Category: News

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), stressed that the credibility of international cooperation rests on translating commitments into actions that make a tangible difference in people’s daily lives, noting that institutions earn the trust of communities through the progress they deliver.

He made these remarks during the 3rd High-Level Meeting of International Organizations and the 6th Ministerial Meeting of the Baku Process, held by the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, in Baku, Azerbaijan, as part of the 7th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue. The meetings brought together 45 ministers, ambassadors, heads of international organizations, and other officials, including Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for the UNAOC.

Dr. AlMalik began his address by highlighting the role of the two meetings in providing a platform for ministries and international organizations to coordinate efforts, find solutions to shared challenges, and direct resources towards national priorities and the service of peoples. He called on ministries to focus on establishing a proactive, prevention-based approach to peacebuilding in order to protect lives and safeguard the foundations of development. He also highlighted the role of educational and cultural programs developed by international organizations in equipping young people with future-ready skills to contribute to the development of their communities and strengthen spiritual and civilizational values and cultural exchange.

Dr. AlMalik explained that the Organization seeks to promote the responsible use of AI technologies in its fields of competence through several initiatives. These include the Riyadh Charter on AI Ethics for the Islamic World, launched in partnership with the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA); the ICESCO AI Index for the Islamic World, developed in cooperation with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Science and Education; and the announcement of the 10K Leaders Training Program, in partnership with the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) in Saudi Arabia.

Dr. AlMalik proposed aligning international organizations’ programs with countries’ national needs by developing a joint roadmap for education, science, culture, and AI governance, as well as establishing a course of action for implementing policies and involving young people in the process. He concluded his address by commending His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan for their support for the Baku Process.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a breast cancer awareness day themed “Awareness Can Save Lives” at its headquarters in Rabat on Tuesday, 27 October 2026. The event included awareness activities and free screening services aimed at increasing knowledge of breast cancer and the importance of early detection, while highlighting the role of medical care and psychological and community support in confronting the disease.

The seminar, organized by ICESCO’s Human Capital Department, opened with remarks by Dr. Yousra Bint Hussain AlJazairy, Chair of the Cultural Committee of The Group of Spouses of Arab Ambassadors and Heads of International Organizations accredited to Morocco. She emphasized that raising awareness of the disease is a shared responsibility among institutions, families, and society. This requires providing reliable information and facilitating access to care, while respecting women’s privacy and their right to participate in decisions concerning their health. Moreover, Dr. AlJazairy underscored the importance of attentive listening and daily support in easing the burden of the disease and safeguarding women’s dignity throughout treatment.

Dr. Awatif Belakhel, Public Health and Disease Control Officer at the World Health Organization in Morocco, delivered a presentation titled “Together Against Cancer: The Scale of the Challenge and the Importance of Prevention.” She addressed risk factors, the importance of early detection, and healthy lifestyles, noting that breast cancer is often painless and stressing the need to consult a physician without delay upon noticing any unusual change.

The program also featured an awareness video produced by ICESCO’s Media and Communication Sector on the importance of early detection in combating breast cancer. It was followed by a medical discussion on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, bringing together specialists in oncology, radiotherapy, and psychological support.

The session featured Dr. Khadija Benchakroun, oncologist; Dr. Hanane El Kacemi, radiotherapist and oncologist; and Dr. Rachida Tayeb, radiotherapist, alongside psychologists Dr. Zineb Chahdi El Ouazani and Dr. Nezha El Bahaoui. Their contributions examined the importance of psychological support and its impact on strengthening women’s ability to cope with the disease.

Prior to the seminar, ICESCO, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Kingdom of Morocco, provided medical examinations to a number of female staff members for the early detection of breast cancer, combining awareness with practical health services.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) received a delegation from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, at its headquarters in Rabat, to discuss ways and mechanisms for cooperation in jointly organizing a conference on Islamic civilization and developing programs and projects in quantum technologies, artificial intelligence and innovation.

During the meeting, Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, affirmed the Organization’s willingness to cooperate with the university in several areas of common interest, as part of its commitment to building bridges of cooperation with Malaysia and its institutions and bodies, given the country’s leading role in promoting the values, cultural diversity and scientific contributions of the Islamic world.

The meeting also featured presentations on ICESCO’s key initiatives and programs by Dr. Ahmed Albanyan, Head of the Education Sector and Supervisor of the Translation and Publishing Center; Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Director of the Director-General’s Office and Supervisor of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector; Dr. Yergaliyev Kuanysh, Head of the Science and Environment Sector; and Dr. Majdi Hajj Ibrahim, Director of the Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers.

For his part, Dato’ Dr. Mohd Sharil bin Abdullah, head of the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia delegation, expressed the university’s willingness to cooperate in developing programs and projects for expertise exchange.

At the close of the meeting, the two sides agreed to develop an action plan featuring future joint activities and projects. The Malaysian delegation also presented ICESCO with a commemorative shield in recognition of its efforts in its areas of competence across the Islamic world.

Following the meeting, the university delegation visited the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, housed at ICESCO headquarters.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Jeyhun Bayramov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, in Baku. The two sides explored ways to strengthen cooperation in education, science, the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage, and peacebuilding.

During the meeting, held on the sidelines of the 7th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, which ICESCO is co-organizing, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to advancing cooperation with Azerbaijan and commended Baku’s contributions to promoting intercultural dialogue.

