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Sharjah 24
21-05-2025
- General
- Sharjah 24
UNESCO honours Sharjah Ruler for Arabic historical dictionary
Upon his arrival at UNESCO headquarters, His Highness was received and warmly welcomed by Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO; Fahd Saeed Al Raqbani, UAE Ambassador to France; Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah's Department of Culture; Jamal Al-Turaifi, President of Al Qasimia University; Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority; Ali Al-Haj Al Ali, UAE Permanent Delegate to UNESCO; and Mohamed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority. His Highness The Ruler of Sharjah delivered a speech during the ceremony, stating, 'It is my honour to stand among you today in this esteemed cultural forum at UNESCO, whose noble mission we revere and whose fruitful partnership we cherish.' Together, we commemorate a groundbreaking scholarly and cultural milestone—the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language. This occasion is further enriched by its coincidence with the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, a day designated by UNESCO to promote mutual understanding and respect among cultures, reinforcing our collective humanity. Language, in all its forms, undeniably serves as the main repository of culture and the most authentic reflection of a community's identity. In celebrating the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language today, we honour a vital aspect of our rich human diversity, represented by the Arabic language, which carries a deep civilisational heritage and has had a significant scientific and humanistic impact. His Highness subsequently emphasised the contributions of the partner institutions that played a role in the creation of the dictionary, stating, 'Sharjah, through its Arabic Language Academy and in collaboration with the Union of Arab Scientific and Language Academies in Cairo, along with linguistic academies, institutes, and institutions throughout the Arab world, succeeded in the completion of this dictionary in one hundred and twenty-seven volumes, as you see before you both in print and online.' I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the numerous researchers and proofreaders from diverse Arab nations whose remarkable dedication has made this accomplishment achievable. 'For centuries, Arabic has been a dynamic and enduring language, embodying the heritage of an entire civilisation and encompassing a multitude of fields of knowledge. It serves as the language of the Holy Qur'an, the means of communication for philosophers and scientists, and the artistic means for poets and intellectuals. Even now, it persists in accomplishing its mission throughout the domains of knowledge. But unlike other languages, no academic work has yet been done to show how its lexicon and meanings have changed over time. Thus, the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language originated as a vision, evolved into a project, and has now come to fruition—thanks to the collaboration of efforts, the amalgamation of expertise, and a steadfast dedication. His Highness emphasised that all languages possess an equal right to exist and evolve, stating, 'When we restore to Arabic its rightful history and highlight the aspects of its development, we simultaneously affirm to the world that every language is entitled to existence, progress and celebration, and that cultural justice demands that humanity not be reduced to a single tongue, nor the civilisations of peoples confined to one model.' "Just as biodiversity ensures the continuity of life, cultural and linguistic diversity secures the ongoing evolution and revitalisation of human creativity." He then conveyed his sincere appreciation to UNESCO for recognising the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language and for the collaborative cultural initiatives between Sharjah and the organisation: 'Our celebration of this work within UNESCO's premises sends a clear message that culture transcends borders and that Arab endeavours, undertaken with sincerity and a collective spirit, receive global acknowledgement and acceptance.' From this podium, I express my heartfelt gratitude to UNESCO and its member states for their strong belief in the significance of Arabic and for their collaborative efforts in various initiatives—most notably, the Sharjah–UNESCO Arab Culture Award, which represents our cultural alignment with this esteemed organisation and its members. He wrapped up with a call for unity: 'Let us move forward together, dear friends, hand in hand, to enhance our cultural dialogue, to protect our common human heritage, and to guarantee that every culture's voice is acknowledged, every language valued, and every people stay true to their genuine identity.' At the ceremony, Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO, presented a speech to welcome His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah. She expressed her pleasure regarding the visit of the Sharjah delegation to Paris, acknowledging the emirate as a worldwide centre of knowledge and culture. Azoulay emphasised Sharjah's significant investments in diverse areas that align with UNESCO's mission, pointing out its achievement of multiple international cultural awards, including UNESCO's recognition of Sharjah as a "World Book Capital" in 2019. This acknowledgement highlights Sharjah's eternal commitment to literature, cultural heritage, the spread of knowledge, and cultural diversity. Azoulay praised the foresight of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, which has placed culture and knowledge at the heart of Sharjah's policies. She recognised the emirate's arrangements for various cultural events, festivals, and exhibitions that span multiple areas of culture, arts, and