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    Category: News

    ICESCO, King Abdulaziz Library in Morocco Explore Enhanced Cooperation in Knowledge Dissemination and Manuscript Preservation

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), held a meeting today, Friday, 17 April 2026, with Mr. Mohamed El Ferrane, Director of the King Abdulaziz Public Library in the Kingdom of Morocco, to discuss ways and mechanisms to strengthen cooperation between the Sultan Qaboos Library at ICESCO and the King Abdulaziz Public Library in the dissemination of knowledge, the exchange of expertise in the cultural field, and the preservation and valorization of manuscripts.

    During the meeting, held at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik stressed that the Islamic world is rich in a vast collection of manuscripts and rare books, which necessitates enhanced cooperation among organizations and libraries across ICESCO Member States to develop mechanisms for safeguarding this invaluable heritage. He also highlighted ICESCO’s efforts in implementing programs and projects aimed at promoting the history and culture of the Islamic world.

    For his part, Mr. El Ferrane expressed the readiness of the King Abdulaziz Public Library to strengthen its partnership with ICESCO and the Sultan Qaboos Library in developing a network of libraries across the Organization’s Member States, and in organizing international seminars and conferences to raise awareness of the manuscripts of the Islamic world and its rich heritage.

    The two parties agreed to establish a technical team to identify a number of joint activities, programs, and projects of mutual interest, with a view to signing a partnership agreement in the near future.

    ICESCO was represented during the Meeting by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General, and Dr. Ahmed AlBanyan, Director of the Translation and Publishing Center. Following the meeting, Mr. El Ferrane toured the Sultan Qaboos Library, which was inaugurated in a grand ceremony earlier this week.

    ICESCO Organizes Training Course on Arabic Calligraphy for Teachers and Students in Qatar

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Qatari National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, held a virtual training course titled: “The Art of Arabic Calligraphy: A Journey of Creativity Among Letters,” for the benefit of 20 students from Qatari public schools and a number of teachers, from 13 to 16 April 2026.

    The course featured lectures delivered by Mr. Ali Hassan and Mr. Ahmedou Mohameden, experts at ICESCO’s Center for Calligraphy and Manuscripts. The lectures addressed the history of Arabic calligraphy and its civilizational significance, the main challenges it faces, and ways to safeguard and preserve it. They also reviewed the most important types of Arabic calligraphy and their artistic and aesthetic characteristics.

    The course also included practical training workshops dedicated to introducing the tools of Arabic calligraphy, such as pens, inks, paper, and others, in addition to practical explanations on paper treatment, ink making, and the correct use of various tools, contributing to the consolidation of theoretical knowledge and the refinement of participants’ technical skills.

    Participants also received explanations of the basic principles of Arabic calligraphy and training on how to write Arabic letters in Naskh script, the rules for connecting them, and the arrangement of words and lines, in addition to the foundations of creating artistic calligraphic works.

    In conclusion, participants were given guidance and advice on improving handwriting, maintaining the skills acquired during the course, and continuously developing their artistic abilities in the field of Arabic calligraphy.

    ICESCO Launches 4th Edition of its LTIPS Program

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) launched the 4th edition of its Leadership Training in Peace and Security (LTIPS) Program during an opening meeting held on Wednesday, April 16, 2026, via videoconference, with the participation of representatives from previous cohorts and newly enrolled candidates from several countries across the Islamic world and beyond.

    The meeting marked the induction of 45 new Youth Ambassadors for Peace from 41 countries, a step that expands the program’s network and reinforces its standing as a key initiative aimed at preparing young people to play effective roles in promoting peace and stability. The meeting also served as an orientation and networking platform, enabling new candidates to familiarize themselves with the program’s objectives and practical pathways and to benefit from the experiences of previous cohorts.

    In her opening remarks, Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of the Social and Human Sciences Sector, affirmed that the Organization continues to strengthen its commitment to empowering youth and engaging them in peace and sustainable development issues, noting that equipping young people with leadership, dialogue, and collaborative skills is a fundamental pillar in addressing current challenges.

    She added that the launch of this new edition brings the total number of program network members to 227 Youth Ambassadors for Peace from 81 countries, reflecting the initiative’s growing reach and impact. She also explained that the designation of 2024 as ICESCO Youth Year forms part of a broader strategic vision that positions youth as key partners in shaping the future and fostering the values of peace and development.

