Category: News

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) organized a series of bilateral meetings in Paris with the Ambassadors of Azerbaijan, China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan. Meetings were also held with Mr. Ernesto Ottone, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture; Mrs. Krista Pikkat, of the Culture and Emergencies Entity in UNESCO’s Culture Sector; and Mr. Lazare Eloundo, Director of the World Heritage Centre. Another key meeting took place with Mr. Chafki Abdelamir, Director General of the Arab World Institute, as well as Mrs. Nathalie Bondil, Director of the Institute’s Museum and Collections.

These meetings aimed to present ICESCO’s new vision and response to the alarming condition of World Heritage sites in its 53 Member States. In May 2024, ICESCO conducted an extensive research study on World Heritage sites included in the list of endangered sites. The findings issued an urgent call for action.

This concerning situation demands immediate international attention and targeted interventions. In response, ICESCO has taken significant steps, including supporting the process of preparing and adopting the Desired State of Conservation to remove endangered properties from the list, proposing corrective actions for cultural and natural heritage sites in Africa, enhancing collaboration to host international conferences focused on conflict and post-conflict reconstruction efforts in the Islamic world, and organizing capacity-building workshops, promoting the training of trainers, considering local contexts, and creating a pool of experts for each region.

The ICESCO delegation also participated in an information meeting regarding UNESCO’s action toward the reconstruction of Gaza.

To advance these initiatives, ICESCO is calling for the active participation of Member States and global partners. An information meeting was approved to brief both Member and non-Member States present at UNESCO on ICESCO’s priorities and actions in the field of culture and heritage. This effort seeks to strengthen the ICESCO-UNESCO partnership in the context of key upcoming events, including the 47th World Heritage Committee session and Mondiacult 2025.

The ICESCO delegation to Paris included Mr. Anar Karimov, Director of Partnerships and International Cooperation; Mr. Webber Ndoro, Director of the Islamic Heritage Centre; Mrs. Somia Djacta, Director of ICESCO Office at UNESCO; and Mr. Muhammad Aba Osman, expert at ICESCO’s Culture Sector.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) invites researchers, experts, and specialists in cultural heritage preservation and studies on the impact of climate change on culture to participate in preparing a strategic study aimed at enhancing the role of culture and heritage in addressing environmental challenges resulting from climate change. The study also seeks to foster joint efforts to preserve cultural identity in the countries of the Islamic world.

The strategic study aims to achieve a sustainable balance between technological advancement and the preservation of cultural heritage by harnessing modern technology and artificial intelligence to develop innovative solutions that mitigate the accelerating effects of climate change, address its imposed threats, and explore effective measures in this regard.

How to apply:
Interested individuals are invited to send their resumes to the email address heritage@icesco.org, attaching a summary of no more than 300 words explaining how they can contribute to the study, along with a letter of intent highlighting their reasons for wanting to participate. The deadline for submission is March 31, 2025.

The primary language of the study is English, with subsequent translations into Arabic and French. The study will be finalized and prepared for publication in September 2025.

For details and to download documents related to the strategic study, please visit the following links:
https://icesco.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Strategy-of-the-Islamic-World-to-Enhance-the-Role-_250304_111834.pdf
https://icesco.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Call-for-Participation-in-the-Preparation-of-a-Str_250304_111907.pdf

On Thursday, 27 February 2025, Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), visited Kairouan, Tunisia, where he was welcomed at the governorate headquarters by Mr. Dhaker Bargaoui, Governor of Kairouan, along with several Tunisian cultural and heritage experts, including Mr. Tarek Baccouche, Director-General of the National Heritage Institute, and Ms. Rabiaa Belfguira, Director-General of the Agency for Heritage Revival and Cultural Development. The discussions centered on ICESCO’s ongoing efforts to preserve the cultural heritage of its Member States, inscribe archaeological sites on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage List, and explore avenues for bilateral cooperation in cultural and heritage fields through joint programs and projects.

Following the meeting, Dr. AlMalik, accompanied by his hosts, embarked on a tour of Kairouan’s historical landmarks, starting with the Great Mosque of Uqba Ibn Nafi, the first mosque built in the city and one of the largest and most significant mosques in North Africa. Its origins date back over thirteen centuries, and houses the oldest pulpit in the Islamic world, crafted in the 3rd century AH (9th century CE), alongside its exquisite maqsurah, which dates to the 5th century AH (11th century CE).

