Category: News

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), called for integrating the principles and values of the Alliance of Civilizations into educational curricula, with the aim of nurturing generations that are aware of the culture of understanding and mutual respect. He proposed the launch of a comprehensive international initiative entitled “Alliance of Civilizations: From Values to Generations,” as a practical embodiment of applying the concept of dialogue in the real world among nations and peoples, in pursuit of a more balanced and harmonious world.

This came in his address during the 11th Session of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Forum, which commenced on Sunday, 14 December 2025, in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, as chairman, and in the presence of Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Mr. Miguel Moratinos, High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations; in addition to a number of ministers of foreign affairs, political and religious leaders, heads of international organizations, and representatives of civil society.

Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed that holding the Forum in Riyadh confers a special civilizational significance upon the event, noting that the Saudi capital has, in recent years, become a significant global civilizational actor that hosts international intellectual and humanitarian initiatives and embodies a conscious readiness for responsible contribution.

Furthermore, ICESCO Director-General noted that the concept of the Alliance of Civilizations is rooted in a profound human legacy, citing Hilf al-Fudul (the Alliance of the Virtuous) as an early model of an alliance founded on supporting the oppressed and entrenching justice. He emphasized that this inherited civilizational value remains capable of inspiring the present and shaping the future.

Dr. AlMalik further stated that today’s civilizational alliance is called upon to recalibrate its compass toward key domains, including education based on fairness and equality; responsible media characterized by effectiveness and credibility; positive migration as a lever for integration among peoples; and dialogue among cultures and religions in a manner that rejuvenates diversity and enhances the exchange of expertise and ideas.

Moreover, Dr. AlMalik participated in the seminar “Faith in Humanity: Interreligious Dialogue as a Bridge to Peace,” which was attended by a number of prominent religious, intellectual, and diplomatic figures. In his intervention, he underscored the importance of pausing at five pivotal stations that constitute the necessary framework for renewing interfaith dialogue and strengthening its impact in entrenching human peace. He stressed the need to move beyond traditional rhetorical approaches, to link faith-based values to shared human action, to establish trust among different religious groups, to strengthen the role of education and media in safeguarding human dignity, and to empower new generations to carry the message of faith as a force for peace and convergence.

Dr. AlMalik noted that ICESCO had contributed to paving the way for the Forum prior to its holding through the Tunis International Symposium on Supporting the Alliance of Civilizations. He emphasized that after twenty years of its launch, the UNAOC needs to review its tools and modernize its mechanisms in line with the communications technology revolution and the profound transformations in patterns of international conflict, particularly those related to resources.

He concluded by reaffirming that ICESCO will remain supportive of every civilizational effort aimed at entrenching human peace and justice, contributing to it through vision, expertise, and practical initiatives.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the 11th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from 14 to 15 December 2025, under the theme “UNAOC: Two Decades of Dialogue for Humanity — Advancing a New Era of Mutual Respect and Understanding in a Multipolar World.” During the Forum, ICESCO was represented by a delegation including Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector of ICESCO, and headed by H.E. Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Organization.

The Forum opened with an address by His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in which he emphasized the importance of dialogue as a main gateway to building coexistence and peace among peoples, and to strengthening trust and mutual understanding in the face of fast-changing global challenges.

An address by Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, followed, wherein the Secretary-General stressed that the world stands today at a historic crossroads, making it imperative to understand one another and to build bridges of alliance and cooperation among peoples in order to prevent conflicts and combat discourses of division and hatred.

For his part, Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, reviewed the journey of the Alliance since its establishment and the qualitative initiatives and programs it has delivered over the past twenty years, reaffirming the Alliance’s growing role in entrenching a culture of dialogue and confronting extremism and racism.

Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, also delivered an address in which he reaffirmed that the concept of a “clash of civilizations” should not be adopted as a framework for understanding relations among peoples, stressing that it lacks basis in the essence of human values. He emphasized that alliance and mutual acquaintance constitute the fundamental principle upon which shared values are built, highlighting the tolerance of the true Islamic faith and its call for justice, coexistence, and the safeguarding of human dignity.

