Category: News

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), took part in the opening of the history and contemporary art exhibition titled “Paradise Gardens: The Art of Russian Islam,” on Tuesday, 12 May 2026. The exhibition is organized by the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation at its headquarters in Kazan, with high-level attendance, including ministers and officials, led by Ms. Irada Ayupova, Minister of Culture of Tatarstan.

In his opening remarks, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the special significance of the exhibition, being organized concurrently with ICESCO’s celebration of Kazan as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2026. He underscored that this celebration represents an exceptional opportunity to showcase the city’s cultural treasures to the world and strengthen artistic and intellectual exchange among civilizations.

The ICESCO Director-General commended the cultural outreach of the exhibition, which embodies the memory of the city of Kazan through its poetry, musical melodies, and handicrafts across the ages. He emphasized that the city speaks the language of culture through its streets, architecture, and distinguished museums, a characteristic shared by Tatarstan as a whole, where music, painting, and traditional crafts flourish, and where the literary heritage and poetry of Abdullah Tukay illuminate the minds and hearts of its people.

Dr. AlMalik affirmed that the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan opens broader horizons for Tatar culture by shedding light on the richness of national heritage, in addition to its role in presenting the region’s artistic identity and promoting cultural dialogue among nations and peoples.

He concluded by commending the efforts of the Ministry of Culture of Tatarstan in promoting cultural excellence, which have contributed to making Kazan a shining model of a city where heritage and contemporary creativity coexist in complete harmony.

It is worth noting that the National Museum of the Republic of Tatarstan is the oldest museum in the country. It houses the private collection of Russian archaeologist and historian Andrei Likhachev, comprising 40,000 artifacts, as well as a valuable collection of rare manuscripts and the personal archives of prominent figures in Tatar culture.

The General Conference of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) unanimously approved the re-election of Dr. Salim M. AlMalik as Director-General of the Organization for a new term, following Dr. AlMalik’s nomination by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during the 15th session of the General Conference, which kicked off on Wednesday, 13 May 2026, in Kazan, in the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation.

In this context, the ICESCO General Conference approved a proposal submitted by the Arab Republic of Egypt to add two years to Dr. AlMalik’s first mandate, in compensation for the exceptional circumstances imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and its repercussions on the Organization’s strategic plans, and in recognition of the significant progress achieved by ICESCO at both the international and regional levels.

In his address following the election, Dr. AlMalik expressed his deep appreciation and gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may Allah protect him, and to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, for the honor of his nomination. He noted that this nomination reflects the Kingdom’s approach to strengthening inspiring leadership, mobilizing human capacities, and advancing Saudi leaders to assume positions of leadership in international organizations, thereby reaffirming the Kingdom’s advanced role in building a future founded on peace, security, and prosperity.

Dr. AlMalik affirmed that ICESCO, as the civilizational voice of the Islamic world, stands ready to move forward with its Member States to translate civilizational enlightenment into reality, particularly as a historic opportunity opens for the Islamic world to advance boldly in shaping a new era. He emphasized that the region possesses the material and human capacities that qualify it to achieve its aspirations.

It is worth noting that ICESCO has, in recent years, undergone comprehensive development and extensive modernization across its sectors, departments, and centers, in line with innovative action plans and a strategic vision aimed at developing and implementing pioneering initiatives, programs, and projects in the fields of education, science, technology, culture, and communication. This has been accompanied by openness to broad partnership horizons that have positioned the Organization at the forefront of advanced, high-performing, and distinguished regional organizations.

Kazan Federal University in the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation hosted a cultural seminar dedicated to “Khamissiyat”, the poetry collection of Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), on Tuesday, 12 May 2026. The event was attended by Dr. Murat Gatin, Assistant to the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan and Deputy Chairman of the “Russia – Islamic World” Strategic Vision Group, along with university officials, academics, researchers, students, and individuals interested in cultural affairs.

During the seminar, Dr. AlMalik presented his vision of poetry as a space for contemplation and a medium for shaping meaning, considering that measured verse remains capable of consolidating values and cultivating a refined taste. He further emphasized that literary creativity constitutes a complementary dimension to cultural and intellectual work in a rapidly changing world.

Dr. AlMalik also shared details of his experience with “Khamissiyat,” explaining that the work brought him new friendships and opened for him worlds and horizons previously unfamiliar to him. It also deepened his connection to his homeland, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. While love for his homeland had long been present within his conscience, the five-line poems, as he expressed it, came to articulate that love through an aesthetic awareness befitting the “homeland of values and beauty.”

He explained that the writing of this poetry collection extended over eleven consecutive years, during which he composed five-line poems characterized by density of meaning and reflections on contemplation, identity, and values. He also addressed the writing of poetry in the age of artificial intelligence, affirming that lived human experience is the substance that grants poetry its uniqueness, and that poetic texts cannot be reduced to technology alone, but are instead shaped by the pulse and journey of human beings.

Dr. AlMalik added that “Khamissiyat” enabled him to move beyond the formal handling of issues concerning the Islamic world toward a more human and emotionally resonant mode of expression, which he described as a gain that broadens the horizons of expression and brings the message closer to people.

