The Transformative Power of Dialogue
On Saturday, May 17th, I was privileged to attend the examination of Dr. Anwār ʿOthmān’s fellowship thesis at the National Defense College outside of Cairo. Dr. ʿOthmān is a lecturer at Al-Azhar University in philosophy and theology where she completed her doctoral thesis on Christian and Islamic approaches to religious diversity in 2020. She was awarded a prestigious fellowship at the National Defense College for her project entitled, “Dialogue as a Transformative Force and its Impact on Egyptian National Security.” Her presentation concentrated on the national dialogue initiated by H.E. President al-Sisi in 2022 and interreligious dialogue as a tool for strengthening the concept and practice of citizenship in Egypt. It also included a strategic plan for promoting dialogue as a transformative force in the country for the future.
(Dr. ʿOthmān during her fellowship presentation.)
Since arriving in Egypt in late 2022, I have had the privilege of working with Dr. ʿOthmān and have spoken to her often about the importance of intercultural and interreligious dialogue. I know that I speak for many in the Christian community here in Egypt who are deeply grateful for her efforts in these fields. She lives out her message about dialogue and it has made a difference.
(A celebratory photo after the succesful completion of the fellowshiop examination.)
(I was grateful for an oppportunity to meet Dr. Osāma al-Azharī, the Egyptian Minister for Religious Endowments and one of the most influential religious scholars in the Middle East today.)
Dr. ʿOthmān’s examination committee included the Minister of Religious Endowments, Dr. Osāma al-Azharī, the President of al-Azhar University, Dr. Salāma Dāwud, and other notable religious scholars and security experts. We celebrate with Dr. ʿOthmān this public recognition for her important contributions to intercultural and interreligious dialogue in Egypt and around the world.
Matthew Anderson
Director - Center for Arab-West Understanding
Executive Editor - Dialogue Across Borders (Brill)
May 25, 2025
Emerging Perspectives on Intercultural and Interreligious Relations
Dialogue Across Borders is a database of summary translations of Arabic newspaper articles with references to their sources about intercultural and interreligious relations, focusing primarily but not exclusively on Muslim-Christian relations. The database also contains articles with editorial analysis and interviews on the subject.