The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO, formerly ISESCO) is a specialized organization that operates under the aegis of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and is concerned with fields of education, science, culture and communication in Islamic countries in order to support and strengthen relations among Member States. The Organization's headquarters is located in Rabat, Morocco, and its director general is Dr. Salim M. Almalik.

Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
AbbreviationICESCO
FormationMay 1979
HeadquartersRabat, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Morocco
Director General
Dr. Salim M. Almalik
Websitehttps://icesco.org/en/

ICESCO was founded by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in May 1979.[1] With 53 member states, the working languages of ICESCO are Arabic, English and French.

Overview

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On Wednesday 30 January 2020, the 40th session of the Executive Council of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, held in Abu Dhabi, State of the United Arab Emirates, adopted the modification of the name of the Organization into "Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization" (ICESCO). In this regard, Dr. Salim M. Almalik, ICESCO Director General,[2] stated that the modification of the name of the organization aims to clarify the nature of its missions, and open wide prospects for its presence at the international level. The Director General also highlighted that the new name accurately reflects the nature of the civilizational mission of ICESCO in the fields of education, science, culture and communication, as well as its purposes and objectives.[3]

ICESCO's objectives are "to strengthen and promote cooperation among the Member States in the fields of education, science, culture and communication; consolidate understanding among peoples inside and outside Member State; contribute to world peace and security through various means; publicize the true image of Islam and Islamic culture; promote dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions; encourage cultural interaction and foster cultural diversity in the Member States, while preserving cultural identity and intellectual integrity."[4]

Presentation organs

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ICESCO includes three organizations:

  • The General Conference – is held once every three years.
  • The executive council – consists of representative for each Member State, being versed in education, science, culture or communication
  • The General Directorate – is headed by a director general. The General Conference elects the director for a three-year term.[5]

Member states

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The Charter of Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), stipulates that every full Member State of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) shall become a member of ICESCO upon officially signing the Charter, and having completed the membership legal and legislative formalities and informed, in writing, the General Directorate of ICESCO. A State which is not a full member, or is an observer member of OIC, cannot become member of ICESCO.

ICESCO consists of fifty-four Member States, along with three Observer States, out of the fifty-seven Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation – OIC. ICESCO Member States are listed below according to their Arabic alphabetical order.

Flag Name Date of Accession
  Azerbaijan Republic of Azerbaijan 1991
  Jordan Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 1982
  Afghanistan Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
  United Arab Emirates State of the United Arab Emirates 1983
  Indonesia Republic of Indonesia 1986
  Uzbekistan Republic of Uzbekistan 2017
  Uganda Republic of Uganda 2012
  Iran Islamic Republic of Iran 1992
  Pakistan Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1982
  Bahrain Kingdom of Bahrain 1982
  Brunei Brunei Darussalam 1985
  Bangladesh People’s Republic of Bangladesh 1982
  Benin Republic of Benin 1988
  Burkina Faso Burkina Faso 1982
  Tajikistan Republic of Tajikistan 1993
  Chad Republic of Chad 1982
  Togo Republic of Togo 2002
  Tunisia Republic of Tunisia 1982
  Algeria People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria 2000
  Djibouti Republic of Djibouti 1982
  Saudi Arabia Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 1982
  Sudan Republic of the Sudan 1982
  Suriname Republic of Suriname 1996
  Syria Syrian Arab Republic 1982
  Sierra Leone Republic of Sierra Leone 1984
  Senegal Republic of Senegal 1982
  Somalia Federal Republic of Somalia 1982
  Iraq Republic of Iraq 1982
  Oman Sultanate of Oman 1982
  Gabon Republic of Gabon 1982
  Gambia Republic of the Gambia 1982
  Guyana Republic of Guyana 2014
  Guinea Republic of Guinea 1982
  Guinea-Bissau Republic of Guinea Bissau 1984
  Palestine State of Palestine 1982
  Kazakhstan Republic of Kazakhstan 1996
  Qatar State of Qatar 1982
  Comoros Union of Comoros 1982
  Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyz Republic 1996
  Cameroon Republic of Cameroon 2001
  Ivory Coast Republic of Cote d’Ivoire 2001
  Kuwait State of Kuwait 1982
  Lebanon Republic of Lebanon 2002
  Libya State of Libya 1984
  Maldives Republic of Maldives 1982
  Mali Republic of Mali 1982
  Malaysia Malaysia 1982
  Egypt Arab Republic of Egypt 1984
  Morocco Kingdom of Morocco 1982
  Mauritania Islamic Republic of Mauritania 1982
  Niger Republic of Niger 1982
  Nigeria Federal Republic of Nigeria 2001
  Yemen Republic of Yemen 1983

The acronym ICESCO is formed from the initials of the Organization's name: IslamiC World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

References

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  1. ^ "History | Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – ISESCO –". www.isesco.org.ma. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  2. ^ "Dr Salim M Al-Malik". The Muslim 500. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
  3. ^ "Unanimously, ICESCO Executive Council adopts Modification of Organization Name – ICESCO-En". 30 January 2020. Retrieved 2020-02-28.
  4. ^ http://www.isesco.org.ma/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/OIC-Organs-Institutions.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ "Organs | Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – ISESCO –". www.isesco.org.ma. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
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