RIYADH, 27 November 2002 — Dr. Ezzuddin Omar Mousa of Sudan and Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Harakat of Morