Ibn Rushd Prize for Freedom of Thought 2022
Speech of the Prize Winner Nayla Tabbara
It is an honor to be receiving the Ibn Rushd Prize for both my personal work and on behalf of Adyan, the foundation for diversity, solidarity and human dignity that […]
Continue ReadingIbn Rushd Prize for Freedom of Thought 2022 Welcome speech by Cora Josting (Chairwoman)
(English will be published here soon) Guten Abend meine Damen und Herren, werte Exzellenzen, liebe Freundinnen und Freunde des Freien Denkens – ich möchte Sie herzlich willkommen heißen zur 20. […]
Continue ReadingIbn Rushd Prize for Freedom of Thought 2022 Welcome speech by Dr. Amani Al Siefy
(English will be published here soon) Seien Sie alle herzlich willkommen. Ich freue mich, dass Sie in so großer Zahl unserer Einladung gefolgt sind, um der Zeremonie einer Preisverleihung beizuwohnen, […]
Continue ReadingIbn Rushd Prize for Freedom of Thought 2022 Speech of to Prize Winner Saad Salloum
Fighting with a sword made of glass (English translation will be published here soon) (German): Dieser Diskurs richtet sich an eine Generation, die in einer bestimmten Zeit und an einem […]
Continue ReadingLaudatory speech for prize winner Dr. Saad Salloum, held by Khazal Almajidi
Ladies and GentlemenI am greatly honoured to be with you On behalf of jury of the Ibn Rushd Prize for Free thought of the year 2022. To present the joint […]
Continue ReadingLaudatory speech for prize winner Nayla Tabbara held by Prof. Elizabeth Kassab, University of Doha
Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to start my laudatory speech by inviting you on a drone tour over the countries from where our laureates hail: Iraq and Lebanon. I […]
Continue ReadingIbn Rushd Prize 2022 – Freedom of Religion: Invitation to Attend on September 8th
The Ibn Rushd Fund for Freedom of Thought is delighted to announce the two winners of this year’s Ibn Rushd Prize: Nayla Tabbara from Lebanon with her organization ‘Adyan Foundation’ and Saad Salloum from Iraq with his organization ‘Masarat’. The two have been named the joint winners of the 20th Ibn Rushd Prize for this year’s topic ‘Freedom of Religion’. The award ceremony will take place on September 8, 2022, in Berlin, Germany.
Continue ReadingFreedom and Religion: An Ibn Rushd Conference on Religious Freedom, Politics and Democracy
Freedom and Religion: An Ibn Rushd conference on religious freedom, politics and democracy.
curated by Cora Josting & Amany Abdelrazek-Alsiefy
Ibn Rushd Prize 2022 – Freedom of Religion: Jointly won by Nayla Tabbara from Lebanon and Saad Salloum from Iraq
The Ibn Rushd Fund for Freedom of Thought is delighted to announce the two winners of this year’s Ibn Rushd Prize: Nayla Tabbara from Lebanon with her organization ‘Adyan Foundation’ and Saad Salloum from Iraq with his organization ‘Masarat’. The two have been named the joint winners of the 20th Ibn Rushd Prize for this year’s topic ‘Freedom of Religion’. The award ceremony will take place on September 8, 2022, in Berlin, Germany.
Continue ReadingAward 2022: CV Saad Salloum with Masarat Iraq
Dr Saad Salloum is a young Iraqi author and an assistant professor of political science at College of Political Science at Al-Mustansiriya University, Baghdad. He cofounded the Christian-Muslim Dialogue Initiative 2010 , the Iraqi Council for Interfaith Dialogue 2013, the National Center for Countering Hate Speeches 2018, the Institute for Religious Diversity Studies in Baghdad 2019, and the Institute for Diversity Journalism in Iraq 2020.
Continue ReadingAward 2022: CV Nayla Tabbara with Adyan Foundation
After both a BA and MA in Medieval History from the Saint Joseph University in Beirut, Lebanon, Dr. Tabbara received her PhD in Religious Studies from the École Pratique des Hautes Études (Sorbonne, Paris) and Saint Joseph University. Currently her area of expertise covers Islamic theology of religious diversity, Islamic feminism, exegesis of the Quran, Sufism, and education on interreligious and intercultural diversity.
