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    Category: Culture

    Culture

    11th Conference of Culture Minister kicks off in Tunis

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    Today, the 11th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers kicked off under the theme “Toward the Development of Current Cultural Policies in the Islamic World”, under the patronage of President Kais Saied, with the participation of the delegations of 50 countries and 16 international and regional Organizations.  

    The opening session started with an address by Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, wherein he welcomed the guests of Tunisia, pointed out to the development of the cultural field in Tunisia over the past years, and referred to the most important activities implemented throughout 2019 as part of the Celebration of Tunis as the Arab region’s Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019.

    In his address at the opening session, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), called on the Ministers of Culture and the competent parties in Muslim countries to complete their technical files for the inscription of their heritage sites on the Islamic World Heritage List, while warning that around 70% of the world heritage sites in danger are located in Muslim countries.

    Dr. AlMalik also stated that ISECCO will supervise the programme of the joint inscription of a set of exemplary historical and civilizational routes (Hajj route, routes of commercial convoys, and the routes of travelers, scholars, students and manuscript, etc) on the Islamic World Heritage List, while reaffirming that ISESCO has included this issue within its new vision.

    Afterwards, Dr. Faisal bin Mohamed Saleh, Minister of Culture of the Sudan, President of the 10th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, took the floor and stressed that the Islamic world faces major challenges in all fields, most notably the development of Muslim countries without losing their identity, and identified investment in the cultural field as the sole means to achieve such objective.

    Dr. Saleh also commended the efforts of ISESCO, praised the role of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and thanked the Republic of Tunisia for hosting this conference.

    The address of Yousef bin Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, OIC Secretary General, was given on his behalf by Ambassador Tariq Bakhit, Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian, Social and Cultural Affairs. Dr. Al-Othaimeen stated that “the conference comes at the appropriate time. The cultural communication between the OIC Member States and the other countries is the primary objective of the OIC in coordination with Member States and the organizations operating in this field, particularly ISESCO.”

    Afterwards, ISESCO Awards, including the Incentive Award in the field of Traditional Industries and Handicrafts, ISESCO Award for Best Media Production, and the awards for the best cultural projects of the Capitals of Islamic Culture, were presented to the winners.

    After the opening ceremony, the conference started its working session behind closed doors to consider the agenda and draft resolutions, elect the member of the Consultative Council for Cultural Development in the Islamic World, set the date and venue of the 12th session of the conference and adopt the final report of the conference.

    AlMalik and Zine El Abidine announce the programme of the Conference of Culture Ministers and closing ceremony of Tunis as Capital of Islamic Culture

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    Today at the City of Culture in Tunis, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), and Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, held a press conference to announce the programme of the 11th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers and the closing ceremony of the Celebration of Tunis as the Arab region’s Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019.

    At the beginning of the press conference, Dr. AlMalik welcomed the journalists and media professionals, thanked H.E. Dr. Zine El Abidine, and commended the cultural activities held as part the celebration of Tunis as Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019. He also expressed his delight for the cultural activities which were not exclusive to Tunis, but also covered most regions of the Republic of Tunisia, while reaffirming that Tunis has given an exemplary model which is hard to compete by the following capitals of Islamic culture.

    On his part, Dr. Zine El Abidine thanked ISESCO Director General and commended the cooperation between the Ministry and the Organization, particularly in renewing cultural action.

    The Minister also reviewed the most important cultural activities which have been held by the Ministry throughout the year all over Tunisia, standing at 174 thousand activities.

    Besides, Dr. Zine El Abidine stressed that the strong cooperation between the Ministry and ISESCO will continue so as to optimally benefit from it throughout the year 2019, while expressing the pride of his country in taking over the presidency of the Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers for the two coming years.

    The Minister reiterated his welcome to Dr. AlMalik, the Culture Ministers of Muslim countries and the participating delegations in the 11th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers while wishing every success to this Conference, hosted tomorrow by Tunisia.

    Afterwards, the floor was given over to questions and discussions. Replying to a question on the potentials of digital technology in the field of culture, Dr. AlMalik said “the opportunities and challenges are immense in this context. Unless the Muslim countries benefit from such potentials, they would lag behind; which constitutes a serious and irreparable loss.”

