The Alhambra hosts the presentation of the first Ibn Rushd Awards for Concord
On Wednesday 29 May at 7 p.m., the Palace of Charles V in the Alhambra in Granada will host the first edition of the Ibn Rushd (Averroes) Awards for Concord instituted by the Andalusian-Moroccan Friendship Association - Ibn Rushd Forum, which will be collected by the director of the Cervantes Institute, Luis García Montero, and the Moroccan intellectual committed to the defence of human rights, Abdelkader Chaui.
The Ibn Rushd (Averroes) Concord Awards, which are being presented this year for the first time, recognise the work of understanding, knowledge and coexistence, the promotion of dialogue, the defence of the values of freedom, human rights, peace, justice and ecology, respect for minorities and the defence of women's rights, tolerance and the inclusion of the different, especially in the territorial scope of Spain and Morocco, by individuals or private or public institutions of both countries.
The Asociación de Amistad Andaluza Marroquí-Foro Ibn Rushd, chaired by the economist and poet José Sarria, has recognised the important work of cultural dissemination that the Instituto Cervantes network carries out in Morocco - with its six offices in Rabat, Marrakech, Casablanca, Tangiers, Tetouan and Fez - demonstrating the importance for this institution of its presence in Morocco, promoting numerous activities related to culture and the teaching of Spanish, which is increasingly expanding in the neighbouring Maghreb country.
The association also praised the merits of Abdelkader Chaui, born in Bab Taza in 1950, a writer and intellectual of international stature committed to human rights, who also developed a diplomatic career as Moroccan ambassador to Chile and as counsellor at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Alaoui in Spain.
Professors Remedios Sánchez (UGR) and Mohamed Dahiri (Complutense), advisor and vice-president, respectively, of the association, will read the laudatio for the award winners Luis García Montero and Abdelkader Chaui, respectively.
In addition to the award winners, the Moroccan ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich, the sub-delegate of the Central Government, José Antonio Montilla, the Secretary General for External Action of the Andalusian Regional Government, Enric Millo, the director of the Baleària Foundation (sponsoring entity), Ricard Pérez, and the rector of the University of Granada, Pedro Mercado Pacheco, as well as other authorities, have already promised their presence at the event.
The Minister Plenipotentiary of the Moroccan Embassy, Mohamed El Amin Setti, and Counsellors Mohamed Amine Tekaia and Brahim Braougui will also attend.
The Ibn Rushd Award for Concord is represented by a bronze sculpture by the Cordovan artist Luis M. García with a bust of the Andalusian philosopher Ibn Rushd, also known as Averroes, whose historical figure embodies the values of coexistence, freedom, interculturalism and the promotion of dialogue that its promoters advocate.
The event, which will be presented by the journalist and historian Rafael Guerrero, vice-president of the Andalusian-Moroccan Friendship Association - Ibn Rushd Forum, will close with a musical performance by the Suhail Ensemble Trio, made up of the multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer Suhail Serghini, accompanied by José Cortés "Pirata" on flamenco guitar and the flamenco singer Macarena Rodríguez, who will perform a repertoire of music from both sides: Andalusian, flamenco and Sephardic music.