By: Ali Abu-Dashish
CAIRO, Feb.6. (SEE) –Minister of Culture and Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation inaugurated the First Festival of Islamic Cooperation.
Abdel Dayem and Al - Othaimeen launched the First Cultural and Artistic Festival of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Abdel-Dayem: The festival reflects a true image of the Islamic civilization with humanitarian concerns
Al-Othaimeen: The activities aim to bringing together countries and highlighting their cultural components.
Dr. Enas Abdel-Dayem, Minister of Culture, and Dr. Yousuf bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen , the Secretary-General of OIC , inaugurated the first edition of the organization's cultural and artistic festival, under the title "One Nation And Cultures … Palestine is in the Heart" .
The festival's guest of honor is Tanzania; the activities are held in cooperation with the Ministries of Culture, Foreign Affairs, Youth, Sports and Antiquities. It will last until 9 February in the Grand Opera Theater. The ceremonies were attended by a number of Ambassadors of the member countries and their communities in Cairo..
On her part, the Minister of Culture stressed that ,throughout the ages, Egypt has remained as citadel defending Arab and Islamic identity. Its land has witnessed distinguished cultural trends which have given it a leading position among countries. It has the power to face challenges and invasions that tried to influence its character.
This motivated the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to launch the first edition of its cultural and artistic festival held in " Cairo Al-Mu'izz " , city of a thousand minaret which recorded immortal signs in culture, literature, arts, science and knowledge.
The first edition of the festival sends a message to the world to recognise the noble values of Islam, which call for tolerance, renunciation of violence, extremism, terrorism and spreading the values of coexistence and understanding among human beings.
It also aims to strengthen relations between the Organization's member countries and bring together their societies despite their different cultures and their persity.
Moreover, she pointed out that, in Egypt, people of Islamic world meet to record a scene of unity to present a true image of the Islamic civilization with a humanistic orientation and to highlight the real contents of civilization that pave the way of science, art and creativity to the communities.
Afterwards, she welcomed the guests on the land of Egypt, the cradle of civilizations, messengers, religions and the crossroads of cultures, thanking all those who participated in organizing this first edition of the festival.
On his part, The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) thanked Egypt, the president, the government and the people for hosting the first edition of the festival. This presents the map of the cultural and humanitarian heritage of member countries.
He also thanked Saudi Arabia for its support for the organization's initiatives and activities aiming at promoting and strengthening relations among the peoples of Islamic countries, in addition to bring people together by highlighting the cultural components, customs and traditions, introducing the various challenges facing the nation.
It also calls for openness to the friendly countries of the organization. This is reflected in the selection of Tanzania as the guest of honor for the first edition. The festival is a message to the world that expresses moderate Islam and promotes values of equality and rejection of violence, praising the role of all participants of the ministries and sectors that helped the festival to come to light.
As for the Saudi media spokesman Abdul Rahman al-Shibail , he said that the festival is aiming at stating good and encouraging the beneficial efforts of humanity, adding that Egypt has a cultural dimension and a great cultural heritage, including Al-Azhar, science, talented , intellectuals and artists.
It is worthy of note that Abdel-Daym and Al-Ataimeen honored four prominent figures in the Muslim world: Faoufur Adjawafi Sika Kapoori, First Lady of Burkina Faso, Sheikh Islamullah Shukr Pasha Zadeh, Caucasus Mufti of Azerbaijan, Dr. Nizar bin Obaid Madani, former Minister of Foreign Affairs in Saudi Arabia, the poet Farouk Gouida from Egypt. Later, Al-Othaimeen delivered the commemorative shields of the organization to Dr. Inas Abdel Dayem .
The opening ceremony, was directed by the artist Hisham Attwa, and it began with playing the Egyptian national anthem , followed by a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran.
It was followed by screening a documentary film about the organization and its history and the most important achievements , followed by presenting a show for the Egyptian folklore Troupes and some foreign troupes :-Toshka, Marsa Matruh for folk arts "Egypt", music and folklore - "Saudi Arabia", " Azerbaijan for dance and song", "Senegalese music and folklore", and "Canaan for music and folklore –Palestine"
Furhermore , the opening ceremonies included presenting a number of exhibitions in Al- Hanager Center for Arts and its court , reflecting the colors of the culture of various countries of the Islamic world and the different products of traditional and heritage crafts, folk food and plastic arts, as well as an exhibition of some institutions of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Saudi King Salman Center for humanitarian work and rescue, as well as stages of developing the Holy Mosques.
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