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    Category: News update

    News

    ICESCO Director-General Participates in Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Kazakhstan

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    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), led the Organization’s delegation to the opening session of the 8th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, hosted by the Center for Interfaith Dialogue in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 17-18 September 2025, under the chairmanship of H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

    The opening session began with a speech by President Tokayev, who emphasized the importance of interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence, highlighting Kazakhstan’s role as a hub for promoting global harmony and mutual respect among different cultures and religions.

    In his address, Dr. AlMalik reviewed global developments in their humanitarian context, noting that estrangement, bloodshed, destruction, greed, and instability have become dominant features of today’s world, compounded by the absence of values of brotherhood, dialogue, and coexistence. He stressed that the roots of the crises facing humanity lie in spiritual emptiness.

    Dr. AlMalik underlined the pivotal role of religious leaders in overcoming humanitarian challenges, stating that “religious diplomacy,” which ICESCO has integrated into its broader vision of “civilizational diplomacy,” offers the most effective means to build a world founded on peace, security, values, and noble ethics.

    Furthermore, Dr. AlMalik presented several recommendations, including the establishment of a reference observatory to provide information, conduct analyses, and propose orientations and policies for religious leaders; mobilizing experts aware of the role of civilizational diplomacy in its spiritual and religious dimensions while employing modern tools; and creating an evidence base to anticipate the capacity of religious leaders to fulfill their roles.

    The Congress gathers senior religious leaders and policymakers to promote dialogue among faith leaders, address contemporary challenges in interreligious relations, foster peace, and uphold shared human values.

    The ICESCO delegation included Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of ICESCO’s Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Abdulhakeem AlSenan, Director of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku.

    ICESCO Announces the Winners of the “Most Innovative Youth Projects for Peace” Contest

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    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is pleased to announce the winners of the “Most Innovative Youth Projects for Peace” contest. This contest enables ICESCO’s young ambassadors for peace to present concrete projects that will benefit their communities. It is a practical application of the training they received from the third edition of the “Leadership Training in Peace and Security (LTIPS)” program.

    A total of 42 projects were submitted for this edition and were evaluated by a multidisciplinary jury composed of ICESCO experts based on their ability to contribute to peacebuilding, as well as their degree of innovation and sustainability.

    The jury announced the following winners:
    • Ms. Sarah Khalil Qeshta (Egypt) was recognized for her project, the “Peace Library Initiative,” which provides a holistic educational experience promoting peace, climate awareness, and sustainable development.
    • Ms. Soumayatou Sa’adia Nabaloum (Burkina Faso) was recognized for her project, the “School of Resilience,” which focuses on developing the leadership skills of displaced girls in Burkina Faso’s Passoré Province to strengthen their resilience.
    • Mr. Polat Allagulyyev (Turkmenistan) was recognized for his project, “Football for Peace,” which aims to promote gender equality, peacebuilding, and youth empowerment through a football festival.

    It is worth noting that the LTIPS has trained over 180 young people from 68 countries who have been selected as ICESCO ambassadors for peace.

    ICESCO Celebrates Success of its Agricultural Technology Projects in Central Asia

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    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) celebrated the success of its two flagship projects in Central Asia in the field of agricultural technology, during a workshop titled “Smart Agriculture: IoT Technologies and Biochar Applications,” held on September 8 and 9 , 2025, as part of “KazNARU’s Green Week 2025,” in Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan.

    The two projects, launched by ICESCO in 2024 in partnership with the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) and in cooperation with the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University (KazNARU), are: “Smarter Agriculture – A Brighter Future: Using IoT Technologies” and “The Use of Biotechnology for Sustainable Farming: Harnessing the Potential of Biochar.”

    Moreover, these projects aim to provide farmers, researchers, and policymakers in Central Asia with innovative tools and methods to address agricultural challenges, through intensive capacity-building programs, field applications, and training sessions. They also resulted in the development of two unique guides in the region, focusing respectively on smart agriculture and biochar.

