Category: News

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), in cooperation with Mohammed V University in Rabat, held on Monday, February 17, 2025, the International Health Conference on “Transforming Global Health: Tackling Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).” The three-day conference aims to offer a platform for researchers, officials, policymakers, healthcare workers, and students to discuss suitable mechanisms to contribute to countering NTDs and fostering equal treatment opportunities.

During the opening session, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, stated that the conference reflects a shared commitment to fighting one of the most pressing health challenges, further explaining that despite the great advancements in medical research, NTDs still affect more than a billion people worldwide, especially in poor communities. He added that achieving comprehensive health justice necessitates the eradication of these diseases, reaffirming ICESCO’s commitment to sustaining its efforts to address NTDs, in line with its steadfast belief in the dire need to promote its Member States’ healthcare systems, consolidate international cooperation, and mobilize the scientific expertise needed to achieve this goal. He also stressed that combating these diseases requires multilateral cooperation and long-term investments, an objective targeted by this conference through providing field training to 50 participants and equipping healthcare workers with the necessary skills and expertise to replicate them in their countries.

For his part, Dr. Iqbal Choudhary, COMSTECH Coordinator General, stated that the fight against NTDs requires the global community’s attention to strive to fill in the information gaps regarding their complex composition, contagious nature, and numerous outbreak factors, commending the joint programs and initiatives of ICESCO and COMSTECH in service of the Member States and humanity at large.

Speaking next, Dr. Amal Thimou, Vice Dean for Academic and Research Affairs at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy at Mohammed V University in Rabat, underlined the need for the global community to share the responsibility of guaranteeing a safe and healthy world where individuals can live in communities that uphold health as a priority and a right for all.

Afterward, the first working session was held under the theme: “Eradicating Neglected Tropical Diseases: A Global Health Imperative.” The session was moderated by Mr. Anas Doukkali, Former Minister of Health of Morocco, and brought together a host of international officials and experts to discuss NTDs as a major global health issue facing poor communities. The session also discussed the devastating economic repercussions of the lack of awareness of these diseases, stressing the need for concerted efforts, leveraging modern technology, and increasing funding for scientific medical research to promote prevention measures and curb their natural and climate-induced spread.

The second session, moderated by Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of the Science and Environment Sector, discussed the theme, “Tackling Neglected Tropical Diseases: Field Perspectives and Best Practices,” with the participation of international experts and officials. The session addressed states’ effective practices to prevent the spread of tropical diseases, notably the Kingdom of Morocco, considered a model in fighting a number of diseases such as leishmaniasis, leprosy, and trachoma, following effective strategies.

Discussions also focused on the importance of promoting accurate diagnosis, building the capacities of healthcare workers, and capitalizing on impactful success stories as key levers of change.

On the sidelines of the conference, training sessions on countering NTDs will be organized for the benefit of 50 participants from ICESCO’s Member States, both at the Organization’s headquarters and the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy at Mohammed V University in Rabat.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), held a series of meetings with several ministers and cultural affairs officials participating in the 13th Conference of Ministers of Culture in the Islamic World. The conference, organized by ICESCO in partnership with the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, took place in Jeddah on 12-13 February 2025.

Dr. AlMalik first met with Mr. Amadou Abdramane, Minister of Youth, Culture, Arts, and Sports of the Republic of Niger. Their discussions emphasized the role of cultural industries in preserving national identity and reaffirmed ICESCO’s commitment to supporting Niger in inscribing its historical sites and cultural elements on the Islamic World Heritage List. They also explored collaboration on historical documentation to reinforce national identity and the development of cultural professionals’ skills through specialized training workshops.

Next, Dr. AlMalik met with Mr. Timur Suleymanov, Aide to the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan, and Ms. Irada Ayupova, Minister of Culture of Tatarstan. Their discussions covered key topics, including the designation of Kazan as the Islamic World Cultural Capital for 2026 and mechanisms to ensure the success of this celebration. They also explored joint programs, participation in conferences organized by both parties, and future initiatives to showcase Kazan’s cultural diversity and its role as a center of cultural influence in the Islamic world.

Dr. AlMalik then met with Ms. Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Their discussions highlighted Nigeria’s vibrant cultural sector, particularly its film industry, and the importance of collaboration with ICESCO to promote the unique identity of Islamic world communities, preserve their history, and share their untold stories. They also addressed cooperation in inscribing Nigeria’s heritage on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage List.

