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Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received yesterday at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat, Ms. Mabel Gomez Oliver, Ambassador of Mexico to Morocco. The meeting touched upon the cooperation prospects between ICESCO and Mexico in the fields of education, science, and culture. Several Directors of ICESCO’s sectors joined the meeting.

During the meeting, Dr. Al-Malik reaffirmed that ICESCO’s vision and action strategy adopts an open-door policy towards all countries, including non-Member States. The goal is to cooperate and hold partnerships for the benefit of the Member States and Muslim communities around the world.  He also pointed out that ICESCO’s non-Member States may enjoy observer status while calling upon Mexico to join the Organization as an observer.

ICESCO DG reviewed the salient initiatives, projects, and programs that the Organization launched and implemented to support Member States in countering the negative repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic in the fields of education, science, and culture.

“These initiatives include “ICESCO Digital Home,” “The Societies We Want,” and “Global Humanitarian Coalition,” which aim at helping the neediest countries, particularly in Africa. Several countries, international organizations, and donor institutions have joined this coalition. Mexico and its major institutions are welcome to join this coalition,” he added.

The meeting explored the proposed areas of cooperation between ICESCO and the educational, scientific, and cultural authorities in Mexico to share expertise with the competent authorities as well as universities and research centers in the ICESCO Member States,

The Ambassador of Mexico thanked ICESCO for the meeting and commended the Organization’s outstanding work during the COVID-19 pandemic while stressing that Mexico will exert every effort to ensure cooperation with ICESCO in its areas of competence.

The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, called for recognizing the major efforts of H.R.H. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Prince of the Makkah Al-Mukkaramah Region, in promoting the Arabic language and spreading the Arab-Islamic culture. The DG stated that Prince Khalid Al-Faisal’s works need to be academically documented and publicized, adding that extensive studies need to be conducted on the Prince’s intellectual, literary, and artistic materials.

Dr. AlMalik called for drawing inspiration from the factors of success and excellence in Prince Khalid Al-Faisal’s intellectual and cultural endeavors to anchor an authentic identity that is founded on the Arabic language and the Arab-Islamic culture, and openness to other languages and cultures. He added that the balance between authenticity and openness in the Arab Islamic culture is the essence of the vision upon which the Prince’s intellectual, literary, and civilizational project is based. 

The DG made the statement during his participation in a videoconference on Tuesday, December 22. The King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia held the seminar, in cooperation with ICESCO and the Cultural Attaché Office at the Embassy of the Kingdom in Rabat. The seminar was held under the theme, “Efforts of Prince Khalid Al-Faisal in service of promoting the Arabic language and spreading the Arab culture.”

ICESCO DG moderated both academic sessions of the seminar. The event saw high-level participation including prominent religious and academic figures, and Saudi university presidents and faculty deans. His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Abdurahman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Sudais, General President of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques; delivered his address during the first session along with Dr. Abdullah bin Salim Al-Mutani, Former Deputy Chairman of the Shura Council; and Dr. Mansoor bin Mohammad Al-Harthey, Director of the Academy of Arabic Poetry.

The speakers during the first session attested to the key features that characterize the Prince’s journey as a human, an intellectual, and an artist and his roles in defending Arabic and ensuring the language receive the due attention in our societies.

The second session saw addresses that Prof. Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Washmi, Former Secretary-General of the King Abdulaziz International Center for Arabic Language (KAICAl); delivered along with Abdullah Owaiqil Al-Sulami, President of the Jeddah Literary and Cultural Club; and Prof. Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Sabil, Secretary-General of King Faisal Award. The speakers highlighted the factors and reasons leading to elements of intellectual and literary excellence in Prince Khalid Al-Faisal’s character.

At the close of the seminar, ICESCO DG pushes for the recognition, appreciation, and tribute from the Arabic language institutions, setting forth a suggestion to the General Secretariat of the King Faisal Award to present the Prince with the prominent international award. The step is in recognition for his leading efforts in service of the Arabic language and thought. Dr. AlMalik also commended the participants’ proposals to further publicize the prince’s efforts in the service of Arabic and expressed the Organization’s readiness to cooperate with King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia.

The celebration of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) concluded its proceedings, following deliberations and presentations on the future of the Arabic language. High-profile participation marked the celebration, which lasted for more than four hours.

H.R.H. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud honored the celebration with his attendance and delivered the opening address. H.E. Prof. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Former President of Mauritius; Mr. Aboubakar Siddick Choroma, Minister of National Education and Civic Promotion of Chad; and Dr. Ali Mohamed Shumo, Former Minister of Culture and Information of Sudan, also took part in the opening ceremony.