    The workshop, which brought together 50 distinguished experts, featured knowledge-sharing, exchange of experiences, and practical demonstrations on how the Internet of Things and biochar can contribute to transforming the agricultural sector in the region. Participants also had the opportunity to test practical applications designed to enhance food security and improve resilience to climate change across Central Asia.

    ICESCO was represented at the workshop by Dr. Fahman Fathurrahman, Expert in the Science and Environment Sector, who emphasized that the two projects share a common vision to equip the agricultural sector in Central Asia with the practical tools and knowledge necessary to meet urgent challenges, through knowledge exchange and the adoption of the latest technologies.

    ICESCO Concludes First Edition of Content Creation Program at Egyptian Media Production City in Cairo

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    The first edition of the comprehensive media training program, “Content Creation,” concluded on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in partnership with the AbdulAziz Saud Al Babtain Cultural Foundation of Kuwait, the program took place at the Egyptian Media Production City (EMPC) in Cairo, Egypt.

    The program, which was attended by eighteen media professionals over a period of ten days, is part of a cooperation protocol between ICESCO and EMPC aimed to train media professionals from various Islamic countries and enhance their skills.

    The intensive program, held at the Up Skill Training Center at EMPC, included training sessions and professional workshops led by experts in the media industry. The program also included field visits to the headquarters of channels operating in the Media Production City, as well as practical training sessions in studios and open filming areas.

    Implemented and supervised by ICESCO’s Media and Communication Sector, the program was designed to hone participants’ media skills in content production by providing practical training in a professional media environment. It also aimed to train participants on the latest audiovisual content production techniques and equip them with directing, filming, editing, media content writing, and effective content management via social media platforms skills.

    At the end of the training session, Mr. Osama Heikal, head of ICESCO’s Media and Communication Sector, and Mr. Abdel Fattah El Gebaly, chairman of the board of directors and managing director of EMPC, presented ICESCO trainees with certificates of program completion.

    During the ceremony, Mr. Heikal thanked Dr. Salim AlMalik, ICESCO’s Director-General, for his interest in the program. He also thanked the Al Babtain Cultural Foundation for partnering with ICESCO to implement the program. Mr. Heikal also expressed his appreciation for EMPC’s efforts and mobilization of all their capabilities to the program.

    Mr. Heikal said that the training session marks the beginning of a distinguished partnership with the EMPC stating that it will positively impact the media landscape in the Islamic world. In his turn, Mr. El Gebaly expressed his delight in cooperating with ICESCO, given its prominent role and influence in education, science, culture, and communication in the Islamic world.

    Dr. Barakat Al Wegyan, director of Communication at the Media and Communication Sector, and Dr. Amany Farouk, director of the Training Center at EMPC, attended the ceremony.

    ICESCO Expresses Solidarity with Pakistan Following Devastating Floods

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    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) expresses its deep sorrow and sincere condolences to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, its leadership, government, and people, over the devastating floods that claimed hundreds of lives, displaced thousands, and caused unprecedented destruction to property and infrastructure. A disaster of such scale calls for solidarity and support from all countries of the world, so that the people of Pakistan may overcome the tragic conditions left behind by the catastrophe.

    While commending the responsible efforts made by the Pakistani authorities to mitigate the consequences of this painful calamity, the Organization conveys its full solidarity and support, affirming the depth of the ties binding ICESCO and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and reiterates its readiness to provide assistance that reflects its genuine stance during these difficult times.

    ICESCO Holds Workshop on the Role of Arts and Storytelling in Social Development

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    As part of the activities of the International Forum “Culture for Rethinking the World,” the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held the tenth session of its workshop on cultural communication for development, entitled “How do the arts and storytelling drive social change?” on Thursday, 24 July 2025.