Subsequently, Dr. AlMalik engaged with Ms. Armande Longo Moulengui, Minister of Culture and Arts of the Gabonese Republic, congratulating her on her appointment and wishing her success in her new role. He reaffirmed ICESCO’s commitment to assisting Gabon in key areas such as intellectual property, the restitution of cultural property, and cultural rights. Additionally, they discussed the possibility of a delegation from the Gabonese Ministry visiting ICESCO’s headquarters to gain insight into the Organization’s processes for inscribing heritage sites in the Islamic world.

Dr. AlMalik also met with Sheikh Moeenul Hack, the representative of the Republic of Guyana at the conference. Sheikh Hack commended ICESCO’s efforts across its fields of action and emphasized the importance of strengthening the partnership between ICESCO and Guyana. Their discussions explored opportunities for deeper bilateral relations through mutual participation in conferences and activities, as well as knowledge exchange between officials from both sides.

In his meeting with Mr. Akram Karimi, Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. AlMalik discussed prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and Tajikistan in the fields of culture, thought, and literature. They explored ways to promote the values of Islamic world civilization through specialized intellectual conferences and proposed a visit by a Tajikistani youth delegation to ICESCO to learn about the Organization’s youth capacity-building initiatives and skills development programs.

Dr. AlMalik also met with Mr. Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Adviser on Cultural Affairs to the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, to discuss the role of films in cultural development. They explored the establishment of a fund to support emerging talent and proposed future projects to advance film development and enhance directors’ skills in storytelling. Additionally, they discussed organizing the ICESCO Prize for Films in the Islamic World to support young creative talents.

Finally, Dr. AlMalik held a meeting with Dr. Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir, Minister of Education, Culture, and Higher Education of the Federal Republic of Somalia. Their discussions focused on the deployment of an ICESCO delegation to conduct specialized Arabic training workshops in Somalia. They also explored strengthening collaboration in teacher professional development in Islamic studies, integrating Quranic schools into the national education system, supporting the publication of educational materials, and building the capacities of heritage and culture specialists. Furthermore, they examined joint initiatives to enhance Somalia’s educational and cultural policies.

Dr. Salim AlMalik: Culture remains the cornerstone and enabler of sustainable development.

The 13th Conference of Ministers of Culture in the Islamic World, organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and hosted by the Ministry of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on 12-13 February 2025, concluded its proceedings with the issuance of the Jeddah Declaration on the Impact of Culture on Social and Economic Development.

The Jeddah Declaration reaffirmed that culture is a fundamental pillar in building societies, strengthening national identity, and driving economic and social growth. It underscored culture’s central role in addressing contemporary issues and emphasized the need for greater awareness and recognition of cultural rights. The Declaration called for broad efforts to promote access to culture, including training programs, support for high-quality cultural production, and initiatives to enhance public understanding of cultural rights.

Moreover, the Declaration urged intensified efforts to protect the Islamic world’s cultural heritage, particularly in Palestine, given the ongoing attacks on its heritage by occupation forces. The Declaration stressed that safeguarding heritage is a global responsibility.

The Declaration emphasized the vital role of cultural institutions in addressing climate change, stressing the need to empower them to mitigate its effects, manage and protect cultural properties against environmental risks, and ensure their long-term sustainability.

Regarding cultural policies, the Declaration reaffirmed the commitment of Member States to strengthening social cohesion through culture and advancing efforts to integrate culture into the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Declaration concluded by endorsing Saudi Arabia’s bid to host MONDIACULT 2029 and commending its Initiative to Enhance the Restitution of Cultural Properties in the Islamic World.

In addition to the designation of Baghdad and Kazan as cultural capitals in the Islamic world for 2026, the final day of the Conference saw the adoption of key documents and initiatives presented by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture and ICESCO’s General Directorate. These included:

• ICESCO’s Report on Cultural Achievements
• The Report of the Islamic World Heritage Committee
• The Report of the 19th Meeting of the Consultative Council for Cultural Development
• ICESCO’s Programme on Cultural Rights and the Right to Culture in Islamic World Countries
• Saudi Arabia’s Initiative to Enhance the Restitution of Cultural Properties in the Islamic World
• The Report on Heritage Sites in Danger in the Islamic World
• The Report on the Digitization of Bilingual Dictionaries
• The Report on the Historical Illustrated Dictionary of Arabic Calligraphy