Following the seminar, students recited excerpts from “Khamissiyat,” touching on themes of faith, wisdom, ethics, and praise of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). The university subsequently proposed translating the collection into Russian, a proposal warmly welcomed by Dr. AlMalik.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a forum titled “The Blue Economy Needs Her: Digitalization, Innovation, and Women’s Leadership,” featuring experts and professionals from African countries who participated in person and remotely. The forum took place on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in celebration of the International Day for Women in the Maritime Sector on May 18.

During the opening session, a video message from ICESCO Director-General Dr. Salim M. AlMalik was streamed. In the message, he emphasized that the forum went beyond a simple discussion of maritime economic opportunities, reflecting a deeper ambition to broaden the horizons of participation, leadership, and human progress. He noted that throughout history, ports have been places where civilizations intersect and ideas are exchanged. He added that today’s digital transformation is reshaping maritime industries and opening new avenues for development and cooperation.

Dr. AlMalik added that women are increasingly asserting their presence at the heart of these transformations. He emphasized that their participation in leadership roles enriches institutions with a renewed vision and strengthens the human dimension of innovation. Dr. AlMalik also noted that the blue economy occupies a prominent place among ICESCO’s strategic priorities, especially since more than 40 of the Organization’s Member States are coastal countries. This opens up vast prospects for food security, scientific cooperation, and economic resilience.

Ms. Sabah Lazraq, Director of the Fisheries Industry at Morocco’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water, and Forests, emphasized that developing the blue economy requires supporting the digital transition and promoting innovation within maritime value chains. She highlighted the importance of facilitating women’s access to training, professional empowerment, and entrepreneurship in maritime professions.

This was followed by a high-level session that brought together leading speakers from Africa and stakeholders from the maritime sector. The discussions focused on women’s leadership in the blue economy from strategic and practical perspectives, combining visions, on-the-ground experiences, and success stories.

The forum included a specialized workshop titled “Women, Digitalization, and the Future of Ports,” led by Dr. Sara AlMahri, a researcher and startup founder at the University of Cambridge. Dr. AlMahri presented a forward-looking vision of the inclusive digitalization of ports and provided concrete examples illustrating how innovation can create new opportunities for women entrepreneurs.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has won the Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain Award for Creativity in the Service of the Arabic Language in the category of institutions during its second edition, which this year focused on the theme of teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers.

The Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain Cultural Foundation in the State of Kuwait, in cooperation with the Arab Parliament, announced that ICESCO had won the prize for its Network System for Educational Proficiency (Mishkat) project, jointly with the project of the Center of Education Development for Envoys and Foreign Students at Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in the Arab Republic of Egypt.

It is worth noting that the total value of the prize amounts to USD 100,000, including USD 40,000 allocated to the Individuals Category and USD 60,000 to the Institutions Category. The second edition of the prize received 142 submissions, including 124 scholarly works in the Individuals Category and 18 specialized projects in the Institutions Category.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), extends his warmest congratulations to the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco on the remarkable success of the 31st Rabat International Book Fair, held on 1-10 May 2026, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, concurrently with the celebration of Rabat as the World Book Capital for 2026.

Dr. AlMalik commended the distinctive qualities of this edition, including a balanced, high-quality participation and a broad cultural presence, with a record participation of 61 countries and 891 exhibitors, as well as more than 130,000 titles and over 3 million copies on display across various fields of creativity and knowledge, reinforcing the fair’s standing as a prominent international event dedicated to reading and publishing.

ICESCO Director-General also lauded the cultural program of this edition, which celebrated the legacy of the traveler Ibn Battuta and featured more than 204 events with the participation of over 720 speakers, including intellectuals and creators, who discussed issues related to books and reading as well as developments in the cultural and creative industries.

Dr. AlMalik stressed that ICESCO’s pavilion marked a significant participation in this edition, hosting more than 60 activities organized under the supervision of the Organization’s Culture Sector, with the participation of a group of ICESCO’s intellects, writers, poets, and experts. He noted the Organization’s commitment to continuing its support for major cultural initiatives and strengthening partnerships that promote cultural influence in the Islamic world.

The pavilion of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) at the 31st Rabat International Book and Publishing Fair hosted a poetry evening as part of the CESCO Women Poets Forum, organized by the Organization’s Center for Poetry and Literature. The event was attended by poets, researchers, and cultural stakeholders, reflecting the growing presence of women’s poetic voices on the Arab and Islamic cultural scene.

The evening, held on Sunday, May 10, 2026, featured Moroccan poets Khadija Ayach, Dr. Khadija Al Saidi, Nabila Hamani, and Aicha Idkir, who delivered readings ranging from emotional and humanistic to national themes, in an atmosphere celebrating the power of the word and poetry’s ability to build bridges between cultures and safeguard human memory.

The event also included a tribute to Tunisian poet Jamila Al Majri, Director of the House of Poetry in Kairouan, who recited selected poems and praised the CESCO Women Poets Forum, and the cultural role played by the Organization in supporting creative women and strengthening their presence in cultural and creative spaces across the Islamic world.

The evening further featured the presentation of poetry collections published in cooperation with the ICESCO Center for Civilizational Dialogue, as part of the project “20 Moons in the Poetry Sky”, which aims to publish 20 poetry collections by 20 women poets, as an initiative to highlight women’s poetic experience and document its creative output.