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    Category: News update

    News

    ICESCO Takes Part in UAE Virtual Exhibition Launch “Coexistence Based on Knowledge”

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    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part yesterday, August 9, in the launch of the first exhibition of knowledge for tolerance and human fraternity.

    Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence of the State of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) organized the five-day exhibition via videoconference under the theme “Coexistence Based on Knowledge,” with the participation of 150 publishers and 87 writers and intellectuals.

    Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan delivered the opening address. Dr. Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director-General of the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) then held a webinar under the title “Coexistence in the Thought of Zayed.”

    Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Director of the Department of Dialogue and Cultural Diversity at ICESCO, addressed the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in widening the reach of tolerance, coexistence, dialogue, and joint action.

    Several activities marked the first exhibition, including the signing ceremony of multiple books and a virtual visit to the participating publishing houses.
    Dr. Majdi Haj Ibrahim, Program Expert at ICESCO, represented the organization.

    ICESCO Director-General Meets Ambassador of Argentina to Rabat

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    Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) met on August 7 Mr. Raúl Guastavino, Ambassador of Argentina to Morocco, to explore cooperation prospects between the Organization and the country.

    During the meeting, held at the Embassy of Argentina in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik underlined the open-door policy in ICESCO’s vision and strategy that seeks to sustain productive partnerships, in service of ICESCO’s Member States and Muslim communities across the globe.

    Dr. AlMalik also noted that ICESCO adopted a new regulations charter for Observer States to ensure active participation and sustainable cooperation between both parties. He seized the opportunity to invite Argentina to join ICESCO as an Observer State.

    The DG highlighted ICESCO’s substantial initiatives, activities, and programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed that the initiatives support the most vulnerable Member States in mitigating the impact of the pandemic.

    The list of the initiatives includes the “Societies We Want,” which provided humanitarian aids and prevention supplies; and supported young and women entrepreneurs in several states. They also include “ICESCO Digital Home”, which abounds with a large collection of digital, educational, cultural, and outreach contents in various languages.

    The DG also mentioned the “Comprehensive Humanitarian Coalition Initiative,” which many countries, international organizations, and civil society institutions joined and supported. He invited Argentina’s institutions and major corporations to also join the coalition.

    The Argentinian Ambassador commended ICESCO’s clear-sighted vision and the remarkable diversity of its activities. The Ambassador inquired about the scope of work and the possibility of kick-starting cooperation between the two parties. Ambassador Guastavino reaffirmed the numerous cooperation opportunities between the Organization and Argentina in charge of education, culture, and science.

    Mr. Guastavino also noted that Argentina has a large Islamic center and is home to a Muslim community that enjoys equal rights and freedom within the Argentinian society.

    Yemen Requests Song of Sanaa Inscription on ICESCO Islamic Heritage List

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    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Thursday, August 6 Mr. Azzedine Al-Asbahi, Ambassador of Yemen to Morocco to explore cultural and heritage cooperation between the Organization and the country.

    During yesterday’s meeting, Mr. Al-Asbahi submitted to ICESCO’s DG a formal request from the Yemeni Ministry of Culture to inscribe elements of Yemen’s intangible cultural heritage on the Islamic World Heritage List (IWHL). The focus was on the “Song of Sanaa” (al-Ghina al-San’ani) and the “Palm Tree: traditions, skills and practices.” These two elements are on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. UNESCO added the “Song of Sanaa” and the Palm Tree File, a joined file from 14 Arab countries, to the list in 2008 and 2019, respectively.

    The DG welcomed the Yemeni request, promising to examine and submit it to the Islamic World Heritage Committee (IWHC) at the earliest. Dr. AlMalik added that the aesthetic features, beautiful rhythms, and unique lyrics of the “Song of Sanaa” are distinguishing features from other musical genres. ICESCO’s DG also described the palm tree as an authentic Arab heritage.

    The Yemeni Ambassador informed Dr. AlMalik of the current disconcerting state of heritage in Yemen due to the heavy rain in the country during the last period. He added that the inclement weather caused landslides in some historic sites and the collapse of four historic buildings in the Old City of Sanaa, which are included in the World Heritage List. Ambassador Al-Asbahi stated that the impact of climate change adds to a long list of dangers threatening the Yemeni heritage. He also explained that 74 out of 114 of the 500-year-old dragon tree, found in Socotra Island, are under the threat of extinction in the next 100 years if the environmental situation in the region persists.

    The two parties agreed on the importance of joint action to safeguard the Yemeni heritage, as a substantial addition to human heritage and civilizational legacy for future generations.

