Ibn Rushd Fund for Freedom of Thought
Fostering Freedom of Thought and Democracy in the Arab World
The Ibn Rushd Fund for Freedom of Thought was founded on December 10th, 1998, in commemoration of the 800th anniversary of Ibn Rushd’s (Averroes’) death, and on the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Universal Human Rights. It is an independent organization registered in Germany. Its founding members are mainly of Arab origin who live in Germany. Meanwhile, the fund’s members and sponsors are spread all over Europe, the Arab countries and North America.
The fund’s goals
The Ibn Rushd Fund is a non-profit association that aims to promote freedom of thought and to support democratic forces in the Arab world. Another aim of the association is to contribute to intercultural understanding between the two sides of the Mediterranean, and to work towards defining them through their commonalities rather than through seemingly irreconcilable differences, in order to uncover and strengthen the potential that lies in the interaction of the two cultures.
To this end, the association awards the Ibn Rushd Prize, holds the Ibn Rushd-Lectures, the Diwan al-Falsafa and regularly plans and organizes larger projects, such as most recently the [zait wa: zaʕtar] Festival of Palestinian Arts and Culture.
The fund also launches campaigns in favour of persons who because of their political or social activities and beliefs come into conflict with their governments.
Financing
All the fund’s activities are achieved on honorary basis by members of the association. All expenses of the fund for the award are financed exclusively by donations and membership fees. For other events and projects we also cooperate with other groups or institutions.
Who supports us?
At its foundation, the Ibn Rushd Fund received moral support from numerous renowned Arab intellectuals, such as Aziz al-Azmeh, Adonis, Muhammad Abid al-Gabiri, Sadiq Jalal al-Azm, Shawkat al-Kailani, Ahmad Sidqi ad-Dagani, and Haidar Abd al-Shafi.
Donations
Join the Ibn Rushd Fund or make a donation to support freedom of thought and the protection of human rights.
These values are the foundational pillars for establishing a free democratic society.
Awards
| Year|Name|Country|Subject |
| 2019|Sara Qaed|Bahrain|Caricature |
| 2017|Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (AMAN)|Palestine|Fight against corruption |
| 2015|Aisha Odeh|Palestine|Prison literature |
| 2015|M. Khalifa|Syria|Prison literature |
| 2015|A. Marzouki|Morocco|Prison literature |
| 2014|Rachid Ghannouchi|Tunisia|Modern Islam |
| 2013|Rim Banna|Palestine|Music |
| 2012|Razan Zaitouneh|Syria|Arab Spring |
| 2011|Sihem Bensedrine|Tunisia|Journalism |
| 2010|al-Hewar al-Mutamaddin||Internet-platform/Blog |
| 2009|Samir Amin|Egypt|Economy |
| 2008|Mohammed Abed al-Jabri|Morocco|Arab Renaissance |
| 2007|Nouri Bouzid|Tunisia|Film |
| 2006|Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim|Sudan|Human Rights |
| 2005|Nasr Hamid Abu Zaid|Egypt|Reform of Islam |
| 2004|Sonallah Ibrahim|Egypt|Litterature engagé |
| 2003|Mohammed Arkoun|Algeria|Philosophy |
| 2002|Azmi Bishara|Palestine|Politics |
| 2001|Mahmoud Amin El Alem|Egypt|Criticism |
| 2000|Issam Abdulhadi|Palestine|Women’s Rights |
| 1999|al-Jazeera TV Satelite Channel|Qatar|Journalism |