Latest news with #GihaneZaki
Egypt Independent
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Who is Gihane Zaki, the Egyptian parliamentarian who just received France's highest honor?
French President Emmanuel Macron issued a decree awarding an Egyptian parliamentarian the Legion of Honor, Knight rank – France's highest civilian honor. Egypt's official newspaper, al-Waqa'i' al-Masryia, published on Monday the text of the decree awarding Gihane Zaki, a member of the Egyptian House of Representatives and professor of ancient Egyptian civilization, the prestigious French order. According to the decree, this honor comes in recognition of her distinguished contributions towards promoting culture and soft diplomacy, her role in building bridges of dialogue between civilizations, and promoting the values of peace, tolerance, and knowledge across borders. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Legion of Honor Palace overlooking the River Seine in Paris during fall, with the attendance of a select group of international cultural and diplomatic figures. The decision to honor her came based on the recommendation of the French Ministry of European Affairs and International Cooperation, which commended Zaki's role as a prominent intellectual voice in international forums. Who is Gihane Zaki? Zaki is a member of Parliament, a professor of ancient Egyptian civilization, the head of the Grand Egyptian Museum, and a researcher at the Sorbonne University's Scientific Research Center. She previously served as Egypt's cultural advisor to Italy and as the former director of the Egyptian Academy of Arts in Rome, where she led the academy toward new horizons of cultural cooperation with Europe. She is considered one of the most prominent intellectual and cultural diplomatic figures in Egypt and the Arab world. Zaki has received several international honors from France and Italy, including the French 'Knight' medal in 2009, awarded by former President Nicolas Sarkozy in recognition of her efforts to strengthen cultural relations between both shores of the Mediterranean. National Council for Women congratulates Zaki The National Council for Women (NCW) extended its sincere congratulations to Zaki on the award in recognition of her distinguished contributions to culture and diplomacy, and towards promoting the values of peace and understanding through scientific research, knowledge, art, and cultural communication. The head of the NCW, Amal Ammar expressed her pride at Zaki being awarded this order, stressing that it is a well-deserved recognition of an honorable female role model, whose sincerity and dedication towards supporting the values of peace, equality and cultural diplomacy have brought people together. Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
CairoScene
14-07-2025
- Politics
- CairoScene
Egyptian MP Gihane Zaki Awarded France's Highest Civilian Honour
Recognised for her influence at the crossroads of archaeology, heritage, and diplomacy, MP Gihane Zaki is the latest Egyptian to receive France's highest civilian honour, the Légion d'Honneur Jul 14, 2025 France has awarded Egyptian MP and cultural diplomat Dr. Gihane Zaki with the Légion d'Honneur, the country's highest civilian distinction, by presidential decree. The honour, granted without application and based solely on nomination, acknowledges her longstanding contributions to cultural diplomacy and academic thought. Dr. Zaki was named Chevalier (Knight) in the decree published in France's Journal Officiel, joining an exclusive group of foreign recipients cited for upholding values such as peace and human dignity. The award ceremony traditionally takes place at the Palais de la Légion d'Honneur in Paris, reflecting the symbolic weight of the honour in French national life. As an archaeologist, academic, and former director of the Egyptian Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, Zaki has worked extensively on cultural heritage policies and intercultural exchange, both in government and global institutions. Her collaborations span organisations like UNESCO and ICCROM, with affiliations to the Sorbonne and Senghor University. The Légion d'Honneur was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. Past Egyptian recipients include Mahmoud Fakhry Pasha and Mona Zulficar. The award continues to underline France's cultural engagement with the Arab world, with recent honours also extending to figures from the UAE.