    Dr. AlMalik added that ISESCO has been aware of this issue and sought to benefit Member States from the immense potentials of digital technology, including the project on ‘Digital culture: opportunities and challenges’, which is submitted to the Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers among other items for consideration.

    Responding to a question on the continuity and future of cooperation between the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs and ISESCO, Dr. Zine El Abidine replied: “this cooperation is strong and ongoing. It will continue and prosper between the two parties, especially after the concrete efforts to restore the vitality of the Organization with the appointment of Dr. AlMalik as Director General without overlooking the efforts of the former director general, Dr. Abdulaziz Altwaijri.”

    Dr. Zine El Abidine also stated that “we believe that citizens are the main and most important target of every cultural activity. Throughout the last three year, we have sought to help citizen appreciate arts, culture and cultural creativity before its practice, and our efforts are still ongoing. ”

    The Minister added that “we are glad of our achievements within this framework. We are looking forward to entrenching cultural diversity. In this regard, we have established Tunis International Center for Digital Cultural Economy and agreed with ISESCO Director General to share this vision, which will be considered tomorrow at the 11th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers.”

    President of Tunisian of People’s Representatives Assembly receives ISESCO Director General

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    The Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, examined with Dr. Rached Ghannouchi, President of the People’s Representatives Assembly of Tunisia, a number of issues related to ISESCO’s areas of action and the outstanding cooperation of the Republic of Tunisia with ISESCO in organizing many activities, including the 11th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers and the close of the celebration of Tunis as Islamic Culture Capital for 2019.

    This was part of a reception today by the President of the Assembly to ISESCO Director General and his accompanying delegation at the Assembly’s headquarters, during which Dr. AlMalik expressed ISESCO’s deep gratitude to the President, Government and people of Tunisia for their efforts to ensure the success of the 11th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers and the celebration of Tunis as Islamic Culture Capital for 2019 during which many important activities and programmes were organized. He also stressed that the enormous efforts made by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs are an example to follow by future Islamic culture capitals to overcome their challenges.

    From his part, Dr. Ghannouchi stated that ISESCO plays a pivotal role in the region and in the Islamic world as a whole in areas key to achieving development, particularly education, science and technology, wishing every success to the Organization in implementing its socially-conscious future programmes and plans.

    In addition, the meeting touched on ISESCO’s new vision and action strategy for the next phase. In this regard, Dr. AlMalik reviewed a range of major programmes and projects already initiated by the Organization, most notably the waqf (endowment) project whose proceeds will go to financing ISESCO’s programmes and activities in Member States’ neediest areas to support and empower women and children. Dr. AlMalik also pointed out that, under the Organization’s new vision, studies will be carried out in the field of waqf in the Islamic world with a view to promoting and developing it.

    In the same vein, Dr. Ghannouchi commended the idea of waqf and dubbed it as a practical solution to achieve ISESCO’s noble objectives. He underlined that waqf accounts for 30% of the expenditure of universities and civil society activities in Tunisia and that developed countries largely depend on it to ensure education and healthcare services to those in need.

    Key among the issues discussed at the meeting are ISESCO’s efforts in the fight against extremist thought and the documents issued by the previous sessions of the Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers that constitute a cultural and intellectual approach to combat extremism and promote moderation and middle stance, as advocated by the noble religion of Islam. These documents call on Islamic countries’ legislative institutions to enact more laws to this effect.

    “Extremism has severely harmed Islam and Muslims. Joint efforts have to be made to eradicate this plague”, Dr. Ghannouchi commented.

    For his part, Dr. AlMalik stated that under its new vision, ISESCO endeavors to become a house of expertise for the Islamic world, hence the creation of the Center of Strategic Anticipation.

    The two parties also explored the intellectual role played by ISESCO through “ISESCO Cultural Forum” which hosts renowned intellectuals from Muslim countries to discuss today’s issues and provide their suggestions and ideas.

    The meeting brought together Mr. Nabil Hajji, Vice-President of the Assembly in charge of External Relations; Mr. Habib Khedhr, Head of the Cabinet of the President of the Assembly; Dr. Najib Rhiati, Director of Culture at ISESCO; Dr. Mohamed Ghemari, Director of the General Secretariat; Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of the Center of Strategic Anticipation at ISESCO; and Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Cultural Advisor to ISESCO Director General.