history. These initiatives, such as the UNESCO–Sharjah Award for Arab Culture, promote intercultural dialogue and highlight the lasting collaboration between Sharjah and UNESCO that has continued for over 25 years. She acknowledged Sharjah's initiative in signing an agreement to digitise UNESCO's archives, marking a significant step towards preserving the organisation's vast collection of books and documents, some of which date back over 80 years. This initiative guarantees the protection of precious historical documents that detail various events, agreements, and initiatives. Azoulay conveyed her appreciation for the successful completion of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language, a significant accomplishment achieved under the guidance of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah. Created by a multitude of researchers and editors from 20 linguistic institutions throughout the Arab world, this dictionary has earned recognition from the Guinness World Records as the largest historical dictionary. consisting of 127 volumes. It has been officially included in UNESCO's library, offering educators, researchers, students, and Arabic language enthusiasts a thorough resource. She highlighted the richness and value of the Arabic language, showcasing its adaptability over time and its importance to millions around the globe. Azoulay highlighted her investigation of the term "peace", tracing it back to the triliteral root of the Arabic word mase, represented by the letters ( س-ل-م ), and noting its semantic similarities in different languages. At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah graciously signed a copy of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language and presented it as a gift to UNESCO.
Los Angeles Times
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Nicaragua withdraws from UNESCO in protest of press freedom award
PARIS — UNESCO on Sunday announced the withdrawal of Nicaragua from the U.N. cultural and educational body because of the awarding of its prize celebrating press freedom to a Nicaraguan newspaper. Nicaragua announced its withdrawal from the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in a letter that UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said she received Sunday morning. In the letter, seen by the Associated Press, Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Valdrack Jaentschke denounced the awarding of a UNESCO press freedom prize to La Prensa. The prize jury hailed the newspaper's work in the face of 'severe repression' and reporting from exile that 'courageously keeps the flame of press freedom alive' in the Central American country. Nicaragua's government, led by President Daniel Ortega and his wife and co-president, Rosario Murillo, has been cracking down on dissent since it violently repressed protests in 2018, claiming the rallies were backed by foreign powers that sought his overthrow. In his letter to UNESCO, Jaentschke claimed La Prensa is a pro-U.S. news outlet and 'represents the vile betrayal against our Motherland.' Nicaragua was one of 194 member states in the United Nations agency, which promotes education, science and culture and works for the preservation of outstanding cultural and natural heritage around the world. Its departure comes at a time UNESCO is also in President Trump's crosshairs. Here's a look at the dispute: UNESCO member states created the World Press Freedom Prize in 1997. The only U.N. prize awarded to journalists, it is named after Colombian newspaper journalist Guillermo Cano Isaza, who was assassinated in Bogota, the capital, in 1986. An international jury of media professionals that recommended La Prensa for the 2025 award on Saturday said through its chairman that the newspaper, founded in 1926, 'has made courageous efforts to report the truth to the people of Nicaragua.' UNESCO said that 'since 2021, following the imprisonment and expulsion of its leaders from the country as well as the confiscation of its assets, La Prensa has continued to inform the Nicaraguan population online, with most of its team in exile and operating from Costa Rica, Spain, Mexico, Germany and the United States.' Other recent laureates include Belarus' top independent journalists' organization, recognized in 2022, and, in 2019, journalists Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone, who were jailed in Myanmar for their reporting on the military's brutal crackdown on Rohingya Muslims. Jaentschke's letter said that UNESCO recognition for La Prensa was 'undeserved' and that the agency's actions were 'unacceptable and inadmissible.' The minister alleged, without offering evidence, that La Prensa has promoted U.S. military and political intervention in Nicaragua. 'It is deeply shameful that UNESCO appears as the promoter, and obviously as an accomplice, of an action that offends and attacks the deepest Values of Nicaragua's National Identity and Culture,' his signed and stamped letter said. In a statement announcing Nicaragua's decision to leave, Azoulay said that 'UNESCO is fully within its mandate when it defends freedom of expression and press freedom around the world.' 'I regret this decision, which will deprive the people of Nicaragua of the benefits of cooperation, particularly in the fields of education and culture,' she said. In his first term, Trump looked dimly on Ortega's rule. In 2018, Trump signed into law a bill to cut off resources to the government of Nicaragua. But he has also been critical of UNESCO. In an executive order in February, Trump called for a review of U.S. involvement in the agency. His previous administration in 2017 announced that the U.S. would withdraw from UNESCO, citing anti-Israel bias. That decision took effect a year later. The United States formally rejoined UNESCO in 2023 after a five-year absence, under the Biden administration.
