DR Professor Mohamed Arkoun, large Algerian Islamic scholar, a fervent advocate of dialogue among faiths, died Tuesday evening in Paris at the age of 82, his family announced.
Professor Emeritus of History of Islamic Thought at the Sorbonne, the deceased was one of the initiators of interreligious dialogue. Born in 1928 in
Taourit-Mimoun (Kabylia) in a very modest background, he attended elementary school in his native village, before continuing his secondary education Oran. Subsequently, he studied Arabic literature, law, philosophy and geography at the University of Algiers. With the support of Professor Louis Massignon, he was able to prepare aggregation in Arabic language and literature at the Sorbonne. He later taught at several universities, and in 1980 he was appointed professor at the Sorbonne Nouvelle Paris III. Among his major works, "History of Islam and Muslims in France from the Middle Ages to the Present", an encyclopedic work that tells a common history and millennium, which were attended by many historians and researchers. It was also the author of several other books including "Islam, Religion and Society," Islam, yesterday and tomorrow "," Arab humanism "," reads the Koran, "" Islam, morality and politics "," A Critique of Islamic reason "and many other publications and contributions in this field. The University of Exeter (United Kingdom) then gave him the title of doctor honoris causa, and in 2001 he was invited to give "lectures Gifford" at the University of Edinburgh (Scotland), an honors the most prestigious allowing a renowned researcher to contribute to the advancement of theological and philosophical thought. He received in 2002 the 17th "Giorgio Levi Della Vida Award for his lifetime contribution in the field of Islamic Studies and in 2003, Ibn Rushd Prize.
Ms Toumi, "A true messenger of peace"
Minister of Culture, Ms Khalida Toumi, said yesterday that the Islamic scholar and thinker Mohamed Arkoun, was "by his sincerity and dedication to the rapporchement peoples and religions, an authentic messenger of peace ". Calling it "visionary accomplished," an intellectual, a philosopher and historian of Islam, Ms Toumi recalled in a message of condolence, qu'Arkoun was "the author of a bunch of books reference in the field of critical thinking that provided instruction in the most prestigious university of East and West. "
She added that the deceased" believed in dialogue among cultures and civilizations which he was an ardent activist " and that "his sincerity and dedication to bringing the peoples and religions have made him a true messenger of peace and inter-communal harmony." "Our respect for him is total and endless. His wisdom and knowledge (...) continue to guide generations of men and women in both his country of Algeria and around the world, "added Minister.
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