    ISESCO Director General meets Tunisian Minister of cultural Affairs, and attends closing ceremony of Carthage Theatre Days

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    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), explored with Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, the latest state of preparations for the 11th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, which kicks off tomorrow 17 December 2019 in Tunis.

    This meeting was part of the airport reception of Dr. AlMalik by Dr. Zine El Abidine at the VIP Lounge at Carthage International Airport at his arrival to Tunis yesterday evening in a visit during which he will meeet a number of Tunisian Officials and take part at the Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, to be held by the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs, in cooperation with ISESCO, under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Tunisia, H.E. Mr. Kais Saied.

    Afterwards, Dr. Zine El Abidine took Dr. AlMalik in a visit to the City of Culture, where they attended the closing ceremony of the 21st Edition of Carthage Theatre Days. The festival honored a number of renowned Arab theatre artists from Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon and Tunisia, and awarded prizes to the winners.

    It is worth mentioning that the first edition of Carthage Theatre Days was held on 7-15 November 1983. This event is an international theatre festival, supervised by the Tunisian Ministry of cultural Affairs, and brings together creators from various Arab countries. It is modelled on Carthage Cinema Days. In 2010, Carthage Music Days held its first edition.

    ISESCO Cultural Forum honors Dean of Moroccan Literature and Secretary of Mohammedian League

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    ISESCO Cultural Forum honored Dr. Abbès Jirari, Dean of Moroccan Literature, and Dr. Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary General of the Mohammedian League. On this occasion, Dr. Salim AlMalik, ISESCO Director General, presented each scholar with a certificate of appreciation and excellence, along with a medal from ISESCO.

    The tribute followed the second gathering of the Forum, yesterday evening, which hosted Dr. Abbadi who gave a lecture entitled, “From human rights to humanity rights: Exploring the contextual and knowledge requirements and approaching mechanisms”. The lecture was attended by a large audience of ambassadors and experts, and a host of universities and higher institutes students in Rabat.

    Dr. Jirari had been the guest of the gathering of the first ISESCO Cultural Forum, held on 22 October 2019, wherein he gave a lecture on the “Future Cultural Challenges in the Islamic World”. Dr. Jirari’s lecture also brought together a large audience and major media coverage.

    The Director General also presented Dr. Jirari with the first copy of Issue I of the Cultural Forum Gatherings series.

    Dr. Abbadi at ISESCO Forum: serious scientific research is a requirement for monitoring the development of human rights

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    ** The global expenditure on armament amounts to US$17 trillion, just to protect humanity from itself

    ** Each human being has individual rights, including the right to privacy which is daily violated on Internet

    The second gathering of ISESCO Cultural Forum, held yesterday at the headquarters of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), hosted Dr. Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary General of the Mohammadia League of Scholars, former member of the Moroccan National Council of Human Rights (CNDH), to deliver a lecture on the theme “From Human Rights to Humanity Right: Exploring contextual and knowledge requirements and approaching mechanisms”, on the occasion of Human Rights Day.

    The Forum was largely attended by ambassadors, experts, specialists, media representatives, and students of universities and higher institutes in Rabat. The gathering started with an address by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ISESCO Director General, in which he welcomed Dr. Abbadi and the audience, and introduced the theme of the lecture. Afterwards, Dr. Abbadi delivered his lecture wherein he thanked ISESCO and its Director General for this invitation and stressed the importance of the lecture’s theme. He introduced his lecture with five basic principles “a) the human rights ‘dimension’ is inherent in human beings since their existence and from such dimension all legislations and procedures have been developed to organize human life and relations; b) there are many individual rights that should be framed within an attractive project; c) these rights entail duties; how can people, for instance, call for the achievement of sustainable development unless they fulfill their duties toward society and how can they demand peace while they cause strife among people”.

    Moreover, Dr. Abbadi evoked the ‘fourth generation of human rights’, which takes into account the current system that considers the right to privacy as a human right. He also discussed the violations of the right to privacy on Internet, and the issues of genetic modifications with respect to the ethical dimension. He then went back on the five principles to present the fourth one which is the current global crises such as armament and fear crisis stating that the global expenditure on armament amounts to US$17 trillion, with US$2288 per capita on Earth; i.e. humanity incurs such massive expenditure to protect itself from itself.