    ICESCO and German Leibniz Association Discuss Cooperation in Science and Technology

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    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Matthias Beller, Vice-President of the Leibniz Association, explored on Wednesday, August 5 cooperation prospects between their respective entities in the fields of science and technology.

    Dr. AlMalik underlined the open-door policy in ICESCO’s vision and strategy that seeks to sustain partnerships with states, international organizations, and civil society institutions. The DG also noted that there are wide prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and the Leibniz Association, a leading research institution in Germany, stressing that science is the world’s driving force to a brighter future.

    The meeting highlighted the importance of bridging education to science and technology. The two parties agreed that deploying technology for the advancement of education in various stages is paramount.

    The meeting also addressed giving dropout students access to quality education and highlighted ICESCO’s role in sustaining schooling within its Member States during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The potential partners reviewed future cooperation programs. The proposals pertained to the fields of scientific research, capacity-building, cultural heritage, and the environmental initiatives. The proposals also suggested providing school grants for students from ICESCO’s Member States and linking the Association’s institutes (96 specialized institute) with the Member States’ research centers and universities.

    Dr. Beller reaffirmed the Association’s keenness to cooperate with ICESCO, particularly in organizing international conferences, workshops, and training sessions. He added that the Association will organize several activities across the world.

    ICESCO and the association agreed to draft a partnership and cooperation agreement. The agreement would feature practical cooperation programs with defined goals and tangible results. ICESCO’s directors of sector attended yesterday’s videoconference.

    ICESCO Expresses Sympathy and Donates USD100,000 to Lebanon

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    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), expressed his heartfelt sympathy to the people and government of Lebanon, following the explosion that rocked Beirut and caused hundreds of fatalities and injuries.

    Dr. AlMalik also conveyed his condolences yesterday, August 4 to the Lebanese Ambassador to Morocco, Mr. Ziad Atallah, stressing that the Lebanese people can overcome this tragedy through the nation’s strong will. The DG also announced ICESCO’s USD 100,000 donation to ensure the continuity of the educational activities amid these exceptional circumstances.

    New Cooperation Prospects between ICESCO and Uzbekistan

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    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Mr. Furqat Sadiqov, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, explored Tuesday, August 4 the cooperation prospects between the Organization and the country in the coming period.

    The meeting came amid the celebration of “Bukhara as the 2020 Islamic World Capital of Culture for the Asian region.” Mr. Ulugbek Maksudov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Saudi Arabia, and several directors of sectors in ICESCO attended today’s meeting via videoconferencing.

    Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s keenness to develop special cooperation with Uzbekistan, a country with a rich civilization and remarkable contributions to Islamic history in the fields of education, science, and culture.

    The DG highlighted ICESCO’s substantial initiatives and programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed that the initiatives support the most vulnerable Member States in mitigating the impact of the pandemic.

    One notable example is the Comprehensive Humanitarian Coalition Initiative, which many countries and international organizations and institutions joined and supported, seizing the opportunity to invite Uzbekistan to join the Coalition.

    The Deputy Foreign Minister commended ICESCO’s efforts to support its Member States in the light of the current pandemic. Mr. Sadiqov also set forth multiple proposals from the Uzbek Ministry of Culture and the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan to promote a partnership between the Republic of Uzbekistan and ICESCO.

    The proposals included organizing international festivals in Uzbekistan under the aegis of ICESCO. It also listed cooperating with ICESCO to hold an international conference on tangible and intangible heritage in the Islamic world in 2022 in Bukhara. ICESCO and the Academy would also develop workshops and training sessions, particularly in teaching Arabic.

    The DG welcomed these proposals and reaffirmed the special attention the Organization pays to all the recommended topics, especially the conference on heritage in the Islamic world. Dr. AlMalik also noted that ICESCO has inscribed many heritage sites on the Islamic World Heritage List and has recently received new applications to inscribe more. ICESCO’s DG invited Uzbekistan to submit inscription files to the Organization to inscribe its historic sites.

    At the end of the meeting, the two parties agreed to work together to advance the true image of the Islamic civilization and culture, which call for coexistence and dialogue.

    ICESCO Director-General Receives Lebanese Ambassador to Rabat

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    Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) met today, July 29, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat Mr. Ziad Atallah, the Lebanese Ambassador to Morocco.

    The two officials discussed possible ways for promising cooperation between ICESCO and Lebanon in the fields of education, science, and culture.

    During this meeting, Dr. AlMalik expressed ICESCO’s readiness to support educational, scientific, and cultural institutions in Lebanon. The support consists of executive programs and specific projects, depending on Lebanon’s priorities.

    He added that ICESCO’s vision and strategic action plan approaches the states and civil society institutions in charge of financing several of these projects and programs.