While chairing the closing session, Mr. Rakan bin Ibrahim Al-Touq, Assistant Minister of Culture of Saudi Arabia, delivered a speech on behalf of Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Culture. Mr. Al-Touq thanked ICESCO for its valuable cooperation and successful organization of the Conference, which was marked by key decisions and initiatives highlighting the significant role of culture in development.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, delivered a closing address in which he praised the Conference’s insightful discussions and contributions. Dr. AlMalik highlighted how these exchanges reflected the attendees’ strong commitment to partnership, cooperation, and consensus—values deeply rooted in the Islamic world’s civilizational heritage. This spirit, he noted, was evident in the Conference’s resolutions and outcomes, which are designed to shape a forward-looking future. Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed that culture remains the cornerstone and enabler of sustainable development.

In conclusion, the Ministers of Culture in the Islamic world extended their deepest gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may Allah protect them, for Saudi Arabia’s generous hospitality and for hosting the Conference.

Dr. AlMalik Holds Talks with the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Six Ministers

During the 13th Conference of Ministers of Culture in the Islamic World, held on 12–13 February in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), led a series of meetings with ministers of culture and senior cultural officials on the conference’s opening day.

First, Dr. AlMalik met with Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. He praised Mr. Moratinos for his active participation in the conference and his insightful opening address. The two explored collaborative projects—such as jointly organizing conferences and events—and stressed the importance of reinforcing efforts toward peace, mutual respect, and the promotion of coexistence, as well as interfaith and intercultural dialogue.

Next, Dr. AlMalik engaged with Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities. They focused on celebrating contemporary Islamic art and representing Islam through a modern cultural framework. Both leaders agreed on the need for joint initiatives, especially those aimed at youth, aligning with ICESCO’s new vision.

Following that, Dr. AlMalik met with Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hano, Egypt’s Minister of Culture, to advance efforts to inscribe Egypt’s diverse historical sites and cultural elements on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage List. Both officials reaffirmed their commitment to collaborating on future projects and activities.

Dr. AlMalik also discussed the establishment of a committee with Mr. Nazarbekov Ozodbek Akhmedovich, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The committee will oversee arrangements for celebrating Samarkand as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic World for 2025, as part of ICESCO’s Program for Capitals of Culture. They explored practical avenues for collaboration to ensure the success of this initiative, which aims to showcase Samarkand’s rich cultural heritage.

Then, Dr. AlMalik met with Mr. Mohammed Mehdi Bensaid, Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, where both stressed their shared commitment to expanding cooperation and executing cultural programs that advance sustainable development.

Additionally, Dr. AlMalik met with Dr. Henry Ori, Minister of Education, Science, and Culture of the Republic of Suriname, to explore ways to strengthen the capacities of professionals in culture and heritage preservation through specialized training programs. He also invited Dr. Ori to send a delegation to ICESCO’s headquarters to gain deeper insights into the organization’s operations, thereby fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration.

Later, in his meeting with Mr. Khalid Ali Aleisir, Sudanese Minister of Culture and Information, Dr. AlMalik commended the strong cooperation between ICESCO and Sudan. They discussed strategies to mitigate the war’s impact on Sudan’s cultural sector—focusing on restituting cultural property and preserving national identity—while emphasizing the importance of exchanging expertise to support these initiatives.

Finally, Dr. AlMalik concluded the day by meeting with Mr. Ahmed Karim Aleyawi, Director-General of the House of Iraqi Manuscripts. They explored opportunities for enhanced cooperation in heritage preservation and valorization, and discussed the potential nomination of Baghdad as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic World. Dr. AlMalik reiterated ICESCO’s support, highlighting the rich and diverse heritage of Iraqi civilization.

As part of ongoing efforts to enhance cultural cooperation and preserve heritage, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has signed three executive agreements with the Saudi Ministry of Culture and the Heritage Commission of Saudi Arabia.

These agreements focus on documenting the art of Arabic calligraphy, supporting the inscription of cultural heritage, and developing the creative capacities of individuals across the Islamic world.

The signing took place alongside the 13th Conference of Ministers of Culture in the Islamic World, held in Jeddah.

The first executive agreement, signed by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, and Mr. Rakan bin Ibrahim Al-Touq, Saudi Assistant Minister of Culture, aims to document the evolution of Arabic calligraphy across different historical periods with contributions from experts and specialists in the field. This initiative will also involve collecting manuscripts, inscriptions, and artistic works, while a joint task force from ICESCO and the Saudi Ministry of Culture will oversee its implementation.