    Dr. Abbadi further explained that human rights did not start with the Magna Carta back in 1215; it rather began long ago quoting the saying of Umar ibn al-Khaṭtāb (may Allah be pleased with him): “How can you enslave people when their mothers bore them as free men?”. Each human being is free and this notion is established in all religions and might be the fifth principle.

    Afterwards, Dr. Abbadi stated five phases for tackling individual human rights. “Serious scientific research is the gate to monitor the development of human rights and provide precise answers. Such research should adopt a scientific method and have special and adequate tools for the investigated field, namely human rights”, he stressed.

    Dr. Abbadi also reaffirmed the importance of strengthening, supporting and assisting human rights institutions so as to full their duties. At the end of this lecture, Dr. Abbadi received and answered the audience’s questions.

    Following this discussion, Dr. AlMalik honored Dr. Abbès Jirari, Dean of Moroccan Literature, guest of the Forum’s first gathering, and Dr. Abbadi with a certificate of appreciation and excellence, and a medal from ISESCO. Dr. AlMalik also presented Dr. Jirari with the first copy of Issue I of the Cultural Forum Gatherings series.

    ISESCO Director General: the application of human rights is an internal affair of every society according to its national contexts

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    **We should explore the human rights processes going  beyond the individual dimension to the collective ones and anticipating the future

    Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), stressed that the application of human rights is an internal affair of every country after due proper institutional deliberations, advocacy, consultation and management according to societal consensuses, national dialogue, natural development and national contexts of each society. “Such action is not based on foreign agendas or strange references to these societies. This is one of the challenges facing us toward entrenching the culture of human rights” explained Dr. AlMalik.

    This was part of Dr. AlMalik’s address yesterday at ISESCO Cultural Forum, which hosted Dr. Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary General of the Mohammadia League of Scholars, former member of the Moroccan National Council of Human Rights (CNDH), to deliver a lecture on “From Human Rights to Humanity Right: Exploring contextual and knowledge requirements and approaching mechanisms”, on the occasion of Human Rights Day.

    At the outset of his address, Dr. AlMalik welcomed all the participants to ISESCO, which is a house of expertise for the Islamic world in its areas of competence, reaffirming ISESCO’s keenness to develop new methods in the management of the intellectual fields through openness to decision-makers in various knowledge fields to participate in ISESCO’s activities and listening to their proposals and opinions on the promotion of culture, education, science and communication in Member States.

    ISESCO Director General added that “this is a perfect time and context for this lecture, which deserves due attention as it places the human rights issue at the core of the concerns of ISESCO, which published many relevant studies in its working languages, including “the Islamic Declaration on Cultural Rights” which was approved by the 8th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers, held in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah in 2014.”

    Besides, Dr. AlMalik made it clear that many of ISESCO Member States have taken positive strides in the process of human rights, which needs further expansion as it concerns countries and societies, achieves development, and ensures comprehensive security. “We should take into account the cultural, social, economic, environmental and technological changes which resulted in many new problematics with direct impact on Earth and humanity rights. Such problematics should be solved through the establishment of new human rights processes that go beyond the individual dimension to the collective ones and move from the present to the future”, he explained.

    ISESCO Director General stressed  that within this new human rights prospect, going in line with ISESCO’s new vision, which is entrenched through many important reforms in its plans, programmes, structure and human resources, the issue of human rights should be among the concerns of decision-makers, officials and society as it builds the societies in which security, welfare, justice and equality prevail.

    Dr. AlMalik added that the system of human rights does not only concern individuals, but it covers also human groups and future generations. “However, there are historical, cultural and social contexts, knowledge requirements and implementation mechanisms that should be respected and taken into account. The human rights issue is not a slogan or a passing celebrated day. It is rather a strong culture that should be shared and implemented transparently within constructive dialogue and consultation” he stressed.

