Category: Front Page

Every year on April 21st, the world celebrates the Creativity and Innovation Day to raise awareness about the importance of promoting creative capacities to contribute to achieving sustainable development. On this occasion, the Islamic World Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) seizes this opportunity to highlight the importance of building prosperous societies based on knowledge, creativity and innovation to contribute to protecting human dignity as well as achieving social justice and cultural diversity.

ICESCO reaffirms that it accords great importance to promoting entrepreneurship to stimulate creativity and innovation, push forward economic growth in the societies of the Islamic world and encourage creative initiatives for the benefit of youth and women, mainly through the launch of ICESCO’s ambitious programme for training youth in 2022 in creating and developing small projects in the field of technology and innovation in 10 countries in the Islamic world. ICESCO also seeks to implement this programme in the rest of its Member States, as part of its strategy and action plan, which aims to support more than 150 emerging companies in the field of innovation and technology by 2025.

Since creativity and innovation are the foundation for building a bright future for the next generations, ICESCO calls for exerting more international and regional efforts to benefit from modern technology in promoting the creative process and qualifying human capacities through joint cooperation in implementing several initiatives, programmes and projects to build creative societies.

The Culture and Communication Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in an international symposium entitled “Rewriting the archives of Hans Himmelheber and African artists,” held by the Rietberg Museum in partnership with the University of Zurich in Switzerland to discuss means for recovering African artifacts displayed in Western museums.

Dr. Mahamat Abba Ousman, Expert at the Culture and Communication, represented the Sector at the symposium, which took place in Zurich on 12-15 April 2023 and brought together several subject matter experts from different international organizations and African universities, as well as group of museum directors in Africa.

During the symposium, participants reviewed the archives, scientific documents and audiovisual archives of more than 20,000 artifacts. Dr. Hans Himmelheber contributed to the transportation of these items, which are currently displayed in several Western museums, from various African countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Senegal, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon and Namibia to Europe through trade.

The symposium discussed means for recovering this African cultural wealth by building bridges of cooperation between the heads of African and European museums and developing a strategy that enables young generations in Africa to learn about their history.

Dr. Salim Al-Malik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), held a meeting with Mr. Thomas E. Zelibor, Chief Executive Officer of the US Space Foundation, to discuss developments in cooperation between ICESCO and the Foundation in the fields of space science, modern technology and artificial intelligence, on the sidelines of the 38th session of the World Space Symposium, organized by the Space Foundation, Colorado State, USA.

At the outset of the meeting, which was held on Monday, 17 April 2023, Dr. AlMalik expressed his appreciation for the distinguished cooperation between ICESCO and the Space Foundation, and the implementation of the terms of the agreement signed between the two sides in August 2021. For the record, the MoU focuses on the qualification and capacity building of youth in the field of space science by jointly organizing several seminars and workshops, encouraging innovation, and benefiting from space science applications to serve the goals of sustainable development.

For his part, Mr. Zelibor reaffirmed the Space Foundation’s pride in the fruitful cooperation with ICESCO, and its importance in opening new horizons for cooperation with a number of space agencies and leading research centers in the field in the countries of the Islamic world.
The meeting touched upon the results of joint programs and projects between the two sides. It was agreed to strengthen and develop cooperation between ICESCO and the Space Foundation and to maintain coordination to agree on new joint programs and projects.

At the end of the meeting, the ICESCO Director-General and the Chief Executive Officer of the Space Foundation exchanged souvenirs.

The meeting was attended by Ms. Kathryn Thornton Former Chairwoman of the Space Foundation, and Ms. Shelli Brunswick, Chief Operating Officer of Space Foundation, and from ICESCO, by Dr. Raheel Qamar, head of the Science and Technology Sector, and Dr. Mohamed Sharif, advisor at the sector.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), is taking part in the 38th Space Symposium organized by the Space Foundation in Colorado, USA. The Director-General is heading the delegation of the Science and Technology Sector participating in this Symposium, which kicked off on Monday, April 17, 2023, amid high-caliber attendance including officials from space agencies and bodies from different parts of the world, the private sector, and major corporations active in the field of space and space science.

Organized annually since 1984, this year’s session of the Symposium is held over four days, with the participation of about 14,000 attendees and more than 250 international corporations. The Symposium is the first American event to discuss space policy and programs and highlight the latest developments in the field of space sciences.

ICESCO’s participation in this international event reflects its vision and strategic orientations, which both adopt supporting the Member States to foster investment in space sciences and applications to anticipate the challenges of the future and keep up with the scientific advancements to ultimately achieve sustainable development and promote peace.
The Director-General and his accompanying delegation also held a series of meetings with bodies working in the field of space to explore prospects of cooperation between these institutions and ICESCO in efforts to promote space sciences in the Islamic world.