ICESCO held the major celebration in observance of the World Arabic Language Day, yesterday, December 21, via videoconferencing. The Organization cooperated with King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia, the Cultural Attaché Office at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Rabat, the Regional UNESCO Office in Rabat, and Al-Akhawayn University in Morocco.

H.R.H. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud gave the opening address, as the Conference’s most revered guest. Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG) then moderated the opening session, during which he read a poem he authored, titled “The Richness of Arabic.” The opening session also featured the addresses of H.E. Prof. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, who highlighted the great value of the Arabic Language within and beyond its social circles, calling for rethinking our approach to languages in general, as many are on the verge of extinction and taking away cultural treasures with them.

Mr. Aboubakar Siddick Choroma, Minister of National Education and Civic Promotion of Chad called for using the modern digital revolution in the field of Arabic teaching. Ms. Angela Melo then gave the address on behalf of the UNESCO DG, who underscored that protecting languages is a shared responsibility. Dr. Ali Mohamed Shumo stated that millions of Muslims speak Arabic, given that it is the language of the Holy Quran and the Sunnah.

The conference, held under the theme “Arabic Language: Foresight in a Changing World,” featured five working sessions. Dr. Abdulah Al-Ubaid, Honorary President of  ICESCO Center of Arabic for non-Arabic Speakers, moderated the first session on the future roles of academic institutions in promoting Arabic.

Dr. Yussra bint Hussain Al-Jazairi, Cultural Attaché of Saudi Arabia in Rabat, moderated the second session on the future of the Arabic language in educational systems. Dr. Abdulilah Benarafa, Cultural Advisor to ICESCO DG, moderated the third session that focused on the opportunities of the Arabic language in the era of the fourth industrial revolution. Mr. Adil Bouraoui, Advisor to ICESCO DG for Arabic Language Centers Abroad and Academic Chairs, moderated the fourth session, which discussed the topic of digital applications in aid of the Arabic language. Dr. Majdi bin Hajji Ibrahim, Head of ICESCO Center of Arabic for non-Arabic Speakers, chaired the fifth session, which focused on the topic of “Arabic language academies: an absolute necessity.”

At the close of the ceremony, ICESCO DG expressed his thanks and appreciation to the guests of honor, all participants, and cooperating institutions for accepting ICESCO’s invitation, reaffirming that the Organization undertakes to give all proposals, recommendations, and visions set forth during the Conference the due attention they deserve.

At the International Conference that the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held in celebration of the World Arabic Language Day, Dr. Salim AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), surprised the participants with his poem “Richness of Arabic” as a token of his love for Arabic language.

 Dr. AlMalik stated, “my address today will neither be similar to the usual opening addresses, nor remind us of the centuries-old glories and the unique genius of the Arabic language as many books, research, and literary works on Arabic language will give enough evidence thereon.”

“I do not want my address to be a review of ICESCO’s achievements or anticipation of our future projects. The information is already available on our websites. In this address, I would like to express my great and undying love for the Arabic language,” he continued.

Dr. AlMalik added: “As I see poetry as the most adequate, valuable, and expressive genre, I composed a poem on this occasion, entitled ‘Richness of Arabic.’ In the poem, the DG shows the richness of the Arabic language, particularly its vocabulary, rhetoric, and aesthetics as well as the capacity of its syntax and lexicon to adapt to scientific and technological developments. 

His Royal Highness Prince Khalid al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Advisor to the Custodian of the Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah Region, said that he devoted his life to serving the language of the Quran. He also reaffirmed that the Arabic language is the highest form of expression and the manifestation of human identity.

The statement was part of Prince Khalid al-Faisal’s address at the opening session of the international conference that the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held yesterday, in celebration of the World Arabic Language Day.

His Royal Highness also said that “Allah Almighty and then the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques have given me the honor of serving the sacred Mosque. Thus, I have devoted my life to serving the language of the Quran and Muslims at this time and place. Arabic is the highest form of expression and human identity. Today, ICESCO honors me through the invitation to this conference. I am extremely grateful to ICESCO and all its staff members.”

His Royal Highness beseeched Allah Almighty to make him “among those who remember and praise Allah, learn the lessons of life, and make their speech concise and beneficial.”

At the opening of the celebration under the theme: “Arabic language: Foresight in a changing world,” Dr. Salim AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General expressed his sincere thanks and gratitude to H.R.H. Prince Khalid al-Faisal for his outstanding participation in the videoconference.

“His Highness accomplished many achievements in serving the Arabic language and Arab thought. His intellectual works, poetry collections, and artistic works mainly focus on serving Arabic, promoting its position, and stimulating creativity in Arab thought,” he underscored.

Dr. AlMalik also reaffirmed that “His Royal Highness is a pioneer of cultural, tourism, sports, and literary action in Saudi Arabia and the Arab and Islamic worlds. He is also the founder of many forums, awards, and cultural and literary journals.”