Category: News

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a training workshop on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, during which it presented the “New Cultural Economies Index in Member States.” The workshop is part of the “ICESCO: Leadership in New Cultural Policies 2021–2029” program and brought together 240 experts, cultural stakeholders, and representatives of national commissions, both in person and via videoconference.

The workshop aimed to enhance Member States’ understanding of the index as a practical tool for developing innovative cultural policies, measuring the impact of cultural and creative economies, and strengthening their integration into sustainable development pathways, given culture’s role as a driver of development, innovation, and job creation.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of the Culture Sector at ICESCO, emphasized the strategic importance of the index in supporting Member States in designing cultural policies capable of adapting to technological, economic, and creative transformations. He noted that the initiative aligns with the Organization’s vision of positioning culture as a value-generating sector that supports youth employment and inclusion.

The workshop was moderated by Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Head of the Director-General’s Office and Supervisor of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector, who highlighted ICESCO’s efforts to leverage modern technologies in the cultural field and strengthen partnerships with national commissions to facilitate the implementation of the index in Member States.

Dr. Rim Jallouli, an expert in cultural and creative economies, delivered a presentation on the methodological foundations of the index, outlining its key components, data collection and analysis mechanisms, and its potential to measure the development of cultural and creative sectors and track their transformation.

The workshop concluded with interactive discussions involving representatives from several national commissions, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, and the State of Qatar. Participants shared their experiences, provided proposals, and expressed their interest in implementing this strategic tool within their national contexts.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has published the fifth issue of its peer-reviewed scientific journal, ICESCO Journal of Arabic Language, issued under the supervision of the ICESCO Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers. This initiative reflects the Organization’s commitment to supporting research in Arabic language and literature, restoring the Arabic language’s international standing, and strengthening awareness of its central role in enriching human knowledge.

This issue features ten research papers by researchers and specialists from diverse nationalities, both within and beyond the Islamic world, including the Arab Republic of Egypt, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Yemen, the Kingdom of Morocco, the Republic of Mali, the Syrian Arab Republic, the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

The issue covers a wide range of topics related to manuscript heritage, linguistics, literary criticism, comparative literature, Arabic language teaching and learning, and artificial intelligence, reflecting the intellectual exchange and cultural diversity characteristic of the peoples of the Islamic world.

The fifth issue is accessible on the journal’s website via the following link:
https://ijal.icesco.org/index.php/journal/index

It is worth noting that the journal is published twice a year, in June and December. It welcomes submissions from researchers specializing in the Arabic language and invites them to submit their work for review and publication in upcoming issues by registering on the journal’s electronic platform:
https://ijal.icesco.org/index.php/journal/about/submissions

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Ambassador Syed Adil Gilani, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Morocco. The two sides reviewed recent developments in cooperation across the fields of education, science, and culture.

During the meeting, held on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik expressed his satisfaction with the distinguished level of relations between ICESCO and Pakistan in recent years, reaffirming the Organization’s openness to implementing a number of initiatives with Pakistan for the benefit of the Islamic world.

The Director-General commended Pakistan’s active role in international organizations and multilateral action, praising the Pakistani leadership’s efforts in promoting international peace and security. He also expressed pride in the competencies of Pakistani professionals working within ICESCO.

For his part, Ambassador Gilani affirmed his country’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with ICESCO, in light of the Organization’s leading position in its fields of expertise across the Islamic world.

The meeting also reviewed a set of proposed programs, projects, and conferences to be jointly implemented in areas of mutual interest, in addition to Pakistan’s payment of its annual contribution to ICESCO’s general budget.

Following the meeting, Dr. AlMalik accompanied the Pakistani Ambassador and his accompanying delegation on a tour of the Sultan Qaboos Library at ICESCO headquarters. An agreement was reached to provide a number of Pakistani publications for display in the library.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Qureshi Sohail, Advisor to the Director-General for the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World; Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Advisor in the Science and Environment Sector; and Mr. Waqas Afridi, Expert in the Education Sector.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) extends its sincere condolences and sympathy to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, as well as to the Government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, over the victims of the Aramco helicopter crash in the city of Ras Tanura, which claimed the lives of several company employees while they were performing their duties.

ICESCO also extends its heartfelt condolences to Saudi Aramco and to the families and relatives of the victims, praying that Allah grants them patience and solace.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, expressed his deep sorrow over this tragic incident, praying that the Almighty grant the victims His infinite mercy and forgiveness, admit them into His eternal paradise, and preserve the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with continued security, stability, and prosperity.

Indeed, we belong to God, and indeed to Him we shall return.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held, on Monday, 29 June 2026, the third lecture in its Series on Calligraphy and Manuscripts in the Islamic World, titled “Codicological Study in the Service of Philology.” The lecture was delivered by Dr. Mustapha Toubi, Professor of Manuscript Studies at Mohammed V University in Rabat, with the participation of a number of specialists, experts, and university professors, both in person and via videoconference.

