Category: News update

Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) together with ICESCO delegation, took part in the opening of the 12th edition of the Maqamat Festival, organized by the Bouregreg Association in Salé, in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication in the Kingdom of Morocco. The Festival is Salé’s contribution to the celebration of Rabat as Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022.

The opening ceremony witnessed the participation of several officials, representatives of local authorities and key political, cultural and art personalities. The event also paid tribute to many prominent individuals, notably Dr. Abbas Jirari, and the great artist and maestro of Gharnati music, Sheikh Ahmed Pirou, who was awarded ICESCO’s Shield by ICESCO Deputy DG.

The 12th edition of the Maqamat festival is held between June 6 and June 17, 2022, under the theme, Salé’s Celebration of Rabat” as a tribute from the Association and the City of Salé to Rabat, on the occasion of the celebration of Rabat as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022 and Capital of African Culture for 2022.

The festival features the organization of a number of cultural activities, poetry readings, musical shows and a musical entitled, “Capital of Culture and Lights in Prose and Verse,” which will see the participation of poets, literary figures, artists and musicians.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) hails the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s initiative to hold the first-ever Islamic Arts Biennale in the world, under the theme “First House”, in Jeddah, from January 23 to April 23, 2023.

The Diriyah Biennial Foundation announced the organization of the first session of the Islamic Arts Biennial at the Western Pilgrims Hall at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, under the supervision of an international team of specialists in various artistic fields.

According to the Saudi Foundation, the site will contain a section extending over an area of 70,000m², including facilities dedicated to the activities of the Biennale, exhibition halls, theatre, mosque, art workshops and seminar rooms, which will host the various activities of the Biennale, in addition to shops, cafes and restaurants.

It is noteworthy that “Biennale” is an Italian word meaning a periodic exhibition held every one or two years for all arts, including sculpture, photography, graphic, video, composite works and models.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Arab Publishers’ Association (APA) held a meeting to explore prospects for cooperation between the Organization and the Association to support the printing and publishing industry, as part of addressing challenges facing this industry’s pivotal role in preserving cultural identity.

The meeting, which took place on June 6, 2022, at ICESCO’s pavilion at the International Book and Publishing Fair in the Moroccan capital Rabat, was attended by Mr. Mohamed Rashad, APA President, members of the Association’s Board of Directors as well as several publishers participating in the Fair. On behalf of Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), Dr. Mohamed Zinealabidine, Head of the Culture and Communication Sector, Mr. Najib Rhiati, Cultural Advisor to the DG, and Mr. Samy El Kamhawy, Head of the Department of Information and Institutional Communication attended the meeting.

At the outset of the meeting, the two parties reaffirmed their eagerness to build fruitful cooperation in services of culture and support the printing and publishing industry to achieve its enlightening goals. They mutually expressed their readiness and openness to discuss all proposals for a strong partnership between ICESCO and APA.

The meeting touched on discussing several cooperation proposals, whether in printing and publishing or in participating in book fairs in the ICESCO Member States, especially in the African continent. The Association looks forward to ICESCO’s participation in the 6th meeting of the APA Conference, to be hosted by the Emirate of Sharjah next November, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, Member of the Federal Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Sharjah, as well as cooperation between ICESCO and APA in organizing a conference in 2023, on the challenges facing the printing and publishing industry.

At the close of the meeting, the Organization and the Association agreed to sustain meetings and to set executive plans and practical programs for cooperation between ICESCO and APA.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participate in the 27th International Book and Publishing Fair in the Kingdom of Morocco, which is held this year in Rabat, from June 2 to 12, within the framework of the celebration of Rabat, Culture Capital in the Islamic World 2022, under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, as part of ICESCO’s Programme for Cultural Capitals.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), and his delegation will attend the official opening of the fair, whose current session celebrates African literature, promising to bring renewal and offer exciting prospects.

The pavilion of ICESCO features a large collection of the Organization’s books and studies in the fields of education, science, culture, media, communication and human sciences, in addition to the publications and brochures that introduce the key initiatives, programmes and projects of ICESCO. Visitors can download these publications for free.

The pavilion will screen a series of videos produced by the Organization, introducing ICESCO’s fields of action, initiatives, programmes, achievements, and training sessions.

ICESCO pavilion will host seminars and intellectual meetings for the heads of sector, department and center of the Organization and many experts to discuss ICESCO’s programmes, projects, vision and action strategy.

The programme of the ICESCO pavilion features the distribution of prizes, including a prize that will be awarded every day to a winner from the pavilion’s visitors and a daily prize for a winner from among the participants in the ICESCO short video competition on the landmarks of Rabat. the best 3 videos will receive the shields of the competition.

The pavilion includes a section of cultural and artistic activities for children, such as drawing and coloring, and an introduction to children’s fashion in various Islamic countries. Children can take pictures while wearing these costumes.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the Conference to launch the Document on Education Development in the Arab World, which was held by the Arab Parliament in cooperation with the Ministry of Education in the Kingdom of Bahrain, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Supreme Council for the development of education and training in Bahrain, under the theme: “Bahrain the gateway to the development of education in the Arab world.” The Conference saw the participation of the speakers of Arab legislative councils and parliaments, as well as representatives of the organizations concerned.

The Document on Education Development in the Arab World aims to contribute to the establishment of high-quality Arab educational systems that would instill the values of belongingness, good citizenship, loyalty, sense of responsibility and devotion to the homeland, in a way that contributes to achieving development and progress.

Dr. Omar Halli, Advisor to the Director-General for the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW) represented ICESCO at the Conference, which kicked off on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. In his presentation, Dr. Halli highlighted the Organization’s involvement in educational development programs at all levels, from primary education to higher education, through launching and implementing practical programs. He also reaffirmed ICESCO’s eagerness to work on networking in various programs as part of the objectives of the Document, which provides an integrated vision for the development of the educational system in the Arab countries, in accordance with the requirements of the current stage and the present and future challenges facing education in the Arab world.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the Virtual Informal Regional Consultation of Arab Region and Western Asia, held by the State of Qatar, the Education Above All Foundation in Qatar, and the United Nations, in preparation for the “Transforming Education Summit 2022,” to be held in New York next September. The meeting brought together ministers of education, representatives of ministries, international organizations, and civil society from 23 countries in the Arab region and West Asia.

The meeting took place on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, and was chaired by Mrs. Buthaina Bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, Qatari Minister of Education and Higher Education. In their interventions during the meeting, the participants emphasized the importance of ensuring education, pointing out that the Summit will take place at an opportune time when the world is adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic and recovering from its aftermaths, and where their countries are exerting tireless efforts to transform their education systems and taking various measures to cope with the crisis.

For her part, Dr. Boly Barry Koumbou, Head of ICESCO’s Education Sector, underscored the need for international cooperation and solidarity with marginalized groups, noting the Organization’s efforts toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) and transforming education. She also presented an action plan for organizing a high-level international forum on guaranteeing girls’ right to education, on the sidelines of the Transforming Education Summit in New York.

The meeting saw the participation of Mrs. Amira Fadel, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and a host of experts at ICESCO’s Education Sector.