The International Conference on the Protection of Diversity and Fight Against Islamophobia kicked off on Friday (March 8, 2024) in Baku, the capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Organized by the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism, in partnership with the G20 Center for Interreligious Dialogue and the Azerbaijan Policy Analysis Center, the two-day conference brought together scholars and religious leaders from 30 countries, along with experts and representatives of international and non-governmental organizations and bodies.
The Conference’s opening session was marked by a reading of the address of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev, who addressed the international community, highlighting Azerbaijan’s advanced role in standing against the active extremist currents that manifest Islamophobia in the West.
In his statement at the first session of the Conference, Ambassador Khaled Fathurahman, Head of ICESCO’s Center for Civilizational Dialogue, outlined the Organization’s new vision which stems from an open-door approach to accommodate visions characterized by diversity and cultural richness. The ICESCO official also addressed the civilizational dilemma posed by policies and trends resulting from Western centralism, noting that they attempt to impose and generalize the West’s vision, thus exacerbating the struggles of the future.
The conference sessions will address several topics, including cultural diversity, Islam and the clash of civilizations, and women and human Rights.
As part of the celebration of International Women’s Day and the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) hosted, on Friday, March 8, 2024, the Forum, “A Ramadan Journey into the Depths of the Human Soul”. The event, which brought together high-caliber participation, was organized by ICESCO in cooperation with the Group of Spouses of Arab Ambassadors and Heads of International Organizations accredited to the Kingdom of Morocco.
Held in person and via videoconference, the forum opened with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran.
In a recorded address on the occasion, Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, ICESCO Director General, stated that the celebration of women is unparalleled because of the meanings, values and significance it bears as a celebration of all moral virtues, calling for empowering women to share the responsibility of building a better world.
Moreover, the Director-General mentioned ICESCO’s due diligence to protect women’s rights and nurture their talents, stating that the Organization will sustain its support of women in its areas of competence. Dr. AlMalik also highlighted ICESCO’s leading initiative to proclaim 2021 as the Year of Women, which was marked by a number of remarkable programs and projects, noting that half of the leadership positions in ICESCO are held by women.
The Director General added that these facts place ICESCO at the forefront of international organizations that address the needs of rural girls and marginalized communities, and call for an end to the genocide of women, children and the elderly in Gaza.
In his address, Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, Deputy Director-General of ICESCO, thanked the Group of the Spouses of Arab Ambassadors and Heads of International Organizations for partnering with the Organization in holding this forum in celebration of Women’s Day and the advent of the holy month of Ramadan.
He stressed that Women’s Day is a celebration for all members of society and an occasion to recognize those who create happiness for those around them, paying tribute to Palestinian women who are steadfast in the face of the attacks they are subjected to by the Israeli occupation.
In a recorded statement, Ziauddin Yousafzai, father of Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai and founder of the Malala Fund, emphasized that education is the key to empowering girls and preparing them to contribute to the efforts to achieve development, promote the economy and protect the environment.
For her part, Ms. Rania Shobaki, Chairwoman of the Group, praised ICESCO’s initiatives and efforts to support women, and commended the cooperation between the Group and the Organization in the field women empowerment.
In her remarks, Dr. Yousra Bint Hussain Al-Jazairy, member of the Group, saluted women for all their generosity, patience and resilience, noting that ICESCO has given women the status they deserve. She expressed her pride in belonging to such a keen group of dedicated women who exert serious efforts to promote social development in the Kingdom of Morocco and strengthen cooperation and communication between Morocco and all the countries they represent. Dr. Al-Jazairy stated that the spouses of the ambassadors of Arab countries also gear their work to bring culture together, promote knowledge, and support humanitarian causes in clear manifestation of the values of love and solidarity with the Moroccan people and among themselves. She concluded her speech by saluting Palestinian women as a symbol of steadfastness and empathy.
Dr. Al-Jazairy then introduced Dr. Khadija Abouzid, Professor of Higher Education at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences in Rabat, who delivered a lecture titled, “A Ramadan Journey into the Depths of the Human Soul”.
At the close of the forum, Dr. Khadija Abu Zeid and Dr. Yusra bint Hussein Al-Jazairi were honored by Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa in recognition of their efforts in organizing the forum and ensuring its success.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, concluded the launch of the first phase of the Program, “Promoting the Arabic Language in the Bilingual Education System of the Union of Comoros”, on March 6, 2024, to strengthen Arabic presence in bilingual education systems (Arabic-French).
As part of the program activities, Mr. Adel Bouraoui, Advisor to ICESCO Director-General in charge of its Arabic Language External Bodies, held two meetings with Dr. Takiddine Youssouf, Minister of National Education, Scientific Research, Training and Professional Integration, President of the National Commission and Dr. Muhammad Hussein Jamal Al-Lail, Advisor to the President of the Republic in Charge of Relations with the Arab World. Mr. Bouraoui stressed the Organization’s commitment to supporting the efforts of Comoran authorities to achieve universal access to Arabic in primary education.