The delegation consisted of Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of the Sector of Science and Technology, and Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Advisor at the Sector.

The world commemorates April 18 as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, which is an opportunity to recall the importance of tangible and intangible cultural heritage in the whole world, in general, and the abundance, diversity and authenticity of heritage in the Islamic world in particular, which bears witness to its remarkable contributions in shaping human civilization.

On this occasion, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) renews its call for preserving and valorizing the Islamic world heritage, raising awareness of its importance all over the world, sustaining efforts to highlight the great importance of preserving and promoting this cultural heritage and intensifying efforts geared toward its inscription on World Heritage Lists.

On this occasion, ICESCO stresses the importance of highlighting cultural heritage of all kinds in its Member States and urges that efforts be aimed at the protection of historical monuments and sites. In this context, the Organization recalls its unwavering efforts to protect its Member States’ heritage, mainly through the establishment of the Islamic World Heritage Center, the organization of multiple training sessions geared towards building the capacities of heritage professionals in Member States, the creation of a portal for heritage promotion, and the inscription of over 430 sites, landmarks and cultural elements on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage Lists since 2019.

Against this backdrop, ICESCO calls upon all countries, civil society organizations and the private sector to cooperate closely and intensify efforts to protect the civilizational and cultural heritage of the Islamic world, particularly in conflict areas. The Organization also calls for the enactment of stringent laws and regulations criminalizing the illegal trade in valuable archeological artefacts, which represent a shared human heritage handed down from generation to another.

ICESCO stresses the importance of using modern technology and artificial intelligence for preserving and protecting heritage sites and monuments. It also calls for the creation of interactive platforms for these sites and monuments with the aim of publicizing them and raising awareness about their importance in human civilization.

Amid a festive Ramadan atmosphere and the joyful laughs of children in their traditional attires highlighting the richness and diversity of the Islamic world, the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat hosted a celebration day under the theme, “ I am fasting today,” welcoming 90 children from a number of its Member States.

The day, organized by ICESCO on Saturday, April 15, 2023, aimed at introducing the participating children to the role of fasting in consolidating the values ​​of compassion, cooperation and solidarity among Muslim individuals and communities.

The event saw the participation of children between the ages of 7 and 12, from among the children of members of diplomatic missions and expatriates from the Member States residing in the Kingdom of Morocco, as well as children of ICESCO staff members.

The day served as a platform to share insights about the customs and traditions of their countries during the holy month of Ramadan.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, was keen to attend this celebration and accompany the children in various cultural activities.

He also encouraged them to talk about their artistic and cultural hobbies and shared with them the benefits of fasting such as self-discipline and teaching lofty values ​​and morals.

The program featured cultural, educational and artistic activities, which kicked off with two reciters reciting verses from the Holy Quran, followed by a segment of madih, performed by a group of youngsters participating in the ceremony.

The children were introduced to several religious values, the significance of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, and the virtue of Laylat al-Qadr.

They also participated in various cultural activities in an atmosphere of fun and joy, notably drawing and coloring workshops, and decorating girls’ hands with henna, in addition to educational games and contests suitable for young ages.

The children also listened to a number of tales and stories related to fasting in the month of Ramadan, narrated by the storyteller Muhammad Soussi Alawi Hashem, known as Baba Ashour, a research professor in heritage in the Kingdom of Morocco.

Following the activities, ICESCO held an Iftar reception in honor of the participating children.

The celebration concluded with the distribution of gifts to the children, including books on the Prophet’s Seerah and copies of the Holy Qur’an.

The International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, which is hosted by the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), will return to the visiting hours that were followed before the blessed month of Ramadan, after a week-long holiday on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr starting from Monday, April 17. It will open its doors to the public again as of Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

After this holiday, visiting hours for the Exhibition and Museum will start from 10:00 am and finish at 6:00 pm Rabat time, from Tuesday to Sunday.

The International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization at ICESCO Headquarters is witnessing an increasing interest from all age groups from different Moroccan cities and residents and guests of the Kingdom, as the number of its visitors has now exceeded one million and 200 thousand visitors since its opening to the general public on November 28, 2022, which is the first of its kind outside its headquarters in Medina, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ICESCO’s headquarters hosting the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization is the fruit of the strategic partnership between ICESCO, the Muslim World League (MWL) and Morocco’s Mohammadia League of Scholars, Under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him.

