alyelsamman - adic president english

President of International Union for Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue and Peace Education (ADIC)

El-Samman’s involvement in promoting intercultural and interfaith dialogue most likely has its roots in his early experiences as a boy in Tanta, Egypt. As the only Muslim in a Coptic primary school, he knew many Christians at an early age. His experience of interfaith harmony was deepened as a student in Alexandria, which at that time was a melting pot of people of different races and creeds; and in Grenoble, France, as a Muslim student in a Christian society. During El-Samman’s career in Paris as a journalist in the 60s and 70s, he became friends with Dr. Adel Amer (former director of the Arab League office in Paris) who had a keen interest in issues related to interfaith dialogue.

In 1989, Dr. Amer realized his dream of promoting real dialogue between Muslims and Christians by founding the Association for International Muslim-Christian Dialogue (ADIC) in Paris. In April 1990, El-Samman, by then a prominent media expert with a deep interest in interfaith dialogue, joined the association shortly before the death of his friend, Dr. Amer.

As president, Amer was succeeded by the late Dr. Tedjini Haddam, former rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris. Soon afterwards, Haddam was appointed to the High Committee of the Algerian Republic, requiring him to leave Paris, at which time he accepted the honorary presidency of ADIC. In 1992, following Dr Haddam’s departure, El-Samman became president, and immediately won the support of the association’s General Assembly to expand ADIC’s activities internationally and to include all three monotheistic religions. This prompted, by 1995, a name change to the “International Union for Jewish-Muslim-Christian Dialogue and Peace Education,” yet the familiar acronym, ADIC, was to remain the same.

In January 2010, in recognition of the importance of the intercultural aspects of dialogue among those of different religions, ADIC’s General Assembly adopted a new name, “International Union for Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue and Peace Education”.

Through the personal efforts of Dr. El-Samman, ADIC was the behind the scenes catalyst for building relationships and promoting dialogue among the three monotheistic religions worldwide. For example, in 1998, ADIC played a key role in bringing about an agreement between Al Azhar and the Vatican. In his capacity as president of ADIC, El-Samman also played a pivotal role in encouraging interfaith dialogue, both in Egypt and internationally, through organizing and realizing several important events and key initial encounters:

Bringing Bosnian refugees material aid and delivering a public message about the situation to Boutros Boutros Ghali, then secretary general of the United Nations, about the situation in Bosnia. (Nagyatad Bosnia - 1993)
A conference at La Sorbonne University between the three monotheistic religions focusing on the dangers threatening dialogue. The conference culminated with the vow, “Never again to separate the children of Abraham”. (Paris – 1994)
The first meeting between Cardinal Franz Koenig - Cardinal of Vienna, Austria and Member of Sacred College of the Vatican, and honorary president of ADIC; Dr. Hamdi Zagzoug - Dean of the Theology Department of Al Azhar; and Rabbi René Samuel Sirat - former Chief Rabbi of France and vice-president of the Conference of European Rabbis. (Paris – 1994)
The first meeting meeting between the Coptic Patriarch Shenouda and the world famous Muslim preacher Sheikh Metwalli Al Sha’arawi. (Cairo, Egypt – 1994)
The first meeting between Grand Imam of Al Azhar Gadelhaq Ali Gadelhaq and Patriarch Shenouda III. (Cairo, Egypt – 1994)
The first meeting between Grand Imam of Al Azhar Gadelhaq Ali Gadelhaq with Rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, Dalil Boubakeur. (Cairo Egypt - 1994)
The first meeting between Grand Imam of Al Azhar Gadelhaq Ali Gadelhaq and Cardinal Franz Koenig of Vienna, an encounter of the utmost importance, as it was the first step paving the way to the 1998 agreement signed between the Vatican and Al Azhar. (Bern, Switzerland - 1994)

Prior to his death in 2017, El-Samman regularly spoke at conferences, appeared on television and writes articles about intercultural and interfaith issues. As a result of his commitment to the cause, prominent figures and institutions, both in Egypt and abroad, recognized the efforts made by ADIC and its president to encourage genuine dialogue leading to greater global harmony.