Continue ReadingMembers of the Jury 2022
CV of the members of the Jury who selected the winners of the Ibn Rushd Prize 2022.
Continue ReadingMembers of the Jury 2019
Amjad Rasmi Born in 1974 Amman, Jordan. Lives between London and Amman. Majored in Fine Arts in Amman. Started in Al Shark Al Awsat newspaper as a journalist. Worked in […]
Continue ReadingThe Ibn Rushd Prize 2022: Call For Nomination
The Ibn Rushd Prize 2022 therefore calls for:
an institution or a person who fostered or protected religious freedom in their region or country – including the freedom from religion and the possibility of choosing another religion, as well as the freedom from the obligation to marry within the same religious group – and therewith not only countering all kinds of sectarianism as well as the abuse of power by political and religious authorities, but fostering pluralism, tolerance and peace within society.
The person’s or institution’s work must have fostered and protected religious freedom sustainably for all, not only for specific individuals or specific groups in a society.
Photos, Music and Performance
Call for Nomination
The Ibn Rushd Prize 2018 calls for: a caricaturist who criticizes or ridicules political, religious or social leaders and authorities. A caricature is an exaggerating drawing highlighting the negative characteristics […]
Continue ReadingMembers of the Jury
Amjad Rasmi Born in 1974 Amman, Jordan. Lives between London and Amman. Majored in Fine Arts in Amman. Started in Al Shark Al Awsat newspaper as a journalist. Worked in […]
Continue ReadingLaudatory speaker (CV)
Ibn Rush Price 2019 Born in Tunisia. Obtained certificates of “efficiency in research” with a university research on the aesthetics of Adreno in French in 1990. PhD in modern philosophy […]
Continue ReadingIbn Rushd Award 2019 CV Sarah Qaed
is an artist from Bahrain currently living in Newcastle, UK.She practices art via editorial caricatures, drawings, comics, illustrations, wearable pieces, and anything in between, delivering an interdisciplinary approach in her […]
Continue ReadingThe Ibn Rushd Fund for Freedom of Thought mourns for Rim Banna
The Ibn Rushd Fund for Freedom of Thought mourns for Reem Banna, who left us today, Saturday March 24, 2018. Through her moving music and her emphatic lyrics, the Palestinian […]
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Pictures from the 2017 Ibn Rushd Prize awarding ceremony to AMAN – Palestine
Continue ReadingAwarding Ceremony Summary
Dear friends of freedom of thought in the Arab World and elsewhere: We wish you a Happy New Year 2018. May the new year be less stormy, both concerning weather […]
Continue ReadingLaudatory: Kinda Hattar
Laudatory Speech given by Kinda Hattar, Transparency International on occasion of AMAN-Coalition, Transparency of Palestine, winning the Ibn Rushd Prize for freedom of Thought on the 1st December 2017
Continue ReadingLaudatory speaker (CV)
Kinda Hattar has worked with Transparency International (TI) for 5 years as the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) regional Advisor, she has developed TI presence in Tunisia and Jordan […]
Continue ReadingSpeech of the Fund
Welcoming Speech of the Ibn Rushd Fund at the occasion of awarding the Ibn Rushd Prize to AMAN, Coalition for Accountability and Integrity Palestine on December 01, 2017 Dear ladies […]
Continue ReadingSpeech of the Prize Winner
Speech given by Majdi Abu Zaid, Executive Director of the AMAN-Coalition, Transparency of Palestine, during presentation of the Ibn Rushd Prize on behalf of AMAN on the 1st December 2017 […]
Continue ReadingMembers of the Jury
Atta El-Battahani Dr. Atta El-Battahani is a Professor in Political Science, he holds a Ph.D. from the University of Sussex, (Britain), and M.Sc, B.Sc in Political Science; and B.A in […]
