Category: News

On Thursday, 22 May 2025, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), visited the headquarters of the Islamic Cultural Centre in the British capital, London. He was received by Dr. Ahmad Al-Dubayan, Director-General of the Centre. The two sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in the coming period through the organization of international conferences, seminars, and training workshops in areas of shared interest, particularly in promoting civilizational dialogue and combating extremist ideology.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik expressed his satisfaction with the existing cooperation between ICESCO and the Centre, as reflected in their joint participation in many activities, initiatives, and conferences. He also expressed his ambition to further strengthen and expand future cooperation.

For his part, Dr. Al-Dubayan commended ICESCO’s efforts in highlighting the civilizational aspects of the Prophet’s Seerah, conveying the true image of moderate Islam to the world, and promoting the values of civilizational dialogue. He affirmed the Centre’s keenness to cooperate with the Organization in this area.

Following the meeting, Dr. AlMalik, accompanied by Dr. Al-Dubayan, toured the various wings and departments of the Centre, where the ICESCO Director-General was briefed on the Centre’s most notable programs and initiatives.

It is worth noting that the Islamic Cultural Centre in London is one of the oldest Islamic centres in Europe. It plays a major role in introducing the values and culture of the Islamic world and promoting the Arabic language and dialogue between communities.

On Tuesday, 20 May 2025, Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Mansour Bajash, Yemen’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, at the Organization’s headquarters in Rabat. The meeting was attended by Mr. M. Azzedine Al-Asbahi, Ambassador of Yemen to the Kingdom of Morocco; Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Head of ICESCO’s Center for Civilizational Dialogue; and Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector at ICESCO.

During the meeting, Dr. Benarafa reviewed the nature of ICESCO’s work and its areas of partnership with the Republic of Yemen, highlighting the programs and projects implemented in the country, as well as the Organization’s efforts to dispatch experts to monitor and document violations and damage sustained by educational and cultural institutions and historical sites.

For his part, Dr. Bajash expressed his appreciation for the efforts of ICESCO, represented by Director-General Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, affirming the importance of the support provided to Yemen in the fields of education, preservation of culture, and heritage protection. He called for continued coordination and cooperation with experts and specialists.

The meeting concluded with a tour led by Dr. Benarafa, during which he accompanied Dr. Bajash and his delegation to the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography and Islamic Civilization, housed at ICESCO headquarters.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) concluded its Smart City Solutions Startup Competition 2025, organized in cooperation with the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in Indonesia. The event witnessed the participation of 194 young entrepreneurs as part of ICESCO’s program to train youth in creating and developing small-scale projects in technology and innovation. The initiative aims to support 150 startups across ICESCO Member States in this field.

During the closing ceremony, held in person and via video conferencing in Bandung, Indonesia, on Friday, 16 May 2025, the 13 selected participating teams presented their projects to the judging panel in the fields of sustainable innovation, smart cities, and the circular economy. The Committee concluded the event by announcing the three winning teams of the competition.

The first-place winner was the Curaweda team, which presented a digital storytelling platform using AI to support tourism in Indonesia. Second place went to the Encoteki team for their platform that offers discounts at retail stores through tokens shaped like endangered Indonesian animals, aiming to raise awareness about biodiversity. Third place was secured by the Nyampih Indonesia team for their project that creates a digital network connecting households, businesses, and waste collectors to streamline waste recycling management and advance the circular economy. In addition, several other projects received honorary awards, including Moo Apps and Kilatsoon.

The event, attended by Dr. Mohammad Sharif, Advisor in the Science and Environment Sector at ICESCO, featured a series of capacity-building workshops for startups on applications of AI and modern technologies.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the 18th edition of the Moussem of Tan-Tan, organized by the Almouggar Foundation, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. The cultural event was held in Tan-Tan, Kingdom of Morocco, from 16 to 18 May 2025, under the theme, “Moussem of Tan-Tan: A Living Testament to the Universality of Nomadic Culture.”

Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General, and Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Advisor to the Director-General for Partnerships and International Cooperation, represented ICESCO at the event. The Moussem featured a large number of cultural and artistic activities that reflect the diversity of the rich Saharan heritage. These included traditional Tbourida shows, camel races, handicraft exhibitions, as well as folk games that highlight aspects of the daily life of nomads in the desert.

The Tan-Tan Moussem is a major cultural event in the Kingdom of Morocco that celebrates nomadic culture by highlighting oral heritage, traditional music, handicrafts, and customs spanning generations. This event was inscribed on both ICESCO’s and UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage lists due to its role in showcasing Saharan cultural diversity and promoting the values of cultural and artistic exchange at regional and international levels.

This year’s edition featured two scientific seminars. The first focused on investment and local development, where participants reviewed ways to strengthen the local economy by capitalizing on aspects of Saharan heritage. The second seminar discussed women’s Hassani poetry, bringing together a host of researchers and experts in the field to shed light on Sahrawi women’s creative contributions to safeguarding heritage and transmitting collective memory through oral literature.

ICESCO’s participation reflects its firm commitment to the protection of intangible cultural heritage in the Islamic world and the promotion of a common cultural identity among its Member States.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with a delegation from the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF), headed by Mr. Taha Ayhan, President of the Forum, in the presence of Mr. Timur Suleymanov, Aide to the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan. The meeting focused on exploring ways to enhance youth participation in the activities and initiatives planned for the celebration of Kazan as a 2026 Culture Capital in the Islamic World.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the International Economic Forum “Russia – Islamic World: Kazan Forum 2025.” During the discussion, Dr. AlMalik emphasized that, in line with ICESCO’s strategic vision centered on creativity and innovation, the Organization places special priority on youth and is committed to engaging them in its leading activities and initiatives.

The Director-General also highlighted the importance of involving young people in the events surrounding the celebration of Kazan, given their pivotal role in promoting the cultural significance of the occasion. He noted, “Youth participation will bring vibrancy and fresh perspectives to the celebration’s programs.”

For his part, Mr. Ayhan expressed the Forum’s keen interest in contributing to the Kazan 2026 activities, pointing to the potential for organizing youth-led cultural events that showcase young talents and reinforce cultural diversity.

Both parties affirmed the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation over the coming period to implement joint programs and initiatives aimed at empowering youth and preserving the rich heritage of the Islamic world.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), visited the Bolgar Islamic Academy in the Republic of Tatarstan on Saturday, 17 May 2025, on the sidelines of his participation in the Kazan International Economic Forum 2025 (Russia – Islamic World). He was received by Mr. Murad Timurshin, Head of the Doctoral Studies Department at the Bolgar Islamic Academy.

During the visit, the Academy’s efforts in offering diverse educational programs in Islamic sciences and promoting scientific research were reviewed, along with its contribution to the preparation of young, scientifically qualified religious leaders.

Dr. Salim AlMalik toured the Academy’s facilities and reviewed its educational and research programs. He praised the role it plays in shaping a distinguished generation of scholars and thinkers in Russia and the Islamic world. He emphasized that his visit falls within ICESCO’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with leading educational institutions, supporting scientific research and academic development, and reinforcing the values of tolerance and intercultural dialogue. He also expressed the Organization’s willingness to cooperate with the Academy in areas of shared interest.

The Bolgar Islamic Academy is one of the prominent educational institutions in the Russian Federation. It offers advanced educational programs at the Master’s and Doctoral levels and focuses on training scholars and religious leaders capable of promoting Islamic values and disseminating knowledge.