For his part, Minister Bayramov emphasized the particular importance Azerbaijan attaches to its cooperation with ICESCO. He also praised the joint efforts of Azerbaijan and the Organization to foster civilizational dialogue and uphold the values of diversity and coexistence.

The Azerbaijani Minister briefed the ICESCO Director-General on national efforts to preserve cultural heritage and restore cultural and religious monuments in the liberated territories. In this regard, the two sides highlighted the historic significance of the technical mission dispatched by ICESCO to these territories, as well as the celebration of Shusha, as Culture Capital in the Islamic World 2024, under the Organization’s Culture Capitals in the Islamic World Programme.

The two sides also discussed the role of the 7th World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue, held in Baku and co-organized by ICESCO, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture, and several international organizations and institutions, in raising international awareness of current challenges and providing a platform for dialogue and cooperation.

The meeting also addressed ongoing preparations for the Islamic Summit Conference, which Azerbaijan will host in 2027, related activities, and the priorities Azerbaijan will address during its chairmanship of the Conference.

The meeting was attended on behalf of ICESCO by Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, Ms. Maryam Gafar-zada, Assistant to the Director of ICESCO Regional office in Baku, and Mr. Murad Aliyev, expert at the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), represented by its Regional Office in Baku, participated with a dedicated pavilion in the 12th Baku International Book Fair, organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan from 21 to 25 October 2026. The pavilion hosted a rich program featuring cultural, scientific, and intellectual activities, attended by officials, researchers, experts, and cultural figures from Azerbaijan and ICESCO Member States.

The pavilion’s program included five intellectual sessions: “Shusha and the Arab World: From Books to Cultural Exchange” and “The Future of Reading: Culture, Society, and New Generations,” featuring Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector at ICESCO; Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Head of the ICESCO Center for Civilizational Dialogue; and Mr. Murad Aliyev, Expert in the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector. The program also featured a panel discussion titled “Calligraphy and Manuscripts: The Beauty of Writing and the Memory of the Book,” with the participation of Idham Hanash, Head of the ICESCO Center for Calligraphy and Manuscripts; a panel discussion titled “Azerbaijan on the Silk Roads: Books and Knowledge at the Crossroads of Civilizations,” with the participation of Dr. Hani Albalawi, Head of the Communication Department at the Center; and a session on knowledge in the age of artificial intelligence.

The sessions aimed to raise awareness of the cultural and intellectual heritage of the countries of the Islamic world and Central Asia and to explore ways of harnessing knowledge, publications, and translation to strengthen ties between communities across languages, generations, and borders. They also addressed the ethical challenges posed by the rapid development of artificial intelligence and ways to foster critical thinking among young people.

The ICESCO pavilion also hosted a live Arabic calligraphy demonstration by calligrapher and abstract artist Rabab Zahra, celebrating the heritage of calligraphy and its significance in the Islamic world. In addition, folkloric performances from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan were presented by children from the Azerbaijani Republican Children and Youth Development Center.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the International Qur’an Research Association (IQRA) held the “IQRA 2026 Global Virtual Conference” on 24–25 October 2026 under the theme “Guiding the Digital Age: A Qur’anic Compass for Human-Centered Innovation and Sustainable Development.” The Conference brought together prominent leaders from around the world, including officials and representatives of governments and international organizations, as well as academics, to explore ways to harness Islamic values and Qur’anic principles to guide digital transformation and sustainable development in the age of artificial intelligence.

The event, held via videoconference, was organized in partnership with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum, the Islamic Organization for Food Security, the National Awqaf Foundation of South Africa, the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), the Union of OIC News Agencies (UNA), and the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World, an ICESCO-affiliated body.

The opening session featured remarks by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General; Dr. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, OIC Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs; Dr. Safi Kaskas, Founder and President of IQRA; Dr. Saadeddine Othmani, former Head of Government of the Kingdom of Morocco; and Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, former President of the Republic of Mauritius.

In his recorded address, Dr. AlMalik stressed that technological transformation must remain grounded in human dignity, ethical responsibility, and sustainable development. He reviewed ICESCO’s efforts to promote responsible AI governance and strengthen technological capabilities across the Islamic world, highlighting in this regard the “Riyadh Charter for Artificial Intelligence in the Islamic World” and the “10k AI Leaders” training program.

During a special ICESCO session titled “Artificial Intelligence, Education and the Future of Knowledge,” featuring distinguished thinkers, participants discussed the role of education in bridging rapid technological progress and ethical responsibility, and in preparing future generations not only to adapt to the digital age, but also to help shape it. Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Director of ICESCO’s Center for Civilizational Dialogue, also took part in the strategic roundtable on “The Future of the Islamic World in the Digital Age.” The session brought together senior representatives of international and Islamic institutions to explore ways of translating the Conference’s ideas into sustainable institutional cooperation.

Over two days, the Conference sessions addressed artificial intelligence, education and the future of knowledge, youth leadership, women’s participation, food security, Islamic social finance, and the institutional foundations required for meaningful participation in the digital economy.

The discussions also underscored the importance of strengthening the Islamic world’s capacity to develop and govern its own AI systems. Participants emphasized the need to embed Islamic ethical principles from the earliest stages of technology development, providing an important framework to ensure that emerging technologies serve human dignity, knowledge, social well-being, and the common good.

The Conference concluded with the issuance of the “IQRA’ 2026 Global Declaration on Ethical AI and Human-Centered Development,” which captured the key ideas and recommendations emerging from the two days of discussions and laid the groundwork for continued cooperation among the participating