On Tuesday, January 30th, the Centre for Christian-Muslim Understanding and Partnership in the Anglican/Episcopal Church in Egypt inaugurated an interfaith award in honor of Dr. ʿAlī El-Sammān (1929-2017), a prominent journalist, political advisor, and interfaith pioneer. The event was held in the All Saints Cathedral complex in the Zamalek neighborhood of Cairo. Born in Tanta in the Nile delta, Dr. El-Sammān earned a PhD in political science from the University of Paris. He served as an advisor to President Anwar Sadāt in the 1970s. In the 1980s and 1990s, Dr. El-Sammān turned toward interfaith work, organizing a groundbreaking conference in 1994 between Cardinal Franz Koenig, Egyptian minister of religious endowments (awqāf), Dr. Hamdī Zaqzūq, and the Chief Rabbi of France, Rene Samuel-Sirat in Paris. He was instrumental in establishing interfaith dialogue agreements between the Vatican (1998), the Anglican Communion (2002), and Al-Azhar. Further information about Dr. El-Sammān’s life and contributions to interfaith relates can be found here.

(The opening ceremony drew a large gathering of religious and political leaders.)

The Centre for Christian-Muslim Understanding and Partnership invites submissions from within Egypt for the Dr. ʾAlī El-Samman Award for Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation, which may include written publications, artistic works, and other initiatives that help to build bridges and peace between faith communities. All submissions should represent new or recent efforts at interfaith/intercultural engagement. The 1st prize is 50,000 EGP, the 2nd prize is 30,000 EGP, and the 3rd prize is 20,000 EGP. For further information, please contact the CCMUP at [email protected].