Category: News update

The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, met on November 17, Mr. Mohamed Ould Hanani, Ambassador of Mauritania to Morocco, at the Organization’s headquarters. The two officials explored areas and programs of cooperation between ICESCO and Mauritania.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s vision and new working strategy. He touched on the Organization’s major developments, initiatives, activities, and programs to support Member States’ efforts in the face of adverse repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on educational, scientific, and cultural fields. He also mentioned the assistance the Organization extended to many countries, including Mauritania.

The Mauritanian Ambassador lauded the excellent work undertaken in its areas of competence while reaffirming his country’s willingness to sustain constructive measures with the ICESCO.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), reaffirmed that education is a bastion that should be protected from all forms of bigotry, defamation, and the rejection of differing views, and background.

“The educational institution should spread the culture of tolerance, respect, dialogue, cooperation, and acceptance of human diversity. It constitutes a space to raise national awareness and promote the proper social upbringing of children and youth, who should learn tolerance as an educational value to become good and open-minded citizens” he added.

The statement was part of Dr. AlMalik’s address at the 3rd Forum of the Kingdom’s Dialogues that King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue (KACND) in Saudi Arabia held on Monday, November 16, under the theme “We discourse for tolerance”. The videoconference brought together ministers, intellectuals, and directors of research centers as well as experts on the International Day of Tolerance.

Dr. AlMalik stated that teaching tolerance in educational institutions lies in rejecting discrimination between learners. “Daily interaction based on mutual respect can promote and enrich the national identity,” he continued.

“The culture of tolerance also aims to build a shared history of mankind in the future through the promotion of various sources of heritage. In Muslim countries, we have a diverse human heritage, which belongs to various nations and is part of our identity and civilizational wealth as well as a soft power at the international level,” stressed Dr. AlMalik.

ICESCO DG added that human societies today experience an unprecedented exchange of knowledge and constant communication. “We live side by side without isolation. The daily interaction is no more an option, it is rather a universal norm that should be rationally addressed and considered,” he stressed.

The DG highlighted that ICESCO, as part of its new vision, issued an international document to entrench the bases of solidarity and tolerance. The document, titled “ICESCO Declaration for Moral Solidarity,” received unanimous support from all international religious leadership and institutions. It tackles a key topic “moral solidarity in the face of crises” based on two foundations: the need for universal ethics and the need for preserving human dignity.

Dr. AlMalik underscored that ICESCO, along with its partners, launched a new action program for the benefit of universities and research institutions on the intellectual immunity from extremism. The Organization is also preparing the first guide on the deconstruction of extremism discourse and the first encyclopedia in the field while calling for cooperation with ICESCO by joining these civilizational projects.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s (ICESCO) Director-General (DG), received on Friday, November 13, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat, Mr. Mao Jun, Chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of China to Morocco, as well as his accompanying delegation. The two parties discussed the basis for a future partnership between ICESCO and China in the fields of education, science, and culture.

The DG expressed his thanks for the Chinese Embassy’s donation of 10 new computers and 10 printers. Dr. Chen Dongyun, Cultural Advisor at the Embassy, also attended the meeting.

The two parties discussed aspects of future cooperation, including ICESCO’s participation in the Chinese initiative to relaunch the Silk Road, scholarship opportunities in distinguished Chinese universities for young people from ICESCO’s Member States, and the creation of an ICESCO Chair in one of China’s pioneering universities.

The officials also discussed the training sessions opportunities, as well as China’s assistance, in cooperation with ICESCO, to the countries most in need to cope with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chinese Chargé d’affaires praised ICESCO’s dynamic performance, which the whole world witnessed during the pandemic. He also stressed his country’s readiness to ensure more cooperation with the Organization.

The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, expressed his condolences following the passing of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, may Allah rest his soul, at the Embassy of Bahrain in Rabat.

Mr. Bassam Dalhan al-Dosari, Advisor at the Embassy, welcomed Dr. AlMalik. The DG expressed, on ICESCO’s behalf, heartfelt condolences to His Majesty Hamad bin Issa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, the honorable Royal family, the Bahraini people as well as to the Arab-Islamic Ummah on the sad occasion.

In a message he wrote in the Embassy’s condolence book, ICESCO’s DG reaffirmed that the late Prince was a true statesman who dedicated his entire life to elevate the status of his nation and the support for all joint actions. Dr. AlMalik beseeched Allah to shower him with mercy and make paradise his eternal abode.

The headquarters of the Moroccan Ministry of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research saw yesterday, the launch of the “Project on countering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting innovation and the development of entrepreneurship among women and youth.”

The project is part of the cooperation between the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science, and Culture, with the support of Al-Waleed Philanthropies.
Before the beginning of the ceremony, Mr. Said Amzazi, Moroccan Minister of National Education, Chairman of the Moroccan Commission, held a special meeting with Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of ICESCO.

During the meeting, both parties reviewed the successful cooperation and partnership programs between ICESCO and Morocco. They also stressed the continuation of joint action to achieve the objectives of the agreed programs. Mr. Jamal Eddine El Aloua, Secretary-General of the Moroccan National Commission, and Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Cultural Advisor to ICESCO DG, also attended the meeting.

During the ceremony, Mr. Amzazi gave an address wherein he expressed his satisfaction with the project, marked by effective governance and based on a participatory approach and defining responsibilities through the creation of national coordination and follow-up unit to be headed by the Secretary-General of the Moroccan National Commission.

Mr. Amzazi also thanked ICESCO and its DG for the Organization’s services to the Member States based on forward-looking vision. He commended the efforts of the Moroccan Commission in keeping up with ICESCO’s projects and making progress within the framework of the strategic partnership to ensure the success of all projects.

In his address, Dr. AlMalik praised the great interest shown by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has made Morocco an example to follow in the implemented measures to deal with the negative repercussions of this pandemic.

The DG also expressed his thanks and gratitude to ICESCO’s permanent partner, Al-Waleed Philanthropies Foundation, whose Board of Directors is chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, for its generous donation and support to ICESCO’s humanitarian and social initiatives to assist 10 African countries, including Morocco. The project falls within the partnership.

Dr. AlMalik pointed out that under the new vision, the Organization has greatly supported the Member States through numerous initiatives to provide preventive, educational, and medical equipment and materials based on the needs of each country.

Ms. Maryam Ait Mahoucht, from the Moroccan National Commission, and Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Director of the Human and Social Sciences Sector at ICESCO, gave an explanation on the phases and details of the project as well as its implementation plan.

At the close of the ceremony, the two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation phases of the project, which aims at developing the sense of entrepreneurship among women and youth in Morocco and supporting the private sector, entrepreneurs, and small businesses.