Continue ReadingCall for Nomination
The Ibn Rushd Prize 2017 calls for a person, organisation or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to combatting corruption In many parts of the world social inequality is […]
Continue ReadingCV (Info) AMAN
The Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (AMAN) AMAN was established in 2000 upon an initiative by a number of Palestinian civil society organizations working in the fields of democracy, human […]
Continue ReadingMembers of the Jury 2015
Members of the Jury of Ibn Rushd Prize 2015 Mohammed Achaari Moroccan poet and writer, born in 1951. Contributed to the political and trade union struggle for years and this […]
Continue ReadingWinner of the 2nd prize
Ahmed Marzouki Ahmed Marzouki was born in 1947 in Bouajul, a village in northwest Morrocco. His father worked at the local court after having studied law at the University of […]
Continue ReadingCV Aisha Odeh
Aisha Odeh Born in Deir Jerir near Ramallah/Al-Bireh in 1944.Primary school Deir Jerir, middle and secondary school in Ramallah.Diploma in Education at the Teacher’s Collge in Ramallah in 1966Work experience […]
Continue ReadingCall for Nomination
Call for Nomination Ibn Rushd Prize 2015 announced inPrison Literature They go to prison, and they write … on walls, on toilet paper, cigarette scraps, on the margins of books […]
Continue ReadingSpeach of the Fund
Welcome speech of the Ibn Rushd Fund (held by Dr. Hamid Fadlalla) on occasion of awarding the Ibn Rushd Prize 2014 to Rachid al-Ghannouchi Simultanübersetzung: Dr. Günther Orth Verehrte Damen […]
Continue ReadingMembers of the Jury 2014
Members of the Jury of Ibn Rushd Prize 2014 The Ibn Rushd Fund’s voting procedure for the determination of the award winner: After a period of public nomination (any person […]
Continue ReadingCV Rachid Ghannouchi
Rashid al-Ghannushi Rashid al-Ghannushi (born in 1941), is a Tunisian politician, co-founder of the Al-Nahda Movement and serving as its “intellectual leader”.Al-Ghannushi was born outside El Hamma, in the governorate […]
Continue ReadingCall for Nomination
Call for Nomination The Ibn Rushd Prize 2014 is calling fora person who stands for a modern Islam as a pillar of civil society and in so doing calls for […]
Continue ReadingLaudatory: Erik Hillestad
Laudatory speech to Rim Banna at her receiving of the Ibn Rushd Award 2013 by Erik Hillestad, music producer and lyricist, Norway My meeting with Rim I met Rim Banna […]
Continue ReadingMembers of the Jury 2013
Members of the Jury of Ibn Rushd Prize 2013 Lotfi Bouchnak Lotfi Bouchnak, born 1952 in Tunis to a family of Turkish-Bosnian origin, is a Tunisian singer, oud player, composer […]
Continue ReadingCV Rim Banna
Rim Banna Rim Banna, a Palestinian singer-song writer, composer, arranger and activist, was born in Nazareth, Galilee, on December 8, 1966. During her studies at at the Gnesins’ Academy of […]
Continue ReadingCall for Nomination
Call for Nomination The Ibn Rushd Prize 2013 is calling for a singer, songwriter, or band whose songs deal with the quest for freedom, civil rights, and democracy, and call […]
Continue ReadingLaudatory: Prof. Dr. Udo Steinbach
Laudatio on the occasion of the awarding of the 14th Ibn Rushd Prize on November 30, 2012 to Razan Zaituneh, at the Museum of Islamic Art, Pergamon Museum, Berlin. Prof. […]
Continue ReadingMembers of the Jury 2012
Members of the Jury of Ibn Rushd Prize 2012 Taoufik Ben BrikTaoufik Ben Brik was born in 1960 as the son of a trade unionist in Jérissa, a town in […]
Continue ReadingCV Razan Zaitouneh
Razan Zaitouneh Razan Zaitouneh was born in 1977 in Syria. In 1999 she completed her studies at the faculty of law in Damascus and initiated her work as a lawyer […]