Toronto Star
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Nicaragua is quitting a UN agency over a press freedom award. Here's a look at the issue
PARIS (AP) — The United Nations agency that promotes education, science and culture and also works for the preservation of outstanding cultural and natural heritage around the world is abruptly losing one of its 194 member states. It marks a blow to the Paris-based body that is also in U.S. President Donald Trump 's crosshairs. Nicaragua angrily announced its withdrawal from the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in a letter that UNESCO's director general, Audrey Azoulay, said she received Sunday morning.
eNCA
04-05-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
UNESCO says Nicaragua quitting over press prize award
Nicaragua has notified UNESCO of its withdrawal from the organisation in response to its press prize going to a Nicaraguan newspaper in exile, the UN culture agency's head said on Sunday. UNESCO on Saturday handed its annual award to Nicaragua's oldest newspaper, La Prensa, whose staff have been forced to publish from abroad as President Daniel Ortega tightens his grip on power. Director-General Audrey Azoulay said in a statement that Nicaragua's decision would "deprive Nicaragua's population of the benefits of a cooperation focused notably on education and culture". But the agency's role was also "to defend the freedom of expression everywhere", Azoulay said. La Prensa, a title almost 100 years old, has been publishing online since Nicaraguan police in 2021 stormed its premises and arrested its manager Juan Lorenzo Holmann Chamorro. A Nicaraguan court in 2022 sentenced Holmann to nine years in jail then in 2023 deported him to the United States. Ortega, 79, first served as president from 1985 to 1990 as a former guerrilla hero before returning to power in 2007. Since then Nicaragua has jailed hundreds of opponents. It has also shut down more than 5,000 non-governmental organisations since the 2018 mass protests, in which the United Nations estimates more than 300 people died.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nicaragua leaves UNESCO after exiled newspaper wins award
Nicaragua has withdrawn from the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization after UNESCO acknowledged the exiled La Prensa newspaper as part of the organization's press freedom awards. UNESCO director-general Audrey Azoulay said on Sunday that she "regrets" the country's decision, adding that it would "deprive the people of Nicaragua of the benefits of cooperation, particularly in the fields of education and culture." The organization is "fully within its mandate" of defending freedom of expression and freedom of the press, Azoulay said. UNESCO Statement following Nicaragua's decision to withdraw from the more: @laprensa #WorldPressFreedomDay — UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳 (@UNESCO) May 4, 2025 La Prensa's staff have been forced to publish from abroad after Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega tightened his grip on power. In 2021, police stormed the newspaper's offices, arresting its general manager Juan Lorenzo Holmann. Holmann was deported to the US in 2023. Nicaraguan authorities accused La Prensa for promoting "military and political interventions" by the US in Nicaragua. The 2025 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize was awarded to La Prensa on the recommendation of an international jury of media professionals. The prize was established by UNESCO members in 1997. Nicaragua's withdrawal is a blow to the organization, that's also been criticized by US President Donald Trump, who withdrew the US from UNESCO in his first term due to what it said was an anti-Israel bias. The US rejoined UNESCO in 2023 under the Biden administration. Edited by: Zac Crellin
