The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the King Fahd School of Translation, affiliated with Abdelmalek Essaâdi University in the Kingdom of Morocco, signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday, 2 July 2025, to collaborate in the fields of research and specialized training in translation and publishing.
The signing ceremony took place at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, in conjunction with the opening of the International Symposium “The Role of Translation in Enhancing National and International Security”, organized by ICESCO and Naif Arab University for Security Sciences. The MoU was signed by Dr. Ahmed AlBanyan, Director of the Translation and Publishing Center at ICESCO, and Dr. Mohamed Kharchich, Director of King Fahd School of Translation.
According to the terms of the MoU, cooperation between the two parties will include strengthening joint action on translation projects from and into Arabic; organizing meetings, conferences, and scientific, research, and technical seminars; exchanging knowledge resources and digital materials; and holding training workshops in written and oral translation. The Agreement also provides opportunities for students of the school to complete internships at ICESCO.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), delivered a series of inspiring messages to the youth of the Islamic world during the opening ceremony of “Marrakech, Capital of Islamic World Youth 2025.”
Dr. AlMalik emphasized that success is not defined by titles or positions, but by the impact one has on the lives of others. He urged young people to “walk steadily and with great humility, for the tree, when it bears fruit, bends down. If you fall, do not despair, for falling is not the end but a lesson to learn and a driving force for success.”
He also called on youth to remain rooted in their values and to cherish their homelands, reminding them that every achievement brings a smile to a mother’s face and reassurance to the heart of a nation that awaits the contributions of its children. He encouraged them to leave a lasting mark in life, likening the compassionate doctor and the dedicated engineer to those who create enduring human legacies.
Moreover, Dr. AlMalik stressed the importance of mastering future skills. “Those who prepare today will be among the builders of tomorrow, while those who lag behind may find no place for themselves in a fast-paced world that waits for no one. Learn the languages of tomorrow—coding, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity—and remember that learning is a lifelong journey.”
This message formed part of his address at the official launch of “Marrakech, Capital of Islamic World Youth 2025,” held on Monday, June 30, 2025, as part of the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum. The event is held under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, and brings together around 200 young men and women from 48 countries.
Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s strong belief in the vital role of youth in building prosperous futures for their nations and reviving the glory of Islamic civilization. He emphasized the need to trust young people and provide them with real spaces for creativity and innovation.
He also praised the tremendous efforts of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco for bringing culture to life in every street and square of the country. He commended the unwavering support of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who views youth as the nation’s greatest wealth and considers culture a bridge to development and peace.
In closing, Dr. AlMalik lauded Marrakech’s unique status and well-earned titles, calling it a capital of dreams, youth, and innovation. He noted that ICESCO had previously designated Marrakech as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2024, a celebration marked by rich cultural and artistic programming that showcased the city’s vibrant heritage and civilizational diversity.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Omar Sherif Abdoelrahman, Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname to the Kingdom of Morocco, on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat. During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in the fields of civilizational dialogue and the promotion of the values of peace, diversity, and coexistence among young people in the Islamic world.
Both sides also stressed the importance of continued and direct communication between them, as well as the implementation of joint programs and initiatives in the educational, scientific, and cultural fields. In this vein, Dr. AlMalik reiterated ICESCO’s openness to learning more about Suriname’s priorities and needs in its fields of competence in order to design projects that meet those priorities.
The ICESCO Director-General also pointed out that building a strategic partnership with Suriname would provide a bridge to effective communication with the countries of the Islamic world and enable the implementation of joint programs with Member States in areas of common interest.
For his part, Mr. Abdoelrahman expressed his country’s willingness to cooperate with ICESCO and engage with the innovative initiatives and activities it offers to its Member States. He stressed the importance of supporting the diversity that characterizes the Islamic world and strengthening its unity, praising the Organization’s efforts in this field.
