initiatives for poor and war-affected countries, enhancing quality educational programs, and developing higher education systems, in addition to capacity-building and knowledge exchange. Moreover, Dr. AlMalik presented several ICESCO programs, including greening education, support for Quranic schools in Africa, and initiatives for educational innovation and youth skills development.

As part of strengthening future partnership, Dr. AlMalik proposed that Qatar host ICESCO’s Conference of Ministers of Education in the Islamic World, to be held concurrently with the next edition of the WISE Summit, thereby expanding international dialogue on education issues.

Dr. AlMalik invited the Minister to attend the launch ceremony of the “Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index,” organized by ICESCO, in Baku on 8–9 December.

In the context of cooperation on capacity-building, the two parties discussed the possibility of training a group of young professionals from Qatar within ICESCO’s sectors, enabling them to gain practical experience in international work, learn about the mechanisms of work at multilateral organizations, and enhance their participation in global development pathways.