    At the close of his address, Dr. AlMalik said “Muslims have given due attention to the issue of rights at the level of religious assignment, including worship, dealings, doctrines and discipline, and developed the philosophy of legislation based on preserving the human dignity. However, they should reconsider them according to an accurate scientific method and grasp all the developments of the Islamic thoughts in this field so as to enrich the human rights achievements in the general human civilizational edifice and achieve the true meaning of succession as Allah Says: ‘O David, indeed We have made you a successor upon the earth, so judge between the people in truth’”.

    Remarkable participation of ISESCO in International Bazar in Rabat

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    The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) took part in the International Charity Bazar, held on Saturday, at Mohamed V National Theater in Rabat, under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohamed VI of Morocco, and the effective presidency of Their Royal Highnesses the Princesses of Morocco. The Bazar was opened by H.R.H. Princess Lalla Meryem.

    ISESCO set a special stand at the Bazar, which was overseen by Dr. Yousra AlJazairy, spouse of H.E. ISESCO Director General, with the participation of Ms. Hanane Ghazi, Ms. Zineb Iraqi, and Ms. Majda Souaf.

    For his part, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ISESCO Director General, visited the Bazar and welcomed the visitors of ISESCO stand. He also visited several Member States’ stands and held friendly conversations with the managers of these States’ stands, hailing the organization and noble charitable cause of the Bazar.

    ISESCO’s stand contained a number of ISESCO’s publications, and items related to child education through play, which was well-received and appreciated by the Bazar’s visitors.

    In her address at the opening of the Bazar, H.R.H. Princess Lalla Meryem commended the projects carried out by the Diplomatic Circle in the cultural and social fields, and the associations it supports.

    It is worth noting that the International Bazar in Rabat is an annual event that includes an open buffet of traditional food from participating countries, in addition to displays of the respective local and artisanal products of a large number of countries from different continents. The proceeds of the Bazar are donated to charitable associations targeting women and supporting education.

    Call for turning to the future at the Meeting on “Social Transformations and Foresight”

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    **Dr. AlMalik: ISESCO is keen to benefit from the potential of foresight thought in moving beyond time

    **Dr. Sall: strategic foresight has become a survival imperative and not a luxury

    The Open Meeting on “Social Transformations and Foresight”, held yesterday at the headquarters of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), witnessed great interaction from the audience and a rich debate on the importance of strategic foresight in modern times, which has become a survival imperative and not a luxury according to the guest of the meeting, Dr. Alioune Sall, Founder and CEO of the African Futures Institute (AFI) in South Africa.

    At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ISESCO Director General, gave a statement in which he reaffirmed that ISESCO’s new forward-looking vision and strategy requires the anticipation of the future with a scientific approach so as to largely benefit Member States, and added that this keenness is behind the establishment of the Centre of Strategic Anticipation in ISESCO.

    In addition, Dr. AlMalik welcomed Dr. Sall, commended the theme of the lecture and stressed ISESCO’s keenness to benefit from the potential of foresight thought in moving beyond time and saving money and efforts through the proactive preparation for future scenarios, which are scientifically anticipated so as to allow the decision-makers to have alternative choices to avoid any uncalculated hasty decisions.  

    Afterwards, Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of the Centre of Strategic Anticipation in ISESCO stressed the importance of disseminating the proactive culture in the Islamic world.

    Dr. Hammami also introduced the topic of the lecture. He highlighted the importance of strategic foresight amid the major social transformations in many countries and regions around the world, and stressed the need to distinguish between strategic foresight and expectation as foresight largely draws upon a calculated scientific method in analyzing the past, monitoring the present and anticipating the future.

    Prior to his lecture, Dr. Sall stated that he had explained the theme of foresight and its importance for many times, but the connection between foresight and social transformations (theme of the meeting) was the major stimulus for attending and participating in this meeting as well as his belief in the importance of the role that ISESCO may play through interaction with Member States, which witness big social transformations.

    In his lecture, Dr. Sall explained that “the foresight thought exists in the Arab and Islamic history and culture. Times change and many countries have developed. There is no historical inevitability. Only change is constant.”

    Furthermore, Dr. Sall stressed the importance of anticipating the future, renewing the production of thought and sciences, and the need to grasp the past so as to understand the present and have the courage to develop conceptions about the future. “We live in the future more than in the present and we cannot live in the past. We need to understand the world where we will spend the rest of our lives,” He added.