Moreover, Mr. Bouraoui held two expert meetings in Moroni on developing Arabic language programs in schools, and on drafting an action plan to redevelop the headquarters of ICESCO’s delegation to improve its work. Following, the delegation visited Anjouan, the second largest of the Comoros Islands, to meet senior education officials and discuss the challenges of teaching Arabic.
Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, Deputy Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received a delegation from Shanghai International Studies University, headed by Mr. Lin Xuelei, Vice President of the University and both reviewed ways to enhance cooperation between the two sides in a number of areas of common interest.
During the meeting, which took place on Tuesday 05 March 2024 at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, the two sides praised the great success of the International Silk Road Conference, which was held by the Organization in December 2023 at its headquarters in Rabat in partnership with the Institute of Silk Road Strategy Studies, affiliated with the University, and commended the content of the Memorandum of Understanding concluded between ICESCO and the Institute to establish the Chair for Silk Road Studies to promote civilizational dialogue between China and the Islamic world, organize a joint exhibition of the Silk Road heritage, and host international forums and workshops for the benefit of young people in this field.
The meeting reviewed cooperation between the two sides in the fields of teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers, translating major books and studies on the Silk Road in implementation of the MoU and the relevant action plan for joint cooperation between ICESCO and the Institute.
The meeting was attended from ICESCO side by Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Director of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue, Dr. Omar Hali, Advisor to the Director-General of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World, and Dr. Majdi Haji Ibrahim, Director of the Center for Arabic for non-Arabic Speakers.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo, Ugandan State Minister for Higher Education, explored ways of strengthening cooperation in areas of common interest, most notably higher education and scientific research promotion.
During the meeting, held on Tuesday (March 5, 2024), at the University of Kampala, prior to the start of the second day of the twentieth anniversary of the African-Arab Youth Council, Dr. Al-Malik highlighted that ICESCO has become open to its Member States to devise adequate programs and projects based on the priorities and needs of each country, stressing the Organization’s willingness to continue fruitful cooperation with Uganda in the fields of education, science and culture.
During the meeting, ICESCO Director-General pointed out to the Organization’s initiative to establish a scientific research chair on psychological and mental health at Kampala International University in Uganda, within the framework of ICESCO support for the efforts of its Member States in developing scientific research.
For his part, Dr. Muyingo commended ICESCO’s roles in supporting the efforts of its Member States in their areas of competence, stressing the Ugandan Ministry of Higher Education’s keenness to cooperate with the Organization.
Afterwards, the second day activities of the Afro-Arab Youth Council’s anniversary kicked off with a workshop on ‘Sufferance of People with Mental Health Challenges’, where Dr. Muyingo conveyed to Dr. Al-Malik the congratulations of Her Excellency Janet Museveni, Ugandan First Lady, Minister of Education and Sports of the Republic of Uganda, for the developments and modernization witnessed at ICESCO, within its strategic vision and organizational structure, to advance the fields of education, science and culture in the countries of the Islamic world.
During the workshop, Dr. Abbas Agaba, Secretary-General of the African-Arab Youth Council, and Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of the Social and Human Sciences Sector at ICESCO, signed a memorandum of understanding between ICESCO and the Council, with a view of enhancing joint cooperation between the two parties in areas of common interest through conferences, seminars, and workshops in the fields of artificial intelligence, space science, heritage preservation and peacebuilding.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) congratulates the Board of Trustees of the Academy of Arabic Poetry at Taif University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for successfully organizing the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Prize for Arabic Poetry in its fifth edition. ICESCO also extends its congratulations to the winners of the prize in its various branches in Morocco, Sudan, Egypt, and Lebanon.
ICESCO commends the prize’s significant impact on intellectual spheres across different nations, enriching poetic creativity in the Arabic language, as demonstrated by the number and quality of the contributions from talented poets worldwide in this fifth edition.
ICESCO reaffirms its full readiness to cooperate in such pioneering initiatives that highlight the central role of creativity and culture in preserving identity and building a bright future for generations to come, aligning with the Organization’s vision and strategic directions. Moreover, it underscores its high regard for poetry and poets, along with its keenness to support them through the signing of a partnership and cooperation agreement in 2021 with the Academy of Arabic Poetry at the Taif University, in the presence of H.R.H. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah Region.
In this context, ICESCO has organized numerous activities to celebrate poetry and poets, and established the ICESCO Forum of Women Poets, which brings together poetesses from across the Islamic world and beyond. Additionally, during last year’s World Poetry Day celebration, ICESCO announced the establishment of the Poetry Forum of the Islamic World and issued several poetry collections that reflect the new trends in poetry, highlighting its revival and development.
An Omani Faculty of national defense delegation visited the Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) Headquarters in Rabat on Sunday 3 March 2024.
The delegation, headed by Ambassador Ahmed bin Salim Ba Omar from the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was received by Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, in the presence of Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Head of the ICESCO Center for Civilizational Dialogue, and Dr. Salim Bin Hilal Al Habsi, Director of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences at ICESCO.
