2 Writers Win Yousef Bakkar Award for Oriental Studies

A general view of the skyline as seen from Jordan's first "Air Taxi", in Amman, Jordan, January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
A general view of the skyline as seen from Jordan's first "Air Taxi", in Amman, Jordan, January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
TT

2 Writers Win Yousef Bakkar Award for Oriental Studies

A general view of the skyline as seen from Jordan's first "Air Taxi", in Amman, Jordan, January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
A general view of the skyline as seen from Jordan's first "Air Taxi", in Amman, Jordan, January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed

Two writers from Jordan and Iran have won the "Yousef Bakkar Award for Oriental Studies," which is organized by the Jordanian Writers Association, with the support of Dr. Youssef Bakkar, Petra News Agency reported.

The $3,000 award was announced Saturday by the General Secretariat of the "Yousef Bakkar Prize for Oriental Studies.”

According to an Association statement, the award was jointly won by: Dr. Abbas Abdel Halim Abbas, from Jordan, for his book "Abdul Wahhab Azzam, A Civilizational Project, a Study of His Literary Efforts and Comparative Eastern Cultures", and Dr. Yadallah Malayri, from Iran, for his book "The Neighbors in the Eastern Mediterranean, the political novel between Persian and Arabic, Ahmed Mahmoud and Abd al-Rahman Munif as a model.”

The "Yousef Bakkar Award for Oriental Studies,” the first of its kind on the Arab and Islamic levels, constitutes a quantum leap in supporting and encouraging specialists in oriental studies, and aims to contribute positively in serving Islamic civilization by reviving literary and cultural relations between oriental languages, especially Arabic, Persian and Turkish, Petra said.

The President of the Jordanian Writers Association, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Award and its Secretary General, lawyer and poet Akram Al-Zoubi, said that the association will soon hold a special ceremony to honor the award winners, expressing appreciation for the support of the Award’s Board of Trustees and its arbitrators.



Saudi Arabia Launches Arab Week at UNESCO in Paris

Saudi Arabia launches Arab Week at UNESCO in Paris. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia launches Arab Week at UNESCO in Paris. (SPA)
TT

Saudi Arabia Launches Arab Week at UNESCO in Paris

Saudi Arabia launches Arab Week at UNESCO in Paris. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia launches Arab Week at UNESCO in Paris. (SPA)

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Monday inaugurated the first Arab Week at UNESCO initiative in Paris in an event organized by the Arab Group at the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The event was attended by Saudi Arabia’s permanent Arab representatives, several ambassadors, Arab and international diplomats in France, and a group of UNESCO officials and leaders.
Marking the first of its kind in the Arab world in over half a century, the event was officially launched by Jordanian Ambassador to France Leena Al-Hadid, who also serves as the chair of the Arab Group at UNESCO.
Al-Hadid emphasized that the event provides a unique opportunity to spotlight the rich cultural heritage of the Arab world that spans centuries, referring to the region's extensive contributions to science, philosophy, literature, and arts.
During the launch, Al-Hadid extended the Arab Group's appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its valuable initiative and to Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan for his efforts and support in making this exceptional event possible for the Arab countries, which drew significant cultural participation from various nations.
Throughout Arab Week at UNESCO, 22 booths representing the Arab countries are showcasing their cultural heritage, history, and elements of their civilizations, interacting with visitors, engaging audiences, and boosting cultural ties among organizers and attendees from around the globe.
The event also features seven seminars covering topics such as language, calligraphy, Arabic literature, artificial intelligence, education and fine arts, intangible cultural heritage, and world heritage. The seminars attracted academic institutions, experts, and specialists from the fields of education, culture, and science, aiming to reach ambitious ideas based on deep research rooted in Arab experiences tied to centuries-long heritage, civilization, and history.