The Spanish city of Córdoba hosted the third edition of the Ibn Rushd Concord Award, an event held as part of the celebrations marking the 900th anniversary of the birth of Averroes (Ibn Rushd), one of the most influential figures of Andalusian thought and a universal symbol of reason, dialogue, and coexistence among cultures.
The initiative was organized by the Andalusian-Moroccan Friendship Association – Ibn Rushd Forum, with the support of the Baleària Foundation and in collaboration with the University of Córdoba through the Fatima Al Fihri Chair of Hispano-Moroccan Relations. The chair represents a successful model of academic and cultural cooperation between the University of Córdoba and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Spain.
The award ceremony took place in the historic Mudéjar Hall of the University of Córdoba’s Rectorate and brought together prominent diplomatic, academic, cultural, and institutional figures from both Morocco and Spain, reaffirming the values of dialogue, mutual understanding, and peaceful coexistence embodied by the legacy of Averroes.
The event was chaired by Sara Pinzi, José Sarria, Rafael Guerrero, and Mohammed Dahiri.
Among the distinguished guests was Mr. Adil El Alami, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Spain, representing Her Excellency Ms. Karima Benyaich, Ambassador of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to the Kingdom of Spain. Also in attendance were Ricard Pérez, President of the Baleària Foundation, as well as representatives of the Regional Government of Andalusia, the Provincial Council of Córdoba, Casa Árabe, and the Euro-Arab Foundation.
The ceremony also welcomed Abdesslam Seddiki, former Minister of Employment and Social Affairs of Morocco, and Ahmed Akhchichine, former Minister of National Education, alongside a wide range of leading academic, cultural, and institutional personalities from both countries.
In this third edition, the Ibn Rushd Concord Award was presented to the Three Cultures of the Mediterranean Foundation, based in Seville, and the Common Memory Center for Democracy and Peace, headquartered in Meknes, Morocco. The award recognized their longstanding commitment to intercultural dialogue, cooperation, shared memory, and the strengthening of ties between peoples and cultures.
The Three Cultures of the Mediterranean Foundation has established itself as one of the leading institutions promoting intercultural relations in the Euro-Mediterranean region through educational, cultural, and academic initiatives that foster mutual understanding and cooperation.
Meanwhile, the Common Memory Center for Democracy and Peace, chaired by Abdesslam Boutayeb, has played a significant role in preserving shared historical memory, promoting democratic values, and encouraging dialogue and cooperation between Morocco, Spain, and the wider Mediterranean region.
The awards were presented by Adil El Alami and Ricard Pérez to Mar Ahumada, Director of the Three Cultures of the Mediterranean Foundation, and Abdesslam Boutayeb, President of the Common Memory Center for Democracy and Peace.
In his address, José Sarria emphasized that the Ibn Rushd Concord Award was born from civil society initiatives aimed at strengthening ties between Andalusia and Morocco through culture, mutual knowledge, and sustained dialogue. He highlighted the enduring relevance of Averroes’ humanistic legacy as a source of inspiration for building bridges of understanding across the Mediterranean.
Speaking on behalf of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Spain, Adil El Alami thanked the organizers for hosting the event at the University of Córdoba and reaffirmed the shared commitment of Morocco and Spain to deepening cultural, academic, and human relations between the two countries.
He also praised the efforts of the Andalusian-Moroccan Friendship Association – Ibn Rushd Forum, the important role played by the Fatima Al Fihri Chair of Hispano-Moroccan Relations as a platform for cooperation and dialogue, and the contribution of the Baleària Foundation to strengthening connections across the Mediterranean.
For her part, María Rosal, Director of the Fatima Al Fihri Chair and a partner in organizing the event, congratulated the two award-winning institutions, stressing that their work contributes to building a more humane, just, and supportive Mediterranean where diversity is viewed not as a barrier but as an opportunity for encounter and mutual understanding.
Throughout the ceremony, speakers highlighted the special significance of this edition, held during the year marking the ninth centenary of Averroes’ birth. Participants recalled that his intellectual and humanistic legacy remains a universal reference for promoting reason, coexistence, and respect for diversity.
Sara Pinzi also underlined the growing importance of the Fatima Al Fihri Chair as a meeting point for academic, cultural, and social institutions from Morocco and Spain. She noted that the initiative plays a vital role in encouraging knowledge exchange, university cooperation, and the promotion of shared values between the two societies.
On this occasion, organizers announced a series of new academic and cultural activities dedicated to Averroes as part of the celebrations marking the 900th anniversary of his birth. The program will include conferences, seminars, public lectures, and cultural events aimed at bringing the philosopher’s intellectual and humanistic legacy closer to wider audiences.
The ceremony enjoyed strong institutional, academic, and cultural participation, including a significant Moroccan delegation and a large audience that filled the Mudéjar Hall of the University of Córdoba’s Rectorate, reflecting the growing interest in initiatives that promote dialogue and cooperation between Morocco and Spain.
The event concluded with the poetic and musical performance “The Voice of the Bells: Averroes, Gala and the Faith of Reason,” presented by Antonio Manuel and Gil Monteagudo, providing an emotional conclusion to a day dedicated to culture, dialogue, and concord.