Continue ReadingCall for Nomination
Call for Nomination The Ibn Rushd Fund is seeking nominations for the 2012 Ibn Rushd Award:a young activist of the Arab Spring who peacefully fights for a democratic state The revolutions […]
Continue ReadingLaudatory By Prof. Dr. Kai Hafez
Laudatory for Sihem Bensedrine by Prof. Dr. Kai HafezThis Laudatory is available only in German (original language) or translated to Arabic. CV Prof. Dr. Kai Hafez Prof. Dr. Kai Hafez […]
Continue ReadingMembers of the Jury 2011
Members of the Jury 2011 Toujan al-Faisal Toujan al-Faisal is a human rights activist, born in Jordan in 1948. She was a TV journalist and Jordan’s first female Member of […]
Continue ReadingCV Sihem Bensedrine
Sihem Bensedrine Personal Born on 28th October 1950 in La Marsa (Tunis), married to Omar Mestiri, three children Education MA of Philosophy from the University Toulouse Le Mirail Professional Life […]
Continue ReadingCall for Nomination
Call for Nomination The Ibn Rushd Fund is seeking nominationsfor the 2011 Ibn Rushd Award: A woman journalistwho actively and courageously fosters freedom of thought in the Arab world The […]
Continue ReadingMembers of the jury
Members of the jury Ahmed Ashour Ahmed Ashour (born in Jordan 1981) holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts with a major in graphic design from the University in Amman, […]
Continue ReadingCV Rezgar Akrawi
Rezgar Akrawi Main coordinator of internet-forum al-Hewar al-MutamaddinCoordinator of Centre for Marxist and Left-Wing Studies and Research Born 1966 in Aqra in Iraq (Kurdistan-Iraq) Political Activity 1984-1990: Member of Iraqi Communist […]
Continue ReadingCall for Nomination
Call for Nomination The Ibn Rushd Award 2010 calls for a Webblogger who fundamentally enriches and advances public discourse. The internet’s contribution to the transformation of mass-communication is difficult to […]
Continue ReadingThe Ibn Rushd Fund mourns the death of Professor Mohammed Arkoun
The Ibn Rushd Fund learned with great sorrow about the death of the Algerian-born philosopher Mohammed Arkoun. The great Arab intellectual died Tuesday night, September 14th, at the age of […]
Continue ReadingThe Ibn Rushd Fund mourns the death of the Arab thinker Nasr Hamid Abu Zaid
The Ibn Rushd Fund mourns the death of the Arab thinker Nasr Hamid Abu Zaid The Ibn Rushd Fund learned with great sorrow about the the death of the Egyptian […]
Continue ReadingMembers of the Jury 2009
Members of the jury Henry Azzam Dr. Henry Azzam joined Deutsche Bank in May 2007 as Chief Executive Officer for Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA). Before that Dr. […]
Continue ReadingCV Samir Amin
Samir Amin Born 04.09.1931 in Cairo/Egypt University Studies Diploma of Institut d’Etudes Politiques, Paris (1952) Diploma of Statistics and Mathematics, Paris (1956) Ph D Economics, Paris (1957) Professor of Economics […]
Continue ReadingCall for Nomination
Call for Nomination The Ibn Rushd Fund for Freedom of Thought will award its Prize 2009 to an Arab expert of economy who has – either in theory or in […]
Continue ReadingMembers of the Jury 2008
Members of the jury Hala Rachid Ammoun Professor of Philosophy at the Lebanese University in Beirut and at the University of Balamand located at al-Koura North of Lebanon. Hala Rachid […]
Continue ReadingCV Prof. Mohammed Abed al-Jabri
Mohammed Abed al-Jabri Born on 27th December 1935 in Fagig/Morocco. Academic degrees 1967 Diploma in Philosophy, University of Mohammed V., Faculty of Humanities, Rabat. 1970 PhD in Philosophy, University of […]
Continue ReadingCall for Nomination