    Besides, Dr. Sall stressed the need to distinguish between foresight and expectation. “Foresight is based on data, figures and information. Its importance lies in looking far beyond the limits of expectation. Foresight experts and think thanks should help actors of change to develop and follow-up to their work to avoid taking hasty or wrong decisions.” He explained.

    Dr. Sall further highlighted that “we should promote thinking capacity, develop minds, and invest in human capacities so as to understand the threats of the future. Such actions are necessary to survive and put an end to dependence.”

    In addition, Dr. Sall clarified that there is a disparity, major deficiency and a large gap between countries of the North and the South. “Africa produces 3% of knowledge and accounts for 10% of world population. Knowledge production should be increased. We should have the ambition, promote ethics and assume the responsibility toward the present and the future.”

    Dr. Sall also called upon migrant brains to provide their knowledge and expertise to their home countries and invited countries to encourage such contributions, join efforts and work in harmony, stating that Burundi is a successful example in benefiting from its migrant citizens.

    Moreover, Dr. Sall talked about the problems of demographic distribution and growth, migrations, unemployment and the multiple foresight scenarios, and stressed the need to identify the needs of societies before initiating any foresight process.

    On her part, Dr. Rahmata Almamy Mbaye, Director of Human and Social Sciences at ISESCO, stated that the Organization established the Centre of Strategic Anticipation to propose ideas likely to serve the Islamic world and promote the partnership in building coherent strategies to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.

    Dr. Rahmata also highlighted ISESCO’s interest in analyzing social variables and providing opportunities for young people to live in their countries away from the life-threatening risk of immigration.

    Afterwards, the guest received and answered the questions of the audience, and admired the discussion.

    Final Report of IWHC Meeting released

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    During the Extraordinary Meeting of the Islamic World Heritage Committee (IWHC), held at ISESCO headquarters in Rabat, participants engaged in deep discussions on cultural heritage in Islamic countries, its preservation, conservation and restoration of its damaged elements. To this effect, the IWHC issued important decisions, namely the inscription of 120 historic sites on the Islamic World Heritage List (IWHL), including three sites on the List of Heritage in Danger.

    Key among the decisions is also the creation of the Exclusive List of Sacred Islamic Sites in the Islamic World, covering Al-Kaa’bah Al-Musharafa, Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Al-Quds Al-Sharif.

    This is the full text of the Final Report of the Meeting:

    Extraordinary Meeting of the Islamic World Heritage Committee (IWHC)

    ISESCO headquarters, Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco

    02-03 December 2019

    Final Report

    As part of the efforts exerted by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) to preserve Islamic civilizational heritage in the Islamic world, in a bid to promote efforts aiming at safeguarding and documenting elements of tangible heritage in Member States, and within the framework of implementing the Organization’s new relevant vision, ISESCO held an extraordinary meeting of the Islamic World Heritage Committee (IWHC), at its permanent headquarters in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, on 02-03 December 2019. The meeting saw the participation of the following Member States’ representatives in the Committee: State of Kuwait, Republic of Iraq, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Cameroon, Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, Federal Republic of Nigeria, in addition to the representatives of the Scientific Commission in the Committee (from the Kingdom of Morocco), while the representatives of the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of Uzbekistan were not able to attend.

    During the opening session, Mr. Najib Rhiati, Director of Culture at ISESCO, gave an address wherein he first welcomed the Committee’s members, thanked them for attending the meeting, and conveyed the greetings of H.E. Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ISESCO Director General and his best wishes for the success of this meeting. Mr. Rhiati also underlined the key role the IWHC plays in safeguarding the historic, civilizational and natural landmarks in the Islamic world, while highlighting the new vision followed and challenges addressed by the Organization in this field.

    Then, Dr. Waleed Alsaif, the Committee Chair, extended his thanks to ISESCO and to the Committee’s General Secretariat for holding this extraordinary meeting in the best conditions, and commended the Organization’s keenness to inscribe one hundred (100) new heritage site on the “Islamic World Heritage List”.