    During the workshop, moderated by Ms. Souhaila El Jinani, Heritage and Museums Expert at the Culture Sector, Ms. Khadija Maalej, Media Expert and Project Manager at BBC Media Action, presented a number of inspiring examples that highlight the power of art and storytelling and their impact in various contexts, including a musician initiative from the State of Bengaluru, India, who used music to alleviate the difficult conditions of waste collectors and have a positive impact on their daily lives.

    Another example was shared from the Gaza Strip, in which animated cartoons were used to tell a symbolic story affirming the fundamental right of children to play and enjoy their childhood despite wars and conflicts.

    The workshop concluded with a presentation by Dr. Mohammed Zinelabidine, Head of the Culture Sector at ICESCO, who emphasized the role of media as catalysts for social change through the power of storytelling and artistic expression, and stressed their importance in concrete future projects in partnership with young creators and cultural actors.

    ICESCO’s Call to the World: Stop the Genocide and Starvation in Gaza

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    In light of the escalating crisis in the Gaza Strip, fueled by the systematic war of starvation imposed by the Zionist occupation authorities, no one has been spared: neither the elderly nor the young, neither mothers nor infants. The scale of suffering has reached unimaginable heights, surpassing even the darkest chapters of human conflict throughout history.

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in accordance with its mission and mandate, calls upon all forces of good from around the world, including decision-makers, leaders of international organizations, diplomats, civil society groups, scientists, writers, artists, and all those with a living conscience, to unite in solidarity and raise a collective voice that boldly proclaims the truth.

    We must uphold the dignity of humanity, safeguard its conscience, and spare it the condemnation of history as it bears witness, with its own eyes, to the greatest tragedy in human memory. This disaster shows how far the world has fallen by staying silent, while the machinery of starvation continues to claim the lives of innocents who perish under relentless assault—on the brink of a meal that never comes, a sip that never quenches their thirst.

    In accordance with its steadfast commitment to safeguarding human rights and humanitarian principles, and in response to international reports denouncing the war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocidal warfare perpetrated in the Gaza Strip, ICESCO categorically condemns the systematic brutality being visited upon Gaza. The Organization calls upon all parties concerned to oppose, through every available means, Israel’s policy of starvation and systematic slaughter—a policy that recognizes no boundaries of morality and operates with utter impunity.

    May Allah Almighty protect our brothers and sisters in Gaza and deliver them from their suffering.

    Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Receives ICESCO Director-General, Commends the Model Partnership Between the Kingdom and the Organization

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    His Excellency Mr. Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, received Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), on the afternoon of Wednesday, 23 July 2025, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Rabat.

    The meeting touched upon the fruitful cooperation between the Kingdom of Morocco and ICESCO, and the distinguished patronage and continuous attention the Organization enjoys from His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, which has been translated into tangible support from the Moroccan government for the Organization’s initiatives and programs. The Director-General praised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its strong support and great interest in ICESCO, clearly demonstrated by the Headquarters Agreement, which has become a model for relations between international organizations and host countries.

    During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik presented a brief overview of the key achievements realized since assuming leadership of the Organization. He highlighted ICESCO’s new strategic vision, which has positioned it as a leading institution at both regional and international levels. He also reviewed major activities carried out in the Kingdom of Morocco and outlined future areas of focus, chief among them: heritage preservation, exploration of artificial intelligence prospects, and capacity building in future-oriented professions.

    The Director-General affirmed that ICESCO is confidently advancing toward global leadership under the high patronage of His Majesty, noting that the Organization has earned numerous international certifications and accreditations reflecting its commitment to transparency, good governance, and institutional excellence.

    Dr. AlMalik further emphasized ICESCO’s dedication to attracting outstanding talent from across the Islamic world and empowering youth through training and employment in fields aligned with the future transformations of the job market.

    For his part, Minister Bourita commended ICESCO’s efforts and its growing role in enhancing the presence of the Islamic world in the fields of education, science, and culture.

    At the close of the meeting, the Director-General expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation to the Kingdom of Morocco for its gracious hosting of the Organization and the continued support it provides to ensure the success of its work and initiatives.