The second executive agreement, also signed by both parties, seeks to support intellectuals, writers, and artists across the Islamic world. Under this initiative, ICESCO and the Saudi Ministry of Culture will provide specialized training to enhance creative skills, offer opportunities for participation in regional and international cultural and artistic events, and establish platforms for cultural and intellectual exchange.

Regarding the third executive agreement, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik signed the agreement with H.E. Hamid bin Mohammed Fayez, Saudi Deputy Minister of Culture. This program, to be implemented over three years, aims to build capacity for nominating and inscribing historic sites on ICESCO’s cultural heritage lists.

Under this agreement, both parties will coordinate with ICESCO Member States to nominate specialists for participation in training programs, develop training materials, provide experts, and establish mechanisms for selecting trainees and speakers. Additionally, an awareness campaign will be launched to promote the programs and highlight its outcomes.

It is worth noting that the signing of these three executive agreements is part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between ICESCO and the Saudi Ministry of Culture in 2022, which aims to strengthen cultural cooperation, preserve heritage, and support creativity across the Islamic world.

With the esteemed presence of His Highness Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan AlSaud, Minister of Culture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and His Excellency Rustam Minnikhanov, President of the Republic of Tatarstan in the Russian Federation, the 13th Conference of Ministers of Culture in the Islamic World kicked off on Wednesday, 12 February 2025. The event, organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), is hosted by Saudi Arabia, represented by the Ministry of Culture, under the theme “The Impact of Culture on Socio-Economic Development.” The Conference brings together broad participation by ministers of culture and delegations from ICESCO Member States, alongside heads of several regional and international cultural organizations.

The opening session began with a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by an address from His Highness Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan AlSaud, expressing Saudi Arabia’s pride in presiding over the 13th Conference of the Ministers of Culture in the Islamic World, which aims to enhance joint cultural efforts and promote culture as a fundamental pillar in achieving socio-economic development.

The Saudi Minister of Culture reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for ICESCO’s efforts in empowering intellectuals and writers from Islamic countries by enhancing their presence in various cultural events and research projects. He also expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the Member States in ensuring the success of this session and the projects and initiatives that will emerge from it, emphasizing the importance of continuing efforts to strengthen joint cultural work.

Dr. Ghanim bin Mubarak Al-Ali, Assistant Undersecretary for Cultural Affairs at the Qatari Ministry of Culture and Chair of the previous Conference session, reviewed Qatar’s dedicated efforts during its presidency of the Conference to achieve the cornerstones of the Doha Declaration on the Renewal of Cultural Action in the Islamic World, which formed a fundamental reference in protecting, preserving, valuing, and digitizing heritage. He further stressed that cooperation is the best way to achieve success and the key to ensuring a strong and sustainable role for culture in our societies and global civilization.

In his remarks, His Excellency Rustam Minnikhanov, President of the Republic of Tatarstan, emphasized his commitment to strengthening cooperation with the Islamic world to contribute to cultural and sustainable development. He praised ICESCO’s endeavors in preserving and promoting Islamic heritage through its various programs and initiatives, particularly in inscribing tangible and intangible heritage sites on heritage lists and assisting Member States in obtaining global heritage recognition. He also highlighted Tatarstan’s keen interest in ICESCO’s Capitals of Culture Program.

For his part, Mr. Hissein Ibrahim Taha, Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), commended the Conference’s theme, which underscores the importance of culture as a driving force for comprehensive development in the Islamic world and its effective role as a soft power that bridges cultures and showcases human values. He pointed out that culture today extends beyond self-expression and national identity to influence the economic identity of countries, which makes it imperative to support cultural and creative industries and be part of the broader vision to promote the culture of the Islamic world and renew its content.

Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, stressed the need to focus on the role that culture can play in achieving sustainable development across economic and social domains and in fostering peace and civilizational dialogue, emphasizing that diversity and plurality are essential elements in achieving global peace. He also outlined the efforts and initiatives undertaken by the Organization to promote lasting peace.

The opening session concluded with remarks by Dr. Salim AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, in which he expressed the Organization’s honor in holding this historic gathering in Saudi Arabia, stating that the Kingdom has “raised high the banner of culture, and by the hands of its youth, charted a course that commands admiration.” He further extended his deep gratitude to Saudi Arabia for its efforts to successfully arrange the hosting of the Conference.