Al-Ahram Weekly
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
France decorates Egyptian MP Gihane Zaki with prestigious Legion of Honour award - Society
France awarded the Légion d'Honneur (Legion of Honour) to Dr. Gihane Zaki, Member of the Egyptian Parliament and Cultural Diplomat, on Sunday in recognition of her exceptional contributions to cultural diplomacy, academic thought leadership, and the advancement of intercultural understanding. Granted by presidential decree, the Legion of Honour, the country's highest national distinction, is conferred exclusively through nomination—never by personal application—and honours individuals, French or foreign, who have demonstrated outstanding merit in either civilian or military life. The decree, issued by French President Emmanuel Macron and published in the Journal Officiel, elevated Dr. Zaki to the rank of Chevalier (Knight), citing her unwavering commitment to the universal values of peace, liberty, and human dignity. The honour is traditionally presented at the Palais de la Légion d'Honneur in Paris, a symbolic venue that reflects France's historic ties with international partners across the globe. Dr. Zaki has earned international recognition for her work at the intersection of archaeology, cultural heritage, and diplomacy. In her capacity as a parliamentarian, she has played a prominent role in shaping policy dialogue around cultural preservation and cross-border collaboration. Before assuming her current position, Dr. Zaki served as Director of the Egyptian Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, where she championed artistic exchange between Egyptian and European creative communities. Her academic portfolio includes teaching roles at leading universities, where she delivered lectures on art history, intercultural studies, and heritage diplomacy. A prolific writer, Dr. Zaki has authored numerous publications exploring Egypt's cultural legacy and the transformative role of the arts in community development. Her work blends rigorous archaeological scholarship with contemporary perspectives on identity and global citizenship. She has also collaborated with international institutions such as UNESCO and ICCROM, while holding academic affiliations with both the Sorbonne University and Senghor University. As a cultural diplomacy expert, Dr. Zaki has represented Egypt at high-level global forums, fostering enduring relationships with European institutions, research centres, and cultural organisations worldwide. With this honour, she joins a distinguished group of Arab and Egyptian recipients of the Legion of Honour, including Mahmoud Fakhry Pasha, Mohamed Al-Fayed, Hazem El-Beblawi, and Mona Zulficar. Recent honourees have also included senior officials from the United Arab Emirates, underscoring the continued depth of France's engagement with the Arab world. Beyond celebrating Dr. Zaki's personal achievements, the award stands as a testament to Egypt's enduring role as a cultural bridge between civilisations—a mission she has long championed throughout her career. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
France honours Egyptian MP Gihane Zaki with prestigious Legion of Honour award - Society
France awarded its highest national distinction, the Légion d'Honneur (Legion of Honour), to Dr. Gihane Zaki, Member of the Egyptian Parliament and Cultural Diplomat, on Sunday in recognition of her exceptional contributions to cultural diplomacy, academic thought leadership, and the advancement of intercultural understanding. France has awarded Egypt's Dr. Zaki the Legion of Honour, the country's highest national distinction, in recognition of her exceptional contributions to cultural diplomacy, heritage preservation, and international cooperation. Granted by presidential decree, the decoration is conferred exclusively through nomination—never by personal application—and honours individuals, French or foreign, who have demonstrated outstanding merit in either civilian or military life. The decree, issued by French President Emmanuel Macron and published in the Journal Officiel, elevated Dr. Zaki to the rank of Chevalier (Knight), citing her unwavering commitment to the universal values of peace, liberty, and human dignity. The honour is traditionally presented at the Palais de la Légion d'Honneur in Paris, a symbolic venue that reflects France's historic ties with international partners across the globe. Dr. Zaki has earned international recognition for her work at the intersection of archaeology, cultural heritage, and diplomacy. In her capacity as a parliamentarian, she has played a prominent role in shaping policy dialogue around cultural preservation and cross-border collaboration. Before assuming her current position, Dr. Zaki served as Director of the Egyptian Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, where she championed artistic exchange between Egyptian and European creative communities. Her academic portfolio includes teaching roles at leading universities, where she delivered lectures on art history, intercultural studies, and heritage diplomacy. A prolific writer, Dr. Zaki has authored numerous publications exploring Egypt's cultural legacy and the transformative role of the arts in community development. Her work blends rigorous archaeological scholarship with contemporary perspectives on identity and global citizenship. She has also collaborated with international institutions such as UNESCO and ICCROM, while holding academic affiliations with both the Sorbonne University and Senghor University. As a cultural diplomacy expert, Dr. Zaki has represented Egypt at high-level global forums, fostering enduring relationships with European institutions, research centres, and cultural organisations worldwide. With this honour, she joins a distinguished group of Arab and Egyptian recipients of the Legion of Honour, including Mahmoud Fakhry Pasha, Mohamed Al-Fayed, Hazem El-Beblawi, and Mona Zulficar. Recent honourees have also included senior officials from the United Arab Emirates, underscoring the continued depth of France's engagement with the Arab world. Beyond celebrating Dr. Zaki's personal achievements, the award stands as a testament to Egypt's enduring role as a cultural bridge between civilisations—a mission she has long championed throughout her career. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