During the visit, insights were shared about Kairouan’s historical role in the Islamic world, its intellectual and architectural legacy, and its lasting cultural influence.
The tour also included a visit to the National Museum of Islamic Arts in Raqqada, where Dr. AlMalik explored its exhibits of historical artifacts, rare coins, and unique manuscripts.

He praised the Museum’s manuscript restoration laboratory and the advanced scientific methods used in preserving and restoring manuscripts, emphasizing the importance of sharing expertise among ICESCO’s Mhember States.

He further ighlighted the need to protect Qur’anic and scientific manuscripts that document the region’s history and the golden age of Islam. Additionally, he reaffirmed ICESCO’s support for the initiative of the President of Tunisia, H.E. Kais Saied, to establish the International Center for Calligraphy Arts, “Iqraa,” which aligns with ICESCO’s growing focus on calligraphy and manuscripts, as demonstrated by its recently inaugurated specialized Center.

This visit followed the conclusion of ICESCO’s 45th Executive Council, held in Tunis on February 25–26, 2025.

It is worth noting that Kairouan, located 156 kilometers south of Tunis, holds a distinguished place in Islamic history as the first Islamic city established in North Africa. Founded by Uqba Ibn Nafi in 50 AH (670 CE), it served as a gateway for the spread of Islam into Algeria, Morocco, Spain, and Africa. The city is home to numerous mosques, shrines of Companions and saints, and significant archaeological sites, contributing to its rich tangible and intangible heritage. Furthermore, Kairouan boasts a profound scholarly legacy, being the first major center of learning in the Islamic metropolises in the western Mediterranean, preceding Córdoba and Fez. Recognizing its historical and cultural importance, ICESCO inscribed Kairouan on its Islamic World Heritage List in 2019, bringing the total number of inscribed sites and cultural elements to 724.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in Oman Climate Week, held in Muscat under the theme “Life in a Sustainable World.” The event brought together international leaders and experts to discuss practical environmental solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change and explore best practices and policies to address these challenges.

Dr. Adel Smeda and Dr. Wissam Chehade, experts from ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sector, represented the organization at the event, which took place from February 24 to 27, 2025. They discussed ways to enhance resilience to climate change and the role of modern technologies in mitigating the impacts of climate crises on individuals and communities.

As part of the week’s activities, ICESCO, in partnership with the Oman National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science and the Oman Environment Authority, organized a discussion session titled “Shaping Policies for Resilient Communities: Best Practices for Disaster Risk Reduction and Early Warning Systems.” The session provided a platform for participants to exchange insights on disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and the development of early warning systems. It also highlighted technological innovations, integrated policies, and financial mechanisms that can help Member States build more climate-resilient societies.

ICESCO’s participation in Oman Climate Week coincided with the launch of its policy document, “Best Practices for Disaster Risk Reduction and Early Warning Systems.” This strategic guide offers Member States practical insights to enhance preparedness and response strategies by integrating the latest AI technologies, data analytics, and satellite monitoring.

To access the document, visit:
https://icesco.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Best-Practice-Policy-Document-on-DRR-and-EWS-1.pdf

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Azamsho Sharifi, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Tajikistan for International Affairs and his delegation, on the sidelines of the 45th session of the Executive Council of ICESCO, held in the Republic of Tunisia under the patronage of His Excellency President Kaïs Saïed.

During the meeting, which took place on Wednesday, 26 February 2025, in Tunis, and was attended by Mr. Akram Karimi, Ambassador of Tajikistan to Saudi Arabia, Dr. AlMalik expressed gratitude to the Tajik delegation for their active participation in the Executive Council’s proceedings.

Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s commitment to valuing and showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Islamic world, particularly in the Central Asian region. He also emphasized the Organization’s readiness to engage Tajik experts in its initiatives to further enrich its work.

Additionally, Dr. AlMalik outlined ICESCO’s efforts in the environmental sector, highlighting its innovative programs aimed at combating climate change, enhancing food security, and actively participating in global climate-related forums and summits.
Mr. Sharifi, in turn, extended an invitation to Dr. AlMalik to attend the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation, scheduled for May 2025 in Dushanbe. Dr. AlMalik welcomed the invitation and reiterated ICESCO’s commitment to strengthening collaboration between the two sides.

Mr. Sharifi also acknowledged ICESCO’s esteemed role in Tajikistan and emphasized his country’s eagerness to expand cooperation with the Organization in environmental initiatives, climate change mitigation, and civilizational dialogue.
The meeting was also attended by Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Ambassador Khaled Fatah Al-Rahman, Head of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue.