Ashraf AboArafe
On August 12, Turkish Ambassador to Egypt, Salih Mutlu Şen, visited the Great Cairo Library—also known as Princess Samiha’s Palace—where he toured its book collections and cultural activities. He was welcomed by the library’s director, Yehia Riyad Youssef, who introduced him to the library’s 120,000-volume collection in Arabic, English, and French.
During the visit, Ambassador Şen donated a selection of significant works, each accompanied by a message:
- Three Centuries: The History of a Family in Turkey and Egypt by Amina Fouad Tugay, niece of King Fouad, recently published in Egypt with the Ambassador’s support.
- Islamic Monuments in the Ottoman Era, published in Istanbul by IRCICA under the auspices of Prof. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu.
- From the Banks of the Nile to the Bosphorus (Turkish–English bilingual), chronicling the life and cultural heritage of the Muhammad Ali dynasty between Istanbul and Cairo.
- Remembering Ottoman Egypt: Ottoman Consciousness in Egypt, an English-language doctoral thesis by a Turkish scholar analyzing Ottoman awareness in Egypt.
- Turkish Cuisine with Centuries-Old Recipes.
- The Ottoman State: History and Civilization, also published by IRCICA.
- The Turks in Egypt and Their Cultural Heritage by Prof. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, a key reference in understanding shared Turkish–Egyptian history and figures.
- Across People by Mohamed Arif Pasha, in Ottoman Turkish, narrating the lives of Muhammad Ali Pasha and Ibrahim Pasha.
- The History of Egypt in the Ottoman Era, published by IRCICA—part of a total of sixteen donated books.
Director Youssef expressed deep appreciation for the gesture, leading the Ambassador on a tour through various sections of the historic palace, which is meticulously preserved as both a heritage site and a cultural hub. He highlighted the library’s monthly events and voiced hope that the Ambassador would participate in upcoming activities.
Ambassador Şen, in turn, affirmed his readiness to support the library and take part in its cultural programs.