    For his part, Mr. Alioune Ndiaye, Head of Peace Division at ICESCO, reviewed the program’s organizational and operational aspects, including its structure, objectives, code of conduct, and operational framework, with a view to enabling candidates to understand their responsibilities as Youth Ambassadors for Peace.

    The session concluded with an interactive exchange among candidates, during which they shared introductions and experiences, while representatives of the three previous cohorts presented testimonials highlighting the program’s impact in building a growing international youth network.

    ICESCO Inaugurates Sultan Qaboos Library at Its Headquarters in Rabat

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Sultanate of Oman, inaugurated the Sultan Qaboos Library at its headquarters in Rabat during a high-level ceremony held on Thursday, 16 April 2026, attended by a large number of ambassadors, officials from cultural organizations and institutions, and a group of prominent thinkers, researchers, and writers.

    The inauguration ceremony opened with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by an address by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, in which he emphasized that libraries are civilizational landmarks and repositories of humanity’s intellectual wealth. He noted that the Islamic world is a civilization of the book, whose first revealed word was “Read,” and the civilization of the House of Wisdom Library in Baghdad, which served as a center for research, translation, and publishing.

    Dr. AlMalik added that ICESCO is inaugurating today a library bearing the name of an exceptional leader known for his devotion to knowledge and culture, the late Sultan Qaboos, may Allah rest his soul. He pointed out that the library represents ICESCO’s gift to the Islamic world at a time when the status of the book has declined, and concluded his remarks by expressing gratitude to the leadership and government of the Sultanate of Oman.

    For his part, Ambassador Khalid Salim Bamakhalif, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Kingdom of Morocco, praised the inauguration of the Sultan Qaboos Library at ICESCO headquarters, considering it a message affirming that knowledge will remain the strongest bond among peoples, and that investment in culture is an investment in the future of humanity. He also stressed that the relationship between ICESCO and the Sultanate of Oman stands as a model of cooperation based on supporting cultural and scientific action in the Islamic world.

    Introducing the ceremony, Dr. Ahmed Albanyan, Director of the Translation and Publishing Center at ICESCO, highlighted the role of libraries throughout history, noting that they have consistently served as incubators of thought and platforms for civilizational interaction.

    This was followed by the official opening of the library, during which Dr. AlMalik and Ambassador Bamakhalif unveiled the commemorative plaque and accompanied senior guests on a tour of the library’s facilities, with explanations provided on the knowledge edifice, including reading halls, multidisciplinary spaces, and a dedicated area for children.

    The inauguration was followed by an intellectual symposium featuring three presentations. The first, titled “Libraries Between Preserving Heritage and Shaping Cultural Transformation,” was delivered by Dr. Albanyan. Dr. Salim Al Habsi, Director of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences at ICESCO, presented a paper on Omani cultural diplomacy and the means and mechanisms for its deployment, highlighting elements of the history and heritage of the Sultanate of Oman, as well as the distinction between cultural diplomacy and political diplomacy. Dr. Mahmoud bin Abdullah Al Abri, Secretary-General of the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, reviewed his country’s relations with international organizations concerned with cultural affairs, taking ICESCO as a model.

    The library provides a reading and research space equipped with the latest technological media and interactive devices. In its first phase, it includes more than 6,000 print titles, alongside a digital extension offering nearly 200,000 works available through ICESCO’s digital platform. The library also houses a number of rare documentary treasures, including a copy of the Holy Quran transcribed in the hand of Ibn Al-Bawwab.

    ICESCO Publishes New Book on Contemporary Moroccan Sufi Poetry

    Posted on by MOHAMED.AQEIL

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) published a new book titled “The Secrets of Mastery in Contemporary Moroccan Sufi Poetry: Irfani Illuminations in the Poetry of Ahmed Mufdi”, by Moroccan researcher Dr. Abdelkrim Errhioui. This publication is part of the first releases of the Program of Research Excellence in Arabic Language and Literature, supervised by the ICESCO Center of Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers.

    The book explores the experience of Moroccan poet Ahmed Mufdi, as one of the most prominent voices in contemporary Moroccan Sufi poetry, focusing on what distinguishes his texts in terms of symbolic density, semantic richness, and the ability to combine heritage with contemporaneity, as well as artistic beauty with gnostic knowledge. The author also approaches this poetry from a critical perspective that seeks to highlight its expressive specificity and the broad possibilities it offers for interpretation and for exploring the spiritual and aesthetic dimensions of poetic discourse.

