
By Sama Marwan,
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Egypt, Turkish Ambassador to Cairo, Salih Mutlu Şen, is hosting a series of events that highlight the deep ties between the two nations.
The events kicked off this evening with a lecture by Prof. Dr. Mahmut Erol Kılıç, the Director-General of the Research Center for Islamic History, Art, and Culture (IRCICA) and former Turkish Ambassador to Jakarta. The lecture, held at the ambassador’s residence in Cairo, focused on manuscripts.
During the session, the Arabic translation of the Ottoman-Turkish manuscript “ʿIbr al-Bashar fi al-Qarn al-Thalith ʿAshar”, written by Mehmet Arif Pasha, was presented. Arif Pasha was the secretary of Kavalalı Mehmed Ali Pasha and the governor of Tekirdağ in the Ottoman Empire.
Prof. Kılıç also visited the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, one of the most significant book fairs in the world. During his lecture, he shared insights about the manuscript and mentioned that the Arabic translation was published at this year’s book fair.
He noted that the original manuscript is preserved at Istanbul University and emphasized that manuscripts serve as an important marker of a nation’s memory.
Prof. Kılıç also revealed ongoing collaborations with Egyptian authorities to digitize and preserve Ottoman-Turkish manuscripts. He stressed that this work provides valuable insights into the efforts of Kavalalı Mehmed Ali Pasha and Mehmet Arif Pasha in promoting Turkish language and culture in Egypt.
In his speech, Prof. Kılıç highlighted that Turkey’s Süleymaniye Library, which holds the largest collection of manuscripts in the Islamic world, serves as a counterpart to Egypt’s Dar al-Kutub Library. He noted that Turkey and Egypt are among the most important countries in preserving and fostering manuscripts, possessing some of the richest collections of Arabic manuscripts in the Islamic world.
He further explained that the central historical and civilizational roles of both countries contributed to their vast cultural heritage and manuscript collections, as they were once capitals of major empires and civilizations.
Prof. Kılıç also stated that the global Islamic manuscript collection today exceeds 1.5 million manuscripts, spread across 2,500 different collections in 106 countries and more than 1,300 cities.
Ottoman Archives and the Palestinian Question
When asked about the possibility of translating Ottoman archival documents into Arabic, Prof. Kılıç referenced a publication by IRCICA titled “The Arab Lands in Ottoman Documents”. He noted that Ottoman records meticulously documented every street and alley in Palestine, to the extent that Israel once claimed there was no evidence proving Arab ownership of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Upon request from Palestinian authorities, Turkey provided these crucial documents, reinforcing Palestinian historical claims.
Turkish Ambassador’s Remarks
Turkish Ambassador Salih Mutlu Şen also addressed the audience, expressing his delight at organizing such a historically significant event. He emphasized that the manuscript “ʿIbr al-Bashar fi al-Qarn al-Thalith ʿAshar” serves as a primary source for understanding Turkish-Egyptian history. He revealed that the original manuscript was brought to Cairo during King Fuad’s reign, translated into Arabic, but was later forgotten and lost. He thanked Dr. Mohamed Sarhan for his efforts in re-translating it into Arabic.
Ambassador Şen expressed confidence that this work will attract great interest from younger generations, affirming that the centennial celebrations of Turkish-Egyptian diplomatic relations have officially begun with this lecture in Cairo.
He also announced that Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, will pay an official visit to Turkey on February 4, 2025. During the visit, a ceremony will be held to return an Egyptian artifact to Turkey. He described the visit as a significant cultural event between Egypt and Turkey, which he believes will contribute greatly to strengthening bilateral relations.