During the meeting, a number of suggested programs and projects were discussed, including the launch of two civilizational dialogue programs between Suriname and the Islamic world: “Exploring Paths to Understanding and Dialogue” and “Dialogue Between the Youth of Suriname and the Youth of the Islamic World.”
On Monday, 23 June 2025, Porto-Novo, the capital of the Republic of Benin, hosted the inauguration ceremony of the ICESCO–Hamdan Bin Rashid Global Arabic Language Caravan in non-Arabic-speaking West African countries. The Caravan sets off from Benin and will continue its journey through Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal.
The Caravan aims to develop teachers’ language competencies and encourage the adoption of modern teaching methods that leverage digital technologies, thereby contributing to the advancement of Arabic language education programs in West Africa and strengthening the language’s presence in the region’s educational and cultural life. This initiative falls within ICESCO’s broader efforts to promote the Arabic language in multilingual African communities and to build the capacities of teachers specializing in teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by numerous official and academic figures, including Dr. Okpeicha Abossèdé Paulette, Secretary-General of the Beninese National Commission for UNESCO and ICESCO (MEMP), along with officials from the Ministry of Education and Culture of Benin, university professors, and representatives of prominent religious, educational, and social organizations.
ICESCO was represented at the ceremony by Dr. Anas Hossam Said Al-Nuaimi, expert at the Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, who is overseeing the linguistic program of the Caravan for five days, in collaboration with national expert Dr. Lassissi Bassirou.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Zhanseit Tuimebayev, Chairman of the Board of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, on Tuesday, 24 June 2025, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat. The two parties discussed avenues for enhancing cooperation in knowledge exchange, artificial intelligence, youth capacity-building, and the promotion of peace and tolerance.
At the outset of the meeting, which was also attended by Ms. Saulekul Sailaukyzy, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Morocco and Kazakhstan’s Permanent Delegate to ICESCO, Dr. AlMalik praised the fruitful cooperation between ICESCO and Kazakh institutions. He highlighted joint efforts such as organizing conferences on prominent Muslim world figures and implementing youth training programmes in fields including technology, innovation, and smart agriculture.
Moreover, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s commitment to deepening partnerships with leading academic institutions in the Islamic world, recognizing their scientific and intellectual contributions. He expressed his intention to strengthen collaboration with Al-Farabi University through knowledge exchange initiatives and youth capacity-building programmes.
For his part, Dr. Tuimebayev commended ICESCO’s recognized efforts to advance higher education and scientific research across its Member States. He proposed the establishment of an ICESCO office at Al-Farabi University in Almaty to help foster academic and research cooperation among universities in Kazakhstan and neighboring Member States.
The two parties agreed to form a joint working group to explore the implementation of programmes and projects in artificial intelligence, sustainable peacebuilding, and preparing youth for future professions.
At the close of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik and Dr. Tuimebayev exchanged commemorative shields and gifts.
The meeting was also attended by Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sector, and Ms. Sally Mabrouk, Head of the Director-General’s Office and Supervisor of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), participated as a keynote speaker in the opening session of the Roundtable of Ministers of Education and Higher Education of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), held in Langkawi, Malaysia. Dr. AlMalik delivered a comprehensive address entitled “From Dropout to Opportunity: Reclaiming the Future through Inclusive Education.”
At the outset, Dr. AlMalik warned that the increasing dropout of children and youth poses a growing threat to social stability and sustainable development, noting that over 250 million children and adolescents are currently out of school worldwide, including 98 million in sub-Saharan Africa—the highest figure globally. Dr. AlMalik stressed that this crisis demands urgent collective action, emphasizing that the consequences of school dropout extend beyond individuals, affecting families, communities, and nations through widening poverty gaps, reduced empowerment opportunities, and heightened risks of early marriage, child labor, and marginalization.
Moreover, Dr. AlMalik highlighted ICESCO’s key initiatives in this field, including reintegrating over 19,000 girls into education in Yemen with support from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief); providing psychosocial, technical, and logistical support to internally displaced girls and boarders in Burkina Faso in cooperation with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation; improving sanitation and educational facilities in 240 schools across eight countries under the WASH programme, benefiting over 240,000 students; and deploying mobile education units for girls in remote areas of Nigeria.
