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Turkey Summer School 2019 Begins!

Turkey Summer School 2019 Begins!

The Sixth IIIT Turkey Summer School (Fifth jointly organised with MAHYA) was officially launched at an Opening Ceremony held at Istanbul University Rectorate Building on 11 July 2019. The Ceremony which marks the start of a programme (11-20th July) drawing speakers from across the world, and postgraduate students from across Turkey and nine other countries, began with recitation of the Qur’an followed by Welcome Remarks given by Sebahattin Ihvan from MAHYA and Hatice Nuriler representing IIIT. During the Ceremony, the AMSS UK took the opportunity to present its prestigious 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award jointly to Professor Fikret Karčić and Professor Enes Karić of the University of Sarajevo (who will be lecturing at the Summer School) in recognition of outstanding achievement in their scholarly fields. The Award was presented by Dr. Anas Al-Shaikh-Ali, Chair of AMSS UK.

Following the Award, the Ceremony included special remarks by Dr. Anas in which he outlined the history of the relationship that had been developed over the years with MAHYA explaining that he wanted to use the occasion of the Ceremony to celebrate both the 10th Anniversary of the publishing relationship with MAHYA and the 5th Anniversary of the joint organisation of the Summer Schools with IIIT. Appropriately enough the 5th Anniversary is also referred to as a Wooden Anniversary. Appropriate because from the second day onwards proceedings are taking place at the beautiful and rural setting of Demirkoy Farm, which is surrounded by scenic trees and fields, next to the MAHYA family’s wood factory, one of the largest in Europe.

The relationship with MAHYA, Dr. Anas continued, had developed over the years on many levels, beyond those of publishing to those of intellectual ventures and other joint academic endeavours. Professor Dr. Bekir Karliga, the Chair of the Alliance of Civilisation Initiative, and Head, International Civilizations Research Centre, played an important part, Dr Anas emphasised, in kick starting this relationship, with Dr. Anas working with him since 1996, interrupted for a while, and continuing again in 2008.

In recognition of his role in initiating this relationship between IIIT and MAHYA, Professor Bekir was then presented with a beautiful boxed handcrafted gift of a Minbar by Dr. Ahmad Totonji, member of the IIIT Board of Trustees. A similar one was also presented by Dr. Ahmad to MAHYA in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the relationship. Other presentations were made in the form of boxed handcrafted miniatures of the Black Stone to the publishing team at MAHYA and as well as a Minbar to Hatice Nuriler, IIIT Coordinator in Turkey.

Dr. Anas extolled on the value of relationships in a world where real connections have dwindled and been replaced by vacuous conversations over social media, where everyone is too busy to give worth to developing bonds based on respect, communication, and appreciation, and where there is a decaying understanding of shared ideals and beliefs. Dr. Anas went on to emphasise that the connection between his family and the MAHYA families had developed beyond publishing and business aspects into a warm personal and genuine one based on mutual respect and appreciation. And in recognition of this he presented a personal gift on behalf of his wife, his family, and himself to the Şansal family.

Three presentations were then made by Professor Bekir Karliga, Dr. Beddy Ebnou, and Professor Recep Senturk. The students participating in the Summer School as well as the organising team then left Istanbul University for Demirkoy Farm at 4pm.

 

 

 

 

 

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