Call for Nomination The Ibn Rushd Fund for Freedom of Thought will award its Prize 2008 to an Arab author of a study analyzing the failure of Arab enlightenment. The modern enlightenment movements […]
Continue ReadingMembers of the Jury 2007
Members of the Jury 2007 Samir Farid Samir Farid was born in 1943 in Cairo, Egypt. He studied drama criticism at the Academy of Arts, High Institute of Dramatic Arts […]
Continue ReadingCV Nouri Bouzid
Nouri Bouzid Nouri Bouzid was born in 1945 in Sfax, the secon largest city in Tunisia. He studied cinema at the Institut National Superieur des Arts du Spectacle (INSAS) in […]
Continue ReadingCall for Nomination
Call for Nomination The Ibn Rushd Fund for Freedom of Thought will award its Prize 2007 to An Arab film maker (cinema or TV), who has dedicated himself/herself to freedom […]
Continue ReadingMembers of the Jury 2006
Members of the jury 2006 Ahmad Faez al-Fawwaz Ahmad Faez al-Fawwaz was born in Riqqa in 1934. After studying medicine in the Syrian University in Damascus (1952-1957) he did his […]
Continue ReadingCV Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim
Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim was born in 1933 in Khartoum/Sudan. As a daughter of a school teacher she has had an educated and religious upbringing. Even her mother […]
Continue ReadingCall for Nomination
Call for Nomination The Ibn Rushd Fund for Freedom of Thought will award its Prize 2006 to a politically committed Arab woman who has rendered outstanding services to freedom of […]
Continue ReadingMembers of the Jury 2005
Members of the jury: Bin Salem Himmich Bin Salem Himmich, a Morroccan novelist and essayist, born 1945, is the author of more than 26 books in Arabic and French, most […]
Continue ReadingCV Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd
Curriculum Vitae of Prof. Dr. Nasr H. Abû Zayd BIRTH: 10-7-1943, Tantâ, Egypt ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION: 1972: BA in Arabic Studies with Highest Honors from the Department of Arabic Language and […]
Continue ReadingCall for Nomination
Announcement of the 2005 Ibn Rushd Prize Subject: Is Islamic Thought compatible with modernity? The Ibn Rushd-Prize 2005 calls for an independent reformer of Islamic Thought Is Islamic thought compatible […]
Continue ReadingFoto documentation 2004
IBN RUSHD Fund for Freedom of Thought presents theIBN RUSHD Prize 2004 tothe Egyptian author Sonallah Ibrahim On November 26th, 2004 Sonallah Ibrahim received the sixth IBN RUSHD Prize for […]
Continue ReadingPress Release – 27.10.2004
Claiming Back Sovereignty over the Arab World This Year’s Ibn Rushd-Prize for Freedom of Thought will be presented to the Egyptian author Sonallah Ibrahim. He will receive the award personally […]
Continue ReadingCall of Nomination – 2004
The IBN RUSHD Fund for Freedom of Thought will award its PRIZE to a living Arab author who has enriched modern engaged literature with outstanding writing by recognising the […]
Continue ReadingMembers of the Jury 2004
Members of the Jury Sabry Hafez The Egyptian professor Sabry Hafez first studied Sociology (1962) before dedicating himself more and more to the study of literature. After he graduated […]
Continue ReadingCV Sonallah Ibrahim
Sonalla Ibrahim PDFSonallah Ibrahim was born in Cairo in 1937.1952 he began to study law and worked as freelance journalist and translator.As a result of his political activities he was […]
Continue ReadingMohammed Arkoun – further information on his philosophy
Mohammed Arkoun, one of the most prominent modern philosophers in the Arab world and an active advisor of many political, academic, religious decision makers for Islamic studies and systems of education, is explicitly opposed to the thesis of the ‘clash of civilisations’ that has been made to look so inevitable.
