Category: News

On Tuesday, 16 December 2025, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a discussion session to review a report on the state of cultural policies in the Islamic world during the period 2021–2025. The Report includes an analysis of Member States’ cultural policies, in addition to assessments and proposals aimed at strengthening cultural governance, all of which come as part of the work of the ICESCO Center for Holistic Policies, under the Culture Sector.

The Report aims to monitor the status of public cultural policies and to present practical recommendations for coordinated action among Member States and international bodies, thereby contributing to the development of more effective and sustainable cultural systems.

The session was attended by Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of ICESCO’s Culture Sector; Dr. Sally Mabrouk, Director of the Office of the Director-General and Acting Head of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Sector; Ms. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of the Social and Human Sciences Sector; and Dr. Idham Hanash, Director of the Center for Calligraphy and Manuscripts. In his opening remarks, Dr. Zinelabidine commended the efforts of the experts and partner institutions involved in preparing the Report, emphasizing the importance of assessing the current state of cultural policies as a fundamental step in guiding investment in the cultural field.

Subsequently, Dr. Rim Jellouli, ICESCO’s external expert specializing in cultural policies and sustainable development, presented an overview of the Report’s main pillars and methodology. She noted that the Report was prepared with the participation of a multidisciplinary team of experts in economics, technology, statistics, and data science. The discussion also witnessed the participation of representatives from several national cultural institutions, including UNESCO, as well as experts, heads of missions, and international partners.

During the discussion, participating experts stressed the importance of integrating culture into national and regional public agendas, improving the measurement of cultural indicators related to job creation, cultural expenditure, cultural diversity, and universal access to cultural services. The session concluded with an open dialogue on ways to activate the Report’s recommendations and how to align national cultural strategies more closely with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) signed a cooperation agreement to adopt and implement the “Riyadh Charter on AI Ethics in the Islamic World.” The agreement aims to establish a unified and ethical framework for AI governance across Member States, promoting responsible practices, fostering innovation, and addressing shared challenges.

The agreement was signed on Monday, 15 December 2025, at SDAIA’s headquarters in Riyadh by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, and Dr Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi, President of SDAIA.

Following the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik commended SDAIA’s efforts in the field of AI at both national and international levels, noting that the strategic partnership between ICESCO and SDAIA led to the launch of the Riyadh Charter, which supports the development of AI technologies in the Islamic world.

The agreement provides for joint initiatives based on the principles strengthening the Riyadh Charter, jointly launched by ICESCO and SDAIA. These principles include integrity and fairness, privacy and security, reliability and safety, transparency and explainability, accountability and responsibility, humanity, and social and environmental benefits. The agreement also seeks to enhance AI knowledge and skills in ICESCO Member States and ensure the safe use of AI technologies.

As part of the ICESCO Forum “Culture for Rethinking the World,” the Culture Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) organized a panel discussion via videoconferencing on “Movement and Arabic Calligraphy: Calligraphic Choreography,” with the participation of Dr. Anne-Marie Sellami, academic and calligrapher specializing in diacritics analysis, in celebration of Human Rights Day.

In his opening remarks at the session, held on Friday, 12 December 2025, Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of the Culture Sector at ICESCO, emphasized that culture is a fundamental space for human expression and a vital means for building bridges of dialogue between societies. He further noted that the Organization actively promotes new forms of artistic creativity that contribute to renewing cultural thought and strengthening mutual understanding among peoples.

Dr. Anne-Marie Sellami delivered a presentation in which she addressed the expressive and mnemonic dimensions of Arabic calligraphy, explaining how letters are transformed into a shared heritage that brings together the personal and the collective dimensions. She also highlighted the concept of “calligraphic choreography” as an interaction between the body, the letter, and movement.

The session also saw the participation of Dr. Mahamat Abba Ousman, Expert in Cultural Heritage at ICESCO, who highlighted the role of oral traditions in the Islamic world in transmitting values and cultures. Ms. Zineb Bougrine, Expert in Cultural Policy at the Organization, reviewed the richness of the heritage associated with Arabic letters and their potential to inspire the creation of a language of movement that draws on imagination and artistic sensibility.

The panel discussion concluded by reaffirming ICESCO’s commitment to continuing its support for visual arts, foremost among them Arabic calligraphy, and to encouraging innovative creative practices that enrich human thought and strengthen the standing of culture.

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.