    This publication brings to light the notion of “mastery” in this poetic genre, not as mere linguistic skill, but as the fruit of a profound existential and epistemological experience, one in which language becomes an instrument of unveiling, poetry a space for generating meaning, and the Sufi symbolic expression a vehicle for passage from the outward expression of words to the inward depths of signification.

    This work aims to contribute to enriching literary and linguistic studies and to open new horizons for thinking about contemporary Moroccan Sufi poetry as a living discourse capable of renewal and creativity.

    Access the publication via the following link:
    https://icesco.org/vgsj

    ICESCO Holds Scientific, Cultural Meeting on Integrating Music Therapy into Healthcare

    Posted on by Soukaina Azzabi

    The Culture Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a scientific and cultural meeting via videoconference on Tuesday, 14 April 2026, hosting Dr. Nicole Duperret, psychiatrist and President of the Association Française de Musicothérapie. The meeting was organized as part of the “Global Thinkers Guests of ICESCO” program, with the aim of promoting culture as a driver of human development by supporting initiatives that bring together scientific knowledge, artistic practice, and societal engagement.

    The meeting was opened by Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of the Culture Sector at ICESCO, who emphasized the importance of multidisciplinary approaches that connect culture, health, and well-being from a humanistic and social perspective. He highlighted the growing role of artistic practices in shaping innovative cultural policies across the Islamic world.

    In her presentation, Dr. Duperret reviewed her academic and professional journey and highlighted the positive effects of music on neurodevelopment and emotional balance. She noted that music therapy represents a key tool for self-expression and personal reconstruction, particularly in therapeutic settings, where it is increasingly recognized as an approved complementary medical approach.

    She explained that this form of therapy, through sessions based on musical improvisation and the use of instruments, enables patients to express their emotions and better understand their suffering, while also contributing to enhanced social integration. In this respect, she stressed the importance of taking into account each patient’s cultural and musical identity to ensure appropriate therapeutic support and strengthen the effectiveness of the treatment process.

    Dr. Duperret also addressed institutional developments in the field of music therapy since the beginning of the current millennium, pointing to the establishment of specialized associations, the development of university partnerships, and the strengthening of the academic recognition of this discipline.

    The meeting was attended by Ms. Zineb Bougrine and Mr. Frédéric Jambu, experts from ICESCO’s Culture Sector.

    ICESCO, Classera Discuss Cooperation to Enhance Smart Education Systems in the Islamic World

    Posted on by Soukaina Azzabi

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Mohammad Suhail Almadani, Founder and CEO of Classera, on Monday, 13 April 2026, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat, to discuss ways to employ modern technology in developing educational systems and to launch an initiative on smart education, in implementation of the MoU signed between the two parties.

    During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik emphasized the importance of developing partnerships with organizations, institutions, and research centers to carry out scientific studies and research that identify ways and mechanisms to enhance education systems in Member States, taking into account their specific needs. He also highlighted the necessity of exchanging expertise and knowledge between ICESCO and Classera in utilizing modern technologies and artificial intelligence applications so that the education sector can keep pace with future changes.

    For his part, Mr. Al Madani expressed Classera’s willingness for joint cooperation in developing and implementing an initiative on smart education, with the aim of integrating governments and educational institutions in the Islamic world into the process of transforming the education sector.

    The meeting was attended from ICESCO by Dr. Ahmed Albanyan, Director of the Center for Translation and Publishing; Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Head of the Office of the Director-General and Supervisor of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector; Mr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Director of the Legal Affairs and International Standards Department; and Dr. Waqas Afridi, Expert in the Education Sector.

    ICESCO Participates in International Scientific Conference on Timurid Civilization in Tashkent

    Posted on by Soukaina Azzabi

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the International Scientific Conference on “The Role and Significance of Amir Temur and the Timurid Civilization in World History and Culture,” held in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, to mark the 690th anniversary of the birth of Amir Timur. The conference brought together researchers, historians, cultural stakeholders, and representatives of several international organizations to discuss various dimensions of the intellectual and cultural legacy of the Timurid era, ranging from governance and military strategy to architecture, calligraphy, manuscripts, and applied arts.