In sum, Dr. AlMalik outlined five strategic recommendations to address school dropout:
Integrate the goal of keeping boys and girls in school, especially during adolescence, into national education strategies;
Create alternative pathways to reintegrate those who left school due to early marriage, labor, displacement, or conflict;
Foster safe and inclusive school environments and develop gender-sensitive curricula that include inspiring female role models;
Empower local communities, especially women-led initiatives, to drive education solutions;
Bridge the digital divide to ensure equal access to digital education and future learning opportunities for all children.
Dr. AlMalik called on education ministers to adopt a regional roadmap that can be updated at each ASEAN conference cycle, affirming ICESCO’s readiness to serve as a key partner in designing and implementing this vision.
In closing, he extended an open invitation to all participants to attend ICESCO’s upcoming Education Ministers’ Conference, set for September 2026, and to visit the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat, where policies are crafted and partnerships are built to promote more inclusive, equitable, and empowering education.
The opening session also featured keynote addresses by H.E Dr. Fadhlina Sidek, Malaysia’s Minister of Education; H.E. San Lwin, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Socio-Cultural Community; and Ms. Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa, UNESCO Representative to several Asian countries. They emphasized innovative approaches to closing education gaps and ensuring that every child and youth has equal access to quality education as a vital investment in their potential and in building a better future.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) concluded its program on training youth on setting up and developing small projects in the fields of technology and innovation in the Republic of Sierra Leone. The close of the training program, implemented by ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sector, in partnership with the Eastern Technical University of Sierra Leone, was marked by the announcement of three winning projects, out of the 49 participating teams at the national level.
During the two-day event, contestants presented their projects before a jury. During his remarks at the opening session, Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Advisor at the Sector of Science and Environment, stressed the importance of integrating the youth of the Islamic world in the fields of entrepreneurship, modern technology and innovation to contribute to achieving sustainable development in their communities.
Winning first place, the Mamawa Muyengay Agric Business team presented their project to integrate and improve the living conditions of youth, women and the elderly in rural areas through building their capacities in the fields of cassava farming. The second place went to Mujehva Plastic and Sand Paving Enterprise, for their projects to recycle plastic to make sustainable pavements, while the third place went to MS Agro Rice Farming, a project dedicated to rice farming in inland valleys to promote best practices in the field of agriculture.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) received a student delegation from Duke University—one of the most prestigious universities in the United States—on Tuesday, 3 June 2025, as part of its efforts to promote cultural dialogue and academic exchange with leading international academic institutions.
Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, welcomed the delegation and delivered an address highlighting the Organization’s mission, strategic objectives, and role in supporting its Member States and strengthening international cooperation.
For his part, Mr. Mohammed Hedi Shili, Head of Legal Affairs and International Standards at ICESCO, emphasized Duke University’s global reputation and its excellence in education and scientific research.
Professor Mbaye Bashir Lo, faculty member at Duke University and Director of the “Duke in the Arab World” Academic Program, gave an overview of the university and its history, noting that it currently ranks sixth among top U.S. universities in terms of academic excellence and research output.
Moreover, Dr. Said El Hassan, Director of Studies and Research at the Khalid El Hassan Foundation in the Kingdom of Morocco, emphasized that the visit was organized as part of a tailored academic program for the visiting students. He highlighted the academic cooperation between the Foundation and Duke University, and expressed his appreciation to ICESCO for its warm welcome.
ICESCO experts also delivered presentations on the Organization’s key programs and initiatives in education, science, and culture, as well as its ongoing efforts to empower youth and promote civilizational dialogue.
The visit concluded with a tour of ICESCO’s Mishkat Hall, where Dr. Adel Bouraoui, Advisor to the ICESCO Director-General, presented an overview of the Mishkat training programs, which focus on enhancing Arabic language proficiency among non-Arabic speakers.