    Moreover, the Committee listened to the presentation by Dr. Ezzedin Al-Asbahi, Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen, the Meeting’s guest of honor, on “Heritage and Reserves in the Republic of Yemen: Reality and Challenges”. In his presentation, Mr. Al-Asbahi talked about the situation of tangible heritage and natural reserves in Yemen and the destruction, vandalization and pillage to which is subject since many years. He also commended ISESCO’s efforts to save and preserve this heritage and called on the IWHC to take all the necessary measures to protect cultural heritage in the Republic of Yemen.

    H.E. Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ISESCO Director General, attended the first working session and stressed, in his address to the participants, the importance of boosting the IWHC’s action and exerting further efforts to preserve the Islamic world’s heritage in Member States.

    The meeting, held over the course of two days, examined the items listed on its agenda. Among these items, there is the issue of industrial heritage which was the topic explored by Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Hussein, Head of the Industrial Heritage Program in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in a presentation on the experience of Saudi Arabia in the field, while reaffirming the importance of inscribing such sites on the IWHL.    

    After deliberations, the Committee adopted the following:

    • Setting up an exclusive list for sacred sites in the Islamic world, covering Al-Kaa’bah Al-Musharafa, Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Al-Quds Al-Sharif. 
    • Inscribing 43 new heritage sites on the Final Islamic World Heritage List (IWHL), and urging competent parties to submit more nomination files to inscribe their sites on this list during the Committee’s 9th Meeting to be held in the first quarter of 2020;
    • Inscribing 59 new heritage sites on the Tentative List of the Islamic World Heritage, and urging the competent parties in the countries concerned to provide ISESCO with technical files and fill in the relevant inscription form;
    • Creating a list for cultural and natural heritage in danger in the Islamic world;
    • Inscribing 3 sites in the Republic of Yemen as a cultural and natural heritage in danger and calling for joined efforts to place back these sites on the Final List of World Heritage List.
    • Adopting the form of the inscription of the elements of intangible heritage on the IWHL and called on ISESCO General Directorate to communicate the list to all Member States and urged it to prepare relevant inscription files;
    • Adopting the proposal of “Islamic World Museums Week” in coincidence with 25 September of every year (Islamic World Heritage Day) which marks the birthday of the OIC; and calling on competent parties to give an exhaustive list of Islamic arts museums, public or private, in their respective countries and provide ISESCO with relevant information.
    • Welcoming the proposal of the Ministry of Culture and Handicrafts Industries in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to inscribe the Mahdara (traditional Quranic school) on the IWHL, and invited ISESCO General Directorate to coordinate efforts with the relevant competent parties.

    Likewise, the Committee called on ISESCO General Directorate to:

    • Dispatch experts to the competent parties in the Republic of Yemen to assist them in rehabilitating endangered heritage and natural reserves and inscribing more Yemeni historic landmarks on the IWHL;
    • Gear a number of executive programmes for the benefit of Member States in order to inscribe industrial heritage sites on the World Heritage List and Islamic World Heritage List;
    • Hold intensive training sessions for Member States’ staff to enable them to prepare nomination files for heritage sites and elements of intangible heritage for inscription on the IWHL;
    • Hold an expert meeting to revise and define the criteria of inscription on the IWHL;
    • Urge competent parties in Member States to prepare exclusive lists of elements of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and provide the necessary data thereon to be uploaded on the “Web Portal for Historic and Archeological Sites and Landmarks in the Islamic World”, established by ISESCO to showcase Member States’ abundance of  historic and archeological sites and landmarks that bear human and civilizational significance; and set up a bibliographic, digital and interactive database for the various elements of the architectural and urban heritage in the Islamic world;
    • Coordinate with Member States’ competent parties to oversee the joint inscription on the IWHL of a number of model historic and civilizational routes (routes of Hajj, trade, scholars; students, manuscripts, etc.) and bolster the role of the Assisting Scientific Committee of the IWHC to give suggestions thereon.

    At the end of the Meeting, the Committee extended its heartfelt thanks to Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ISESCO Director General, his sustained efforts to boost the programmes of the Organization relevant to the protection of cultural and natural heritage in the Islamic world; training of specialized staff and the inscription of heritage sites and elements of cultural heritage on the IWHL according to a new vision; and his keenness to improve the IWHC’s performance and action, and maintain the periodicity of its meetings.