    The Lebanese Ambassador, in turn, commended ICESCO’s efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the initiatives it launched to counter its impacts and support the countries most affected.

    Ambassador Atallah also expressed the embassy’s willingness to cooperate with the Organization in implementing educational, scientific, and cultural activities.

    Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Director of Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Director of the Department of Dialogue and Cultural Diversity, and Ms. Zineb Iraqi, Supervisor of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences, attended the meeting.

    Discussions between ICESCO Director-General and Iranian Vice President on  Women and Family Affairs

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    Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Masoumeh Ebtekar, Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran on Women and Family Affairs, held a videoconference today, July 29 to discuss future cooperation programmes between the Organization and the country.

    During this meeting, the Iranian Vice-President commended the ICESCO’s initiatives to bolster Member States’ efforts in addressing the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. She also stressed the need for the Islamic Ummah to stand firm, actively cooperate, and support each other, especially in times of crisis.

    Dr. Ebtekar reviewed Iran’s efforts and cooperation with countries of the Islamic world to address the pandemic, reaffirming that support for families to overcome these difficult times is a priority.

    The Vice-President noted that an international center for family dialogue had been established to communicate more with individuals to address the problems they may face. She also expressed her willingness to share this know-how with ICESCO Member States through cooperation to hold a forum within the framework of the “The Societies We Want” initiative.

    Dr. AlMalik supported the proposal and invited the Iranian Vice-President as the keynote speaker. The programme for the event will be defined at a later date. It will include a presentation of the know-how acquired by the Iranian Centre for Family Dialogue during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    ICESCO’s DG stressed that the Organization had undergone a major modernization over the past year and strengthened its team by recruiting young and distinguished skills. ICESCO thus became a center of expertise and a beacon of international influence in the fields of education, science, and culture.

    He indicated that this pandemic, which some regarded as a trial, was ICESCO’s opportunity to work intensively on implementing several practical initiatives and executive programmes.

    The initiatives include ICESCO Prize for the Fight against Coronavirus, which will award US$ 200,000 to those who discover an effective cure or preventive vaccine against the virus.  “ICESCO Digital Home” initiative offers knowledge and educational content.

    Many states, international organizations, and donor institutions have also joined the “Comprehensive Humanitarian Coalition” initiative, to which Iran and its institutions may also participate.

    Dr. Gholam-Reza Karimi, Secretary-General of the Iranian National Commission, officials of the Iranian National Commission, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and ICESCO’s Directors of Sectors attended the meeting.

    At the end of the meeting, both sides agreed that the coming period would see extensive cooperation between Iran and ICESCO in Organization’s fields of activity. The initial step is organizing the International Forum to be held within the framework of the “Societies We Want” initiative, on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and children.

    ICESCO and Japan Explore Cooperation in Education, Science, and Culture

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    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), explored with Mr. SHINOZUKA Takashi, Ambassador of Japan to Morocco, the prospects of successful cooperation and partnership between ICESCO and Japan in the fields of education, science, and culture.

    During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed that ICESCO’s vision and strategy to adopt open-door policy and seek to build partnerships that would serve its Member States and Muslim communities around the globe.

    He added that ICESCO set a new Charter of the Observer States to allow such countries to effectively participate in the various activities and contribute to building partnerships with the Organization. Dr. AlMalik also called on Japan to join the Organization as an Observer State.

    The DG also reviewed the ICESCO’s major initiatives, programmes, and activities that support the efforts of the Member States and the international community to counter the negative repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The initiatives include the “Comprehensive Humanitarian Coalition,” which targets countries affected by the pandemic and most vulnerable groups.

    Dr. AlMalik noted that Japan and the Japanese private institutions are welcome to join this coalition.

    The Japanese Ambassador to Rabat commended ICESCO’s initiatives and sustained efforts to support the Member States in the fields of education, science, and culture. He highlighted that Japan launched many initiatives to counter the adverse effects of the pandemic and assist many countries most affected by it.

    The two parties agreed to Japan’s support of ICESCO’s educational, scientific, and cultural projects, particularly in Africa, through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

    ICESCO’s Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Director of the Sector of Partnerships and International Cooperation; Ambassador Khaled Fathalrahman, Director of Dialogue and Cultural Diversity; and Ms. Rime Jirari, Head of Organizations and Bodies Department also attended the meeting.
    The meeting took place at ICESCO headquarters.

    ICESCO Conference: International Ministers, Expert Recognize Seriousness of Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property

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    The participants in the International Virtual Conference on “Combating Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property and its Restitution,” recognized yesterday, July 28, the seriousness of illicit trafficking in cultural property threatening the human civilizational heritage.

    This event came amid the worsening crime and the growing e-markets and auctions of stolen artifacts on social media.