    ICESCO Convenes 2025 Regional Forum in Malaysia for Arabic Education Leaders in Southeast Asia

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    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, and in coordination with ICESCO’s Educational Center in Malaysia and the Islamic University of Selangor, is organizing the first periodic Regional Forum 2025 for the benefit of educational leaders in the field of Arabic language in Southeast Asia, under the theme: “Developing Productive and Creative Language Skills in the Era of Digital Applications and Artificial Intelligence.”

    ICESCO is represented at the forum, held at the Islamic University of Selangor in Malaysia from 21 to 24 July 2025, by Mr. Adel Bouraoui, Advisor to the Director-General in charge of ICESCO’s external bodies for the Arabic language, who participated in the official launch ceremony for the upgrade of the Islamic University of Selangor from a university college to a multidisciplinary university, under the patronage and in the presence of His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, along with several ministers and senior officials.

    In his address during the forum’s opening session, Dr. Bouraoui outlined ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations for teaching the Arabic language to non-Arabic speakers, which emphasize the critical importance of leveraging artificial intelligence and digital transformation to further elevate the status of the Arabic language and enhance learning and teaching programs for both native Arabic speakers and students of other linguistic backgrounds. Dr. Bouraoui also noted that this forum constitutes an integral part of the ICESCO–Hamdan Bin Rashid International Program to Support Arabic in Non-Arabic-Speaking Countries.

    The forum brings together ninety-five educational supervisors, policymakers, and select Arabic language instructors from Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, China, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The sessions feature a series of presentations and capacity-building workshops focused on leveraging educational technology and artificial intelligence to enhance Arabic language programs for non-Arabic speakers in their respective countries.

    The forum will explore diverse themes, including “Computational Linguistics and Language Teaching,” “Utilizing AI Applications in Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers,” and “Interactive E-Learning Platforms and Mobile Applications in Arabic Language Education.”

    ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku Holds First Workshop to Strengthen Regional Cooperation

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    The Regional Office of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Baku organized its first regional workshop under the theme “Strengthening Regional Cooperation in Education, Science, and Culture.” The workshop aimed to promote integration among Central Asian and Caucasus countries in ICESCO’s areas of work, operationalize the role of the Office as a regional hub that advances ICESCO’s strategic goals, and support the plans and priorities of Member States in the region.

    The workshop, held at ICESCO’s Office in Baku on Friday, 18 July 2025, opened with remarks by Dr. Abdulhakeem AlSenan, Director of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku, who welcomed the participants and affirmed the Office’s role as a bridge linking countries of the region to the broader Islamic world in the fields of education, science, and culture. Dr. AlSenan noted that the workshop marks a significant step toward strengthening joint action.

    Following this, Mr. Farid Jafarov, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, delivered remarks in which he emphasized the importance of ICESCO’s Regional Office, the unwavering support it receives from the Azerbaijani government, and the country’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its role and activities.

    For his part, Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, expressed the Organization’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Member States in the region through its Regional Office, by implementing projects aligned with their development priorities and responding to the cultural, educational, and scientific challenges they face.

    Moreover, Dr. Salim Al Habsi, Head of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences, underscored the Organization’s interest in the strategic role of its Baku Office and its commitment to supporting it as an effective platform for implementing regional programs.

    During the second session of the workshop, delegations from Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan presented their national priorities in education, culture, and scientific research. They expressed their interest in expanding collaboration with ICESCO’s Office and developing joint projects for capacity-building and enhanced cultural and scientific exchange. The delegations also presented innovative initiatives and ambitious proposals reflecting a spirit of partnership and openness to new avenues of cooperation.

    The workshop concluded with a SWOT analysis session to assess the status of ICESCO’s Regional Office, during which participants reviewed its strengths, opportunities, current challenges, and development proposals. The participants agreed on the importance of continuing such coordination meetings to strengthen regional cooperation and share expertise in priority areas.