During the meeting, Dr. Benarfa highlighted the unprecedented turnout of visitors to the exhibition and museum since its public opening in November 2022. He noted that people of all ages from across the kingdom, as well as residents and tourists of Morocco, visit it regularly.
Dr. Benarfa added that ICESCO’s decision to host this great Museum, which is headquartered in Al Madinah Al Munawwarah, stems from a strategic tripartite partnership between the Organization, the Muslim World League, and the Mohammedia League of Scholars, and marks the first edition of its kind outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
During the tour, the delegation received explanations about the various sections and pavilions of the exhibition, which included a detailed simulation depicting the life of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. They learned about the importance of the exhibition and the museum, which is to convey the message of Islam through values such as justice, peace, mercy, tolerance, and coexistence. The exhibition utilizes cutting-edge technologies to immerse visitors in the dimensions of the Prophet’s Seerah and historical scenes and artifacts, providing an experience akin to being in the heart of the Prophetic era.
Ambassador Ahmed bin Salim Ba Omar and the accompanying delegation expressed their joy at visiting the exhibition and the museum. Amb. Ba Omar commended the organizers for their efforts in enabling visitors to learn about the Prophet’s Seerah and virtually experience life during His time.
At the end of the visit, the Omani Ambassador presented commemorative shields to representatives of ICESCO, the Muslim World League, and the Mohammedia League of Scholars, as a token of appreciation for their valuable efforts.
The Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a workshop on developing students’ Arabic language skills, in Conakry, Republic of Guinea, in cooperation with Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, and the National Commission of Guinea.
The four-day workshop, which concluded on Thursday (February 29, 2024), aimed at developing the competencies of a number of educational officials and Arabic language teachers from Arabic-French educational institutions in Guinea, and honing their teaching skills through the latest developments in educational linguistics.
Dr. Youssef Ismaili, Expert at ICESCO Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, along with a local expert oversaw the workshop, which included presentations on the difficulties facing Arabic language teaching in Guinea and the major modern educational strategies for developing students’ language skills at various levels, as well as the ways to prepare AI-powered supplementary classes to enhance communication in Arabic.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received a Yemeni delegation from the Benevolence Coalition for Humanitarian Relief (BCHR), headed by Mr. Fahmy Salmeen, the Executive Director of the BCHR, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat on Wednesday 28 February 2024. The meeting reviewed the results and developments in the “Girl Dropout Reintegration Project” in Yemen, being implemented by BCHR, funded by Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) and overseen and monitored in its executive phases by ICESCO.
During the meeting, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik renewed ICESCO’s commitment to supporting Yemen in the fields of education, sciences and Culture through the implementation of a set of programs and practical and well-defined activities in cooperation with the competent authorities in Yemen and in coordination with the Yemeni National Commission for Education, Science and Culture.
Moreover, Dr. AlMalik lauded KSRelief for funding the “Girl Dropout Reintegration Project” and expressed appreciation for BCHR’s efforts to implement it.
The delegation of BCHR briefed ICESCO Director-General on the latest developments in the Project, which was implemented in 7 Yemeni governorates, and pointed to its success as it exceeded its goals on all levels. Initially, the Project targeted 19,000 girls, while 21,500 girls have benefited from it thus far. Additionally, the Project aimed to train 350 instructors and will now build the capacities of 500 instructors by the end of the Project in two months. Likewise, the project worked on equipping several classrooms and supporting girls’ families in establishing small income-generating economic activities.
At the end of the meeting, the two parties agreed to continue coordination to explore prospects for implementing the Project in other Yemeni governorates or similar projects in cooperation with the Yemeni Ministry of Education.
The delegation of BCHR handed a memorial shield to Dr. AlMalik in recognition of the efforts of ICESCO to ensure the success of the Project.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Ministry of National Education in Charge of Civics Training and the National Commission of the Gabonese Republic, launched a project to promote women and girls’ literacy and economic empowerment through income-generating projects and activities. The project benefits 50 women and girls at the Literacy Center in Libreville.
The three-month project, which kicked off on Monday, February 26, 2024, aims to consolidate the gains of newly literate girls and women through programs of educational support in reading, writing and arithmetic. It also aims to build their professional capacities through applied workshops on running small income-generating projects, provide them with the necessary modern technical skills in the fields of sewing and embroidery, and supply them with literacy programs’ machinery and equipment, in addition to tools to furnish the training hall.
During the Project’s launch ceremony, Ms. Camélia Ntoutoume-Leclercq, Minister of National Education in Charge of Civics Training, commended ICESCO’s leading roles in fighting social vulnerability, improving newly literate girls and women’s income resources, countering unemployment and investing in marginalized groups’ education.
For his part, Mr. Aziz El-Hajir, Program Director at ICESCO’s Education Sector, stressed the significance of literacy programs, small projects and income-generating activities and highlighted their socio-economic impact in developing countries.