As part of the cooperation between the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), represented by its Center for Civilizational Dialogue, and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Chair at the Euro-Mediterranean University of Fez (UEMF), ICESCO headquarters in Rabat hosted, on Monday, 2 June 2025, a graduation ceremony for trainees who successfully completed a specialized training program on civilizational diplomacy and its role in conflict resolution using artificial intelligence tools and techniques.
The ceremony was attended by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General; Dr. Abdelhak Azzouzi, President of the UN Alliance of Civilizations Chair; Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Head of ICESCO’s Center for Civilizational Dialogue; along with a number of ICESCO heads and program trainees.
The event opened with remarks by Ambassador Fathalrahman, who highlighted the strength of ICESCO’s ties with international institutions and organizations, and the importance of such partnerships in developing the skills of youth and those involved in dialogue and civilizational diplomacy.
In his remarks, Dr. Benarafa underscored ICESCO’s commitment to developing advanced tools that serve the Islamic world in addressing growing challenges, particularly in the fields of civilizational dialogue and intercultural communication.
For his part, Dr. Azzouzi emphasized the importance of promoting religious and cultural diversity among postgraduate students specializing in law and conflict resolution, noting the need to integrate this dimension into academic curricula.
In his remarks, Dr. Abdelfettah Belamchi, Director of the Moroccan Center for Development and Parallel Diplomacy (CMDPDC) in Rabat, commended ICESCO’s efforts to institutionalize the concept of civilizational diplomacy and praised the publication of its new book titled Civilizational Diplomacy: A New Concept.
Furthermore, Mr. Mohammed Hedi Shili, Head of Legal Affairs and International Standards at ICESCO, stressed the importance of such training programs in establishing a clear legal methodology for trainees, and called for the adoption of an ethical code on artificial intelligence to ensure its responsible use, warning against risks associated with bias in AI applications.
Dr. Ahmed Said Ould Bah, Advisor to the ICESCO Director-General, affirmed the added value of these training programs, which yield direct benefits for participants and contribute to fostering a culture of dialogue and enhancing effective communication.
The ceremony concluded with remarks by Dr. Mohammed Zinelabidine, Head of the Culture Sector at ICESCO, who shed light on the evolution of civilizational dialogue and its close connection to civilizational diplomacy, affirming that constructive intercultural dialogue is key to success and positive global impact.
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has learned with great sadness of the passing of Dr. Abdelhak El Mrini, Historian of the Kingdom of Morocco and former Royal Palace Spokesperson, on Monday evening, 2 June 2025, at the age of 91.
On this sorrowful occasion, ICESCO’s Director-General, leadership, and staff extend their deepest condolences to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, to the family of the deceased, and to the Moroccan people. They beseech Allah Almighty to shower him with mercy and grant him a place in Paradise.
Renowned for his distinguished scholarly and intellectual contributions, Dr. El Mrini was one of the prominent figures in Moroccan thought, history, and literature. He held several high-ranking positions, most notably Director of Royal Palaces, Honors, and Decorations.
Born in 1934 in Rabat, Dr. El Mrini distinguished himself early on in the fields of education and research. He earned several advanced degrees in Morocco and France, including a PhD in Literature. His pioneering works include The Moroccan Army Throughout History, Jihad Poetry in Moroccan Literature, and Introduction to the History of Modern Morocco.
Dr. El Mrini maintained a special relationship with ICESCO, participating in several of its cultural and intellectual events. He was a distinguished guest in ICESCO’s Ramadan series Ramadan Whiffs and Intellectual Sparks in 1443 AH / 2022 AD, where he delivered a lecture titled Highlights about Tea in Morocco. He was also a regular attendee at the ICESCO Cultural Forum, alongside leading intellectuals, underscoring his esteemed status in the Moroccan and Islamic cultural spheres.
May Allah have mercy on the departed. To Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.