    During the conference’s plenary session, held from 9 to 12 April 2026, Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector at ICESCO, highlighted the importance of the partnership between the Organization, the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the Center for Islamic Civilization in advancing the preservation and promotion of the shared heritage of the Islamic world. He noted that the Timurid era offers a historical model demonstrating that investment in knowledge, culture, and institutions generates a legacy of deeper and more enduring impact.

    Mr. Karimov added that the Timurid era represents a landmark in the history of Islamic civilization, stressing that its legacy in sciences, literature, arts, and institution-building continues to be strongly reflected in ICESCO’s work to this day. He further considered that the conference reinforces the Organization’s conviction that Central Asia, as the homeland of a number of eminent scholars, remains well positioned to contribute to shaping what Islamic civilization will offer the world in the future.

    On the sidelines of the conference, Mr. Anar Karimov held a meeting with Dr. Firdavs Abdukhalikov, Director of the Center for Islamic Civilization in Tashkent, to discuss arrangements for the International Scientific Conference on the legacy of Imam al-Bukhari, scheduled to be jointly organized in June 2026, as well as prospects for cooperation in promoting the heritage of Imam al-Maturidi and Imam al-Tirmidhi.

    The conference concluded with a roundtable during which a number of international organizations announced their support for the initiative of His Excellency the President of Uzbekistan, Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, aimed at promoting the scientific and spiritual heritage of leading Islamic scholars, in partnership with ICESCO and the Center for Islamic Civilization.

    ICESCO Deputy Director-General Participates in the 14th Edition of “Zahria of Marrakech” in Morocco

    Posted on by Soukaina Azzabi

    Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), participated in the 14th edition of “Zahria of Marrakech” – the Orange Blossom Distillation Season, organized by the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco, in partnership with Al Muniya Marrakech Association for the Revival and Preservation of Morocco’s Heritage, in the presence of a distinguished group of intellectuals, writers, critics, and cultural actors.

    The participation of ICESCO’s Deputy Director-General comes within the framework of the Organization’s commitment to safeguarding and promoting intangible cultural heritage. On Friday, 10 April 2026, he took part in the literary session dubbed “Majlis Al-Koutoubiyine” (the Assembly of Bookmen), which featured the presentation of his literary novel “Oulu Baqiya”, with contributions from a number of critics who offered readings of this literary work, as part of a broader cultural and intellectual program accompanying this heritage event.

    During the session, Dr. Benarafa emphasized that “Zahria of Marrakech” holds particular importance as it is inscribed on ICESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. He noted that this gathering represents a living model of the care devoted to Morocco’s civilizational heritage, as well as ongoing efforts to safeguard and transmit it to future generations, in connection with its cultural, social, and environmental dimensions.

    The program of the 14th edition, held from March 22 to April 12, 2026, includes a wide range of cultural, artistic, and scientific activities, such as live workshops on orange blossom distillation, seminars on safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, artistic and musical performances, exhibitions of traditional products, and literary and intellectual forums.

    ICESCO, IB Sign MoU to Build Capacity in Education and Future Skills

    Posted on by Soukaina Azzabi

    The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the International Baccalaureate Organization (IB), based in Switzerland, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at building the capacities of teachers, professors, and educational staff in the fields of education, future skills, and modern technologies across Member States.

    The MoU was signed on Friday, 10 April 2026, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, and Mr. Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director-General of IB, in the presence of several high-ranking officials from both organizations.

    The Memorandum provides for enhanced exchange of expertise between the two parties regarding challenges in the education sector and the needs of ICESCO Member States, as well as the organization of joint activities, conferences, seminars, and discussion sessions to examine and address key educational issues.

    During the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik emphasized that the MoU marks the beginning of a fruitful partnership for the joint implementation of various programs aimed at developing future skills and critical thinking. He highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation with academic institutions and centers to advance educational infrastructure in the Islamic world and to provide training opportunities for youth to refine their skills.

    He also reviewed ICESCO’s efforts to attract competencies from within and beyond the Islamic world to exchange expertise, disseminate knowledge, and develop initiatives and activities that meet the needs of Member States.

    For his part, Mr. Heinonen commended ICESCO’s efforts in promoting education and advancing its systems through a number of impactful programs and projects. He also noted the shared priorities of the two organizations, particularly the adoption of forward-looking and flexible approaches to integrate younger generations into the process of building a brighter future.

    The signing ceremony was attended on behalf of ICESCO by Dr. Ahmed Al-Banyan, Director 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; and Dr. Waqas Afridi, Expert at the Education Sector.