    The statements were part of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (ICESCO) conference, in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

    Several participating ministers in charge of heritage in their respective countries stressed the need to update the relevant national legislation and international conventions in line with the increase of cultural property theft amid conflicts and instability in many Muslim countries. Prominent international experts in the restitution of antiquities seconded the call.

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO’s Director-General, and Dr. Khalid Al-Anani, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, gave the opening addresses. The conference included four working sessions. Dr. Khalid Al-Anani chaired the first session to explore the current situation of illicit trafficking in cultural property in the Islamic world.

    Each of Dr. Hassan Nazim, Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities in Iraq; Mr. Jean-Michel Abimbola, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Arts in Benin; Mr. Abdel Illah Afifi, representative of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports in Morocco; Ms. Elena Vlachogianni, representative of the Minister of Culture and Sports in Greece; and Mr. Roberto Ricardo, representative of the Minister of Culture in Italy, made a presentation.

    Dr. AlMalik chaired the second session to tackle challenges to combating illicit trafficking in cultural property with a focus on the methods developed for trafficking in cultural property.

    The session included three presentations. Mr. Ezzedin Saeed Al-Asbahi, Ambassador of Yemen to Morocco, stated that the war and armed conflict in his country had been the greatest challenges to the protection of the Yemeni cultural properties. He added that Yemen had lost thousands of cultural artifacts, including the oldest version of the Holy Quran written on a deerskin leather and the oldest version of the Bible.

    On his part, Dr. Ghazi Gherairi, Ambassador of Tunisia to UNESCO, reaffirmed that the underwater heritage is as important to conserve and protect as other types of heritage. Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of Culture and Emergencies –UNESCO, said that the legal and legislative issues should be taken seriously to combat such illicit trafficking.

    Ms. Sophie Delepierre, Head of the heritage protection and capacity building department at the ICOM Secretariat, stressed the need to promote countries’ protection methods of their heritage. Finally, Ms. Lynda Albertson, CEO of ARCA, stated that ARCA seeks to provide historical files of any artifact as a first step toward combating suspicious collections.

    Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman Omer, Director of Dialogue and Cultural Diversity at ICESCO, chaired the third session to discuss the “Challenges to combating illicit trafficking in cultural property: International conventions and national legislation.”

    Ms. Katie A. Paul, Founder and Co-Director of ATHAR Project, highlighted the status of illicit trafficking in cultural property on social media and ATHAR’s efforts to track down people behind such crime.

    Mr. Matthew Bogdanos, Manhattan New-York Attorney, also pointed out the importance of cooperation and partnership in combating illicit trafficking in cultural property. Mr. Neil James Brodie, an International expert in cultural heritage protection, stated that laws should be developed, and research works upgraded to combat these crimes.
    Ms. Marina Schneider, Legal Officer and Treaty Depositary UNIDROIT, reaffirmed that purchasers’ goodwill is not an excuse to condone antiquities trafficking and does not preclude its criminalization.

    The final presentation was made by Dr. Samuel Hardy, Cultural property criminologist, Oslo University, Norway, who stated that there are popular markets of stolen artifacts.
    Mr. Al-Asbahi chaired the last session on the “role of ICESCO in enhancing countries’ capacities to combat illicit trafficking of cultural property.” During this session, four presentations were made.

    Dr. Shaaban Abdel Jawad, Supervisor of the Restituted Antiquities Department, Egypt, stated that Egypt succeeded in recovering thousands of artifacts given that this action is part of the Egyptian government’s priorities.
    Dr. Eyad Kadhem, Director General of Cultural Heritage, Iraq, also underscored the continuous efforts of the Iraqi authorities to restitute thousands of stolen artifacts. He added that the Iraqi laws impose severe sanctions against any illegal acquisition of artifacts.

    Ms. Nawal Dahmani, Central Director in charge of the file of illicit trafficking in cultural heritage, Algeria, said that capacity-building in the field of heritage should not be limited to experts.

    The last presentation was delivered by Dr. Shaheen abu el-Futuh, Professor of International Law, Austria, who highlighted that the Egyptian law considers artifacts trafficking as an imprescriptible offense and called on all countries to adopt such principle.

    At the closing session, Egypt reiterated its offer to hold a face-to-face conference in the coming months, under the patronage of its President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, on combating illicit trafficking in cultural property.

    The country also announced the upcoming issuance of a declaration that meets the aspirations of the participants.

    Dr. AlMalik made a closing address wherein he underscored that the outcome of this conference is represented by cooperation and solidarity in combating illicit trafficking in cultural property. He also thanked Egypt for convening a conference, under the patronage of President al-Sissi, which will likely give impetus to the pertinent issue.