Category: News update

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) strongly condemns the terrorist bombing attack that targeted an educational center west of Kabul, Afghanistan, causing dozens of casualties.

ICESCO reiterates its emphatic rejection of such terrorist acts, perpetrated in violation of all international laws and conventions, which target educational institutions, thus jeopardizing the learning opportunities of many citizens. ICESCO stands by the right to educati on as a cardinal right guaranteed by the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, adopted by virtue of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on 16 December 1966.

While conveying its sincere condolences and expressing its sympathy for the victims’ families and the Afghan people, ICESCO reaffirms its support to Afghanistan, as an ICESCO Member State, in its endeavor to erase traces of this cowardly terrorist act. The Organization will also contribute to rebuilding the educational center and support schools to ensure the continuity of schooling.

At the time when Muslims across the world celebrate the month of Rabi II of the Hijri year 1442, the month of birth of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, who was sent as a mercy to the world, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) follows with concern the growing rates of systemic offense targeting the character of the Prophet in the media and political discourse of some French officials. The unfolding situation in France is creating sentiments of anger, sadness, and shock among more than 1.5 billion Muslims and is inciting hatred among cultures and nations. The French officials are hiding behind flimsy explanations that conform to neither reason nor law to justify this vile attack against Muslim sanctities, following the isolated murder committed by an extremist against a French citizen, who occupied the position of a history and geography teacher in a French school.

While ICESCO denounces the heinous crime, rejects any religious justification for it, and considers it a blatant violation of the lofty principles of Islam, which equates the murder of an individual to a crime against humanity, the Organization finds it odd how some French officials attempt to incite conflict and exacerbate the campaign against Islam. The officials’ attempts aim to persecute French Muslims and violate their religious freedoms by enforcing discriminatory policies targeting their rites and forms of worship. The French officials insist on reprinting blasphemous caricatures of Prophet Muhammad and displaying them on the facades of French government buildings, concurrently with the annual celebration of the Prophet’s birth, thus undermining the foundations of dialogue, coexistence, and peace among nations, countries, and peoples.

While the Organization reaffirms its unwavering stance on condemning all terrorist acts and stands by the victims of acts of terror and their families, it also calls for having a sense of responsibility and rising above using Islam or any other religion to advance political agendas and election campaigns and create media sensationalism.
The Organization recalls the resolution of the European Court, issued on 25 October 2018, stipulating that “Defaming Prophet Muhammad is not covered by freedom of expression.” It, therefore, reaffirms its astute rejection of the association of terrorism with Islam or any other religion. The Organization also underlines that ridicule of Muslim sanctities is not freedom of expression but rather a premeditated insult that jeopardizes efforts of countries and international organizations to promote dialogue and world peace. ICESCO strongly calls for cutting with this atrocious behavior.

The real crisis the world faces today is that of the pandemic that has infected millions of peoples across the globe and shaken countries’ health infrastructures. This crisis calls for pooling efforts in the spirit of cooperation, solidarity, and human fraternity to fight the virus and help those in need. The major monotheistic religions were, and still are, at the frontlines of the battle against the scourges threatening human dignity and mental health, in a quest to promote the spiritual equilibrium of millions of people across the globe.

TTo ensure the safety of ICESCO’s staff, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), has given his instructions to conduct COVID-19 screening tests for the staff members and disinfect the entirety of the headquarters after an expert tested positive for the virus.

Dr. AlMalik also canceled all the scheduled internal and external activities and meetings as an extra preventive measure. He also called for holding virtual meetings to ensure the smooth and efficient progress of the Organization’s operations. The DG requested that employees who entered in contact with the infected person quarantine themselves until the necessary tests are conducted.

Dr. AlMalik stressed ICESCO’s further precautions. The Organization implemented strict measures since the outbreak of the pandemic following the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Moroccan health authorities.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the Hamdan Global Forum for Excellence that the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Foundation held the videoconference from 18 October to 22 October 2020, to bring together the representatives of several international organizations and hosts of educational experts and specialists.

Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Advisor to the Director-General (DG) for Partnerships and International Cooperation, represented ICESCO at the meeting. He presented the role of the partnership between ICESCO and the Hamdan Foundation in promoting the education sector.

The presentation touched on ICESCO’s major initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic in the fields of education, science, and culture. “ICESCO Digital Home” is among its notable initiative, which provides a variety of prompt measures for field support. The platform also combines comprehensive digital resources, including educational guides for all levels, software on educational, scientific, and technological contents for children and adults.

“ICESCO Digital Home is a field tool with a direct impact on the poor in the Member States. The platform also provides flexible communication tools, modern technologies, and comprehensive digital contents on ICESCO’s fields of action,” added Dr. Said.

The Organization’s participation at this forum is part of its cooperation with the Hamdan Foundation. The goal is to establish the “Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Fund for supporting ICESCO” and the “Hamdan-ICESCO Prize for Voluntary Development of Education Facilities in the Islamic World Countries.” The initiatives are part of the entities’ strategic partnership agreement.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in an academic webinar on “Recruiting Children in Conflict Zones.” The two-day webinar was organized by Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) in Saudi Arabia, in cooperation with the Red Cross International Committee. The videoconference started on Wednesday and gathered representatives of specialized Arab and international organizations as well as several researchers in the protection of children’s rights during armed conflicts.

The Department of Legal Affairs represented ICESCO in the Webinar, which addressed the issue of child recruitment. The Webinar also investigated the importance of promoting legal procedures to protect and rehabilitate children. It also highlighted the role of international organizations and their respective achievements in countering child recruitment.

Mr. Mohamed Hedi Sehili, Director of the Department of Legal Affairs presented an academic paper on “Frameworks and Mechanisms for Ensuring International Protection to Recruited Children in Conflict Zones.” He underlined the need to develop international legislations on protecting children during armed conflicts. Mr. Sehili also suggested fine-tuning national legislations to become compatible with international law by considering the digital aspect.

The ICESCO official also stressed the need to activate monitoring and deterrence mechanisms to ensure the effectiveness of the international legal frameworks. He noted that ICESCO renders great interest in protecting children in war zones as part of its vision to promote the culture of peace, security, and dialogue.