The lecture opened with remarks by Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, who emphasized the importance of manuscript studies in preserving Arab-Islamic heritage and promoting academic research on the role of manuscripts in Islamic civilization. He noted that this scientific series contributes to enriching specialized debate and linking heritage studies with modern approaches to editing and research.

Dr. Mustapha Toubi then delivered a presentation addressing the concepts of codicology and philology, explaining the relationship between the study of the physical components of manuscripts and textual analysis, and highlighting their role in supporting critical editions and ensuring accurate readings of heritage texts.

During the lecture, moderated by Dr. Idham Hanash, Director of ICESCO’s Calligraphy and Manuscripts Center, Dr. Toubi discussed methodologies for dealing with manuscript copies according to rigorous scientific standards. These include evaluating complete and incomplete copies, clear and unclear texts, and old and recent versions, alongside the principles of textual criticism and the scholarly flexibility they offer for additions, omissions, and modifications within a disciplined framework.

He also highlighted the Lachmann method, developed by the German scholar Karl Lachmann, for classifying manuscripts, which distinguishes between ideal, good, and poor copies. He further reviewed developments in modern philology, particularly those introduced by the French scholar Alphonse Dain, and the debates they have generated regarding the value of textual errors and their role in tracing the history of manuscript transmission.

Dr. Toubi stressed that the physical components of manuscripts constitute a fundamental element in supporting philological findings, while cautioning against exclusive reliance on either material evidence or textual constraints alone. The lecture concluded with scholarly interventions and discussions underscoring the importance of advancing manuscript studies in the Islamic world.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received on Thursday, 25 June 2026, Dr. Ismat Qureshi Abdullah, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation of the Republic of the Sudan, and his accompanying delegation at the Organization’s headquarters.

The two sides reviewed the distinguished relations between ICESCO and Sudan and explored ways to further develop them, particularly at the current stage, as Sudan faces reconstruction and rebuilding challenges, especially in developing digital capacities. The Sudanese minister expressed his country’s aspiration for dedicated support from ICESCO in this regard.

For his part, Dr. AlMalik welcomed the visit of the Sudanese delegation, affirming that the Organization will spare no effort in providing all possible support to develop digital capacities and other areas within ICESCO’s mandate, in the context of a promising partnership with strong prospects for further growth and development.

The Sudanese minister and his accompanying delegation also visited the Sultan Qaboos Library at ICESCO, where they were introduced to its significant resources. The visit concluded with a tour of the International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization.

The meeting was attended, on the Sudanese side, by Ambassador Abdul-Azim Mohamed Saddiq, Director of the Arab League Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Dr. El Gayly Mohamed Abdelhamid, Consul at the Embassy of the Sudan in Rabat. On the ICESCO side, attendees included Dr. Abdelillah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General, and Ambassador Khalid Fatahalrahman, Head of the Civilizational Dialogue Center at ICESCO.

Dr. Abdelillah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received, on Thursday, 25 June 2026, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat, Dr. Reham Abdullah Salamah, Director of the Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism (AOCE), to explore prospects for cooperation in civilizational dialogue, dismantling hate and extremism discourse, and countering media disinformation.

At the outset of the meeting, Dr. Benarafa reviewed ICESCO’s key initiatives in civilizational dialogue, education, culture, and communication, highlighting the Organization’s programs and international conferences that have contributed to launching pioneering projects aimed at enhancing intercultural understanding, consolidating the values of moderation and coexistence, and confronting extremist thought.

The Deputy Director-General affirmed that ICESCO’s work is guided by a civilizational mission grounded in universal values and that it seeks to develop new approaches, including the concept of “civilizational rights,” which raises a fundamental question about ways to safeguard the contributions of different civilizations to humanity. Dr. Benarafa invited AOCE to participate in the international scientific conference titled “Al-Jami’ Al-Musnad As-Sahih by Imam Al-Bukhari: The Book of an Ummah,” scheduled for early next July in Uzbekistan, and the Wisdom Heritage Forum on Addressing Extremism Issues, set to be held in Azerbaijan later this year.

For her part, Dr. Reham Salamah presented AOCE’s initiatives in raising awareness and protecting youth from extremist ideologies through in-field and digital programs that analyze and deconstruct hate and extremism discourse in more than 12 foreign languages, expressing the Observatory’s aspiration to cooperate with ICESCO in this regard.

In the same context, Osama Heikal, Head of the Media and Communication Sector at ICESCO, underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation between the Organization and Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, particularly in countering media disinformation and falsification, and called for the Observatory’s reports to be made available in both print and digital formats at the Sultan Qaboos Library at ICESCO headquarters for the benefit of researchers and readers.

Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Head of the Office of the Director-General and Supervisor of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector, highlighted the importance of promoting civilizational awareness through education and building a value-based identity, while Ambassador Khaled Fatahalrahman, Head of the Civilizational Dialogue Center at ICESCO, reviewed the Center’s programs, particularly its civilizational diplomacy and civilizational education initiatives.