The event saw high-level participation, including a host of ministers and heads of international organizations, as well as prominent attendance by several heads of state and religious leaders from various parts of the world, reflecting the growing international momentum surrounding issues of dialogue and coexistence.

It is worth noting that the Global Forum placed particular emphasis on the importance of empowering youth and engaging them in instilling the principles of peace and promoting a culture of alliance and mutual understanding among nations, as they represent a fundamental pillar in building a more harmonious and cooperative global future.

On the sidelines of the International Forum on Peace and Trust, held in the city of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, in conjunction with the country’s celebrations marking thirty years of neutrality and on the occasion of the International Day of Neutrality, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with H.E. Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, National Leader of Turkmenistan and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, on Friday, 12 December 2025, at the Presidential Palace.

His Excellency welcomed the ICESCO Director-General, expressing his appreciation for accepting the invitation, attending the International Forum, and participating in its proceedings. For his part, Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s programs, projects, and initiatives in education, science, and culture, underscoring the Organization’s mandate to serve its Member States and strengthen joint action across the Islamic world.

Moreover, Dr. AlMalik pointed out that, despite Turkmenistan’s membership in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), it is not yet a member of ICESCO. In this context, the National Leader affirmed his keenness for Turkmenistan to join ICESCO and, during the meeting, instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take all necessary measures, on an urgent basis, to complete Turkmenistan’s accession to the Organization.

Furthermore, the Director-General reaffirmed that the Organization would work to highlight Turkmenistan’s rich culture, heritage, and civilizational initiatives, in a manner that contributes to serving the Islamic world and humanity as a whole. He also proposed celebrating the city of Ashgabat as a Culture Capital in the Islamic World, as part of ICESCO’s Culture Capital in the Islamic World Program, in view of the civilizational legacy that the city, and the country as a whole, has contributed to the radiance of Islamic civilization across centuries.

At the close of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik expressed his profound gratitude and appreciation to H.E. National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow for the warm reception and gracious hospitality.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, organized the third regional workshop on “International Reference Frameworks for Foreign Language Teaching and Their Applications in Teaching Arabic.” The event took place on 10 and 11 December 2025, in celebration of World Arabic Language Day, and benefited 200 trainees from 15 countries across Africa, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia.

The workshop, held both in person and via videoconference, featured a presentation by Dr. Khaled Hussein Ahmed Atrash, an international expert in educational training, on the concept of language reference frameworks, their components, and roles in redefining linguistic competence. He also conducted practical sessions to train participants on applying international frameworks in teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers, through 10 fields that shift the focus from language teaching to effective communication.

This workshop is part of the “Mishkat Educational Leadership” program for 2025–2026, which aims to train hundreds of professionals working in teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers in several countries in West and Central Africa, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia.

In celebration of World Arabic Language Day, the ICESCO Educational Centre in Malaysia convened the second regional forum of 2025 on enhancing the competencies of Arabic language teachers in Southeast Asian countries in the use of digital educational technologies. Held from 8 to 11 December 2025, the forum brought together 80 officials and specialists in teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers from Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Hosted by the Islamic Foundation in the Malaysian state of Kelantan, the forum was organized in cooperation with the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, the Malaysian Ministry of Education, and the Islamic University of Selangor.

During the opening session, Dr. Mohamed Noor bin Hussin, Director of the ICESCO Educational Centre for the Arabic Language in Malaysia, reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to supporting efforts to develop education in its Member States and to keeping pace with technological advancements.

The forum’s agenda was led by two experts from the International Islamic University Malaysia: Dr. Akram Mohammed Zaki and Dr. Muhammad Faham bin Muhammad Ghalib, who delivered scientific sessions and practical workshops aimed at enabling educational supervisors and Arabic language teachers to integrate modern digital technologies into the development and reinforcement of learners’ language skills.