The International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization seek to showcase the message of Islam and its values of justice, peace, mercy, tolerance, coexistence and moderation from the Holy Quran, Prophet’s Sunnah (PBUH) and the bright Islamic history through using the latest technologies and artificial intelligence.

The Exhibition and the Museum receive visitors for free by booking tickets for individuals via the link: http://tickets.ma.salamfairs.com.sa/. For booking a group visit, please contact the customer service representative on the phone number:  00212761222222.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has won the Grand Prize for Heritage in its first edition, in the category of international organizations, which is awarded by the Association for the Protection and Promotion of Moroccan Heritage, in recognition of ICESCO’s initiatives in the field of preserving and safeguarding the Islamic world heritage, publicizing it and inscribing it on heritage lists.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), received the Prize from Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, during a ceremony held on the evening of Friday, April 7, 2023, at the archaeological site of Chellah in Rabat, attended by senior officials, public personalities and heritage experts.

The Grand Prize for Heritage in the category of personalities was won by Mr. André Azoulay, Advisor to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, President of the Three Cultures Foundation and President of the Essaouira-Mogador Association, in recognition of his efforts in creating the House of Memory in Essaouira.

The award was received on his behalf by Dr. Said Amzazi, former Minister of National Education, Vocational Training and Higher Education and Scientific Research, while the Al Moultaqa Foundation won the award in the category of non-governmental organizations.

The ceremony witnessed the awarding of a commemorative shield to the Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, in recognition of his efforts in the field of cultural heritage protection and safeguarding in the Kingdom of Morocco.

In his address at the ceremony, Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s key efforts in promoting culture and enhancing the tangible and intangible heritage of the countries of the Islamic world, as well as contributing to its protection and safeguarding through the establishment of a specialized heritage center and the inscription of more than 600 historical sites and cultural heritage elements on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage Lists, stressing that the Organization is working to inscribe 1000 sites and elements by the end of 2025.

He also pointed out that ICESCO uses modern technology and artificial intelligence applications to overcome the challenges of preserving cultural heritage in the Islamic world.

ICESCO DG expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the Association for the Protection and Promotion of Moroccan Heritage and Al Multaqa Foundation, stressing his pride that ICESCO has won the Grand Prize for Heritage in its first edition, given the fact that it came from the Kingdom of Morocco which is one of the countries that exert the highest efforts in celebrating culture and promoting heritage.

On the occasion of World Health Day, the Science and Technology Sector at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held today, Friday, April 7, 2023, a symposium under the theme, “Health for All” to discuss ways and mechanisms to promote healthcare in the countries of the Islamic world.

The symposium saw the participation of several experts and specialists in the fields of healthcare, genetics, modern technology and artificial intelligence.

In his opening remark at the Symposium, held via videoconference, Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of the Science and Technology Sector at ICESCO, highlighted the Organization’s efforts to contribute to improving healthcare in its Member States, through a number of programs and projects, notably, ICESCO Program for Improving Water and Sanitation and Hygiene Services in 1000 Rural Schools in the Islamic World, the Health Consortium Initiative, which includes research centers and institutes specialized in the field of health in some Member States, and scientific networks that aim to organize training sessions for the benefit of workers in the field.

The event brought together scientists from Pakistan, Malaysia, Ghana and the United States of America, who stressed the need to intensify international and regional efforts to increase investment in modern technology and artificial intelligence to benefit from their applications in the field of health.

They also highlighted the importance of involving governments, international and regional organizations and individuals in the process of innovation and training of specialized professionals in the health sector.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) expresses its sincere thanks and profound gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and his Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for the unwavering support to the Organization’s efforts, plans, programmes and activities.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, commended the outstanding partnership between the Organization and many Saudi institutions, in close coordination with the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, as presided by Prince Badr bin Farhan Al-Saud, Minister of Culture, which is manifested in many forms of strong cooperation. Such productive relation is in line with the endeavor of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to enhance the roles of international organizations, especially those operating in the fields of education, culture and science, and in harmony with the Kingdom Vision 2030 aimed at exploring new prospects for intelligent creativity in various socio-economic and cultural activities.
Dr. AlMalik added that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has set an example for the efforts geared towards supporting the Organization by fulfilling all its financial obligations to ICESCO, amounting to eighteen million seven hundred thousand dollars, which constitutes an unprecedented initiative mirroring the steady progress and successful achievements within ICESCO.

In this regard, Dr. AlMalik has sent two letters of thanks and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and his Crown Prince, Prince Muhammad bin Salman, expressing the Organization’s pride in this continued support, which will certainly result in remarkable achievements, Allah willing, in many parts of our Islamic world.