Category: News

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), as part of the International Forum “Culture for Rethinking the World,” held a scientific symposium titled “Cultural Rights in the Face of Contemporary Transformations: Stocktaking and Assessment,” in partnership with the European Center for Cultural Accessibility and the National Resource Center for Accessibility to Leisure and Culture (CEMAFORRE). The symposium was organized in the context of preparations for the launch of the “Draft Charter of Cultural Rights in the Islamic World,” being developed by ICESCO in cooperation with the European Center for Cultural Accessibility.

At the opening of the symposium, held via videoconference on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of the Culture Sector at ICESCO, explained that the Draft Charter forms part of a vision aimed at strengthening the recognition of cultural rights, which remain absent or limited in implementation in a number of Member States. He added that translating these rights into reality is contingent upon a series of commitments involving various officials and other stakeholders.

For his part, Mr. André Fertier, Director of CEMAFORRE, stressed that the effectiveness of rights is not achieved solely through legal texts and standards, but also through their capacity to safeguard shared human dignity. He noted that, despite the growing recognition of these rights, forms of cultural discrimination persist in a number of societies.

In turn, Dr. Édith Lecourt, Professor of Clinical Psychology at Paris Descartes University, stated that music therapy can constitute an effective tool for alleviating psychological suffering and addressing certain forms of human vulnerability. She pointed out that cultural accessibility is a decisive factor in expanding this field and integrating it into structured initiatives for treatment and training.

Dr. Bouazza Benachir, a member of the Institute of African Studies in Rabat, affirmed that activating cultural rights requires their mainstreaming through an approach grounded in dignity, diversity, and respect for others, alongside the development of cooperation through cross-border projects.

At the conclusion of the symposium, participants agreed that the rapid transformations the world is witnessing today call for a rethinking of a global framework that ensures the consolidation of cultural rights as one of the pillars of sustainable human development.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with His Eminence Sheikh Shadi Alsuleiman, President of the Australian National Imams Council, on Wednesday, 29 April 2026, to explore prospects for joint cooperation between the Organization and the Council in the fields of civilizational dialogue, youth capacity-building, and civilizational upbringing.

During the meeting, held at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik underscored the importance of cooperation among organizations and institutions from within and beyond the Islamic world to promote the values of respect and coexistence. He highlighted the roles of religious leaders in bringing communities closer together as civilizational intermediaries.

Dr. AlMalik also reviewed the Organization’s key initiatives, programs, and activities in education, science, and the protection of culture and heritage in the Islamic world, as well as its efforts to promote civilizational dialogue. He further pointed out the Organization’s policy of openness aimed at exchanging expertise and advancing peace.

For his part, Sheikh Alsuleiman commended ICESCO’s contributions to building bridges of cultural exchange, stressing the importance of integrating Muslim youth into their societies so that they may become productive members. He added that the Australian National Imams Council stands ready to cooperate with ICESCO in promoting the history and civilization of the Islamic world.

The two sides agreed to establish a joint framework to implement programs in the fields of civilizational upbringing, youth leadership skills development, and the promotion of the tolerant image of Islam.

The meeting was attended on behalf of ICESCO by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General; Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector; Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Director of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue; Dr. Nidal Abuzuhri, Director of the Administrative Operations Department; and Dr. Hani Al Balawi, Expert at the Center for Civilizational Dialogue.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Duan Peng, President of Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) of the People’s Republic of China, on Tuesday, 28 April 2026. The meeting aimed to explore potential avenues of joint cooperation through the development and implementation of programs and projects in the fields of scholarships, youth vocational training, and the establishment of academic chairs and centers dedicated to promoting the heritage and civilization of the Islamic world and Chinese culture.

During the Meeting, held at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik emphasized that building a partnership between ICESCO and the University would serve as a bridge to enhance cultural exchange between China and the Islamic world, particularly within the framework of their recent civilizational rapprochement and their historical scientific contributions. He also reviewed ICESCO’s key initiatives and programs aimed at fostering youth entrepreneurship and supporting innovation and creativity in the fields of education, scientific research, space sciences, artificial intelligence, and culture.

Dr. AlMalik further highlighted the importance of joint cooperation in developing a summer camp at BLCU for the benefit of young men and women from ICESCO Member States, with a view to introducing them to Chinese culture and its rich heritage.

For his part, Dr. Duan Peng expressed the University’s readiness to develop training programs for students from the Islamic world and to establish an ICESCO Center for Arab Culture at the University to promote Arab civilization and its contributions across the ages. Furthermore, the President conveyed his University’s preparedness to develop a joint program for translating cultural and scientific books and publications from Arabic into Chinese, and to establish a joint academic chair aimed at promoting and safeguarding cultural wealth in China and the Islamic world.

During the Meeting, Dr. Duan Peng also revealed the University’s intention to award the Director-General of ICESCO an honorary doctorate in recognition of his efforts in advancing education, science, and culture, an initiative welcomed by Dr. AlMalik.

Following that, the two sides held an expanded meeting attended by a number of sector heads, as well as department and center directors at ICESCO, during which they agreed to establish a technical team to examine mechanisms for implementing these activities in the coming period. Discussions also covered programs for translating an Arabic medical dictionary into Chinese, developing ICESCO’s multilingual Artificial Intelligence Dictionary, digitizing libraries, and establishing a training hub at the University for teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers.

The Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers Curriculum Support Project concluded its activities in the Republic of Mauritius. The project was launched by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in partnership with the Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Foundation, and in cooperation with the Blue Crescent Society of Mauritius. A total of 375 male and female primary school students benefited from the project.

Launched in January of last year and concluded on Saturday, 25 April 2026, the project targeted 15 educational institutions across various regions of Mauritius. It provided these institutions with an integrated curriculum for teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers and equipped them with modern educational tools, including computers, projectors, and printers. ICESCO also delivered intensive training to 30 male and female teachers on effectively implementing the curriculum and using the educational tools in instruction.

The closing ceremony was attended by high-level dignitaries, led by His Excellency, former President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr. Abdool Raouf Bundhun; Mr. Fayez Meshel Altemyat, Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Mauritius; and Mr. Abdulaziz Al Maqoushi, Assistant to the Director-General of the Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Foundation.

During the closing session, Dr. Majdi Hajj Ibrahim, Head of the Arabic Language Center for Non-Arabic Speakers, stated in a speech delivered via videoconference that the project reflects ICESCO’s firm commitment to supporting educational initiatives with sustainable impact and strengthening the presence of the Arabic language in multilingual environments. He affirmed that the project’s outcomes crowned an integrated educational process implemented over several phases and constituted a successful model of international cooperation.

For his part, Dr. Youssef Ismaili, Head of the Language Training Division at ICESCO’s Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, delivered a presentation on the statistical indicators reflecting the scale of the achievements attained.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, training and qualification certificates were awarded to the participating teachers, along with participation certificates for the learners, in recognition of their commitment and perseverance throughout the project’s implementation phases.