Continue ReadingMembers of the Jury 2003
Members of the Jury of Ibn Rushd Prize 2003 Prof. Ahmad El-Baqhdadi The Kuwaiti scholar Dr. Ahmad Ali El-Baqhdadi, born in 1951, attained his PhD in “Islamic Thought” from The […]
Continue ReadingCV Mohammed Arkoun
Autobiography of Mohammed Arkoun Mohammed Arkoun was born in Taourirt-Mimoun, a town in Grande Kabylie in Algeria. He spent his primary education in Taourirt-Mimoun and his secondary education in Oran. He […]
Continue ReadingCall for Nomination
Prizes for Freedom of Thought in the Arab WorldThe IBN RUSHD Fund for Freedom of Thought will award its PRIZE 2003 toan Arab thinker and professor (fem., masc.) who has […]
Continue ReadingIbn Rushd awarding ceremony 2002
Photos of the event
Continue ReadingPress Release: Ibn Rushd Prize 2002
PDF The Ibn Rushd Fund for Freedom of Thought awards its prize this year to Dr. Azmi Bishara, an Arab member of the Israeli Knesset. The prize, awarded for special […]
Continue ReadingMembers of the Jury – Ibn Rushd Prize for Freedom of Thought 2002
Zulaikha Abd ar-Rahman Abu Risha (Jordan)Abu Risha studied Arabic Literature at Jordan University and is preparing her doctoral thesis on „Women in Arabic Feminist Literature” at the University of Exeter […]
Continue ReadingCV Prize winner:
Azmi Bishara Place of Birth: NazarethDate of Birth: July 22, 1956 Dr. Azmi Bishara was member of the Knesset and founding member of the National Democratic Assembly (NDA), representing the […]
Continue ReadingPress Coverage
Links to press coverage (some links might not be active any more):PDF
Continue ReadingPictures of the awarding ceremony 2001
Press Release: Ibn Rushd Prize 2001
Press Release: Ibn Rushd Prize for Freedom of Thought will be awarded to the Egyptian thinker and philosopher Mahmoud Amin El Alem PDF Ibn Rushd Prize for Freedom of Thought […]
Continue ReadingMembers of the Jury 2001 – Critical Thought
Aziz Al-AzmehGeb. 1947 in Damaskus, studierte u. a. in Tübingen und Oxford, Ph. D. in Orientalistik (University of Oxford), lehrte in Beirut und Kuweit, seit 1985 Sharjah Professor of Islamic […]
Continue ReadingCV Mahmoud Amin el-Alem
PDF His Vita: Mahmoud Amin El Alim was born on February 18th, 1922 in ad-Darb al-Ahmar in Cairo. He studied philosophy at King Fuad I. University in Cairo (1954). Due […]
Continue ReadingPictures from the Awarding Ceremony 2000
Ibn Rushd Prize for Freedom of Thought 1999-2000 in the Press
Ibn Rushd Prize for Freedom of Thought 1999-2000 in the Press 17.2.98 al-Hayat 09.04.98 al-Ahram International 10.12.98 al-Ahram Evening 10.12.98 al-Quds 11.12.98 Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 12.12.98 al-Hayat 17.12.98 al-Ahram- International […]
Continue ReadingPress release: Ibn Rushd Prize 2000
Press Release: Woman’s Emancipation in the Arabic World – Wishful Thinking or a Realistic Perspective? This Year’s Ibn-Rushd-Prize for Freedom of Thought is Presented to Palestinian Women’s Rights Activist The […]
Continue ReadingCall for nomination 2000
Announcment: Ibn Rushd Prize for Emancipation of Women in the Arab World The Ibn Rushd Fund for Freedom of Thought announces that the Ibn Rushd Prize will be awarded this […]
Continue ReadingMembers of the Jury 2000 – Emancipation of women in the Arab World
Ali A. Attiga Dr. Ali Attiga has spent more than 37 years working in different areas of economic and social development. He is the vice-Chairman of the World Energy Council and […]
Continue ReadingPress Coverage of the Ibn Rushd Prize 1999
DATE Media + Link 23.10.2001 Die Gazette April 2000 al Liqa al Arabi Spring 2000 INAMO Jan/Feb 2000 News Circle Dec 1999 Al-Liqa’ al-Arabi
Continue ReadingReports with Pictures
Awarding ceremony 1999 In the ceremony, the IBN RUSHD Fund for Freedom of Thought was represented by (from left to right) Dr. Khairi Qattawi, Mr. Sherif, Mr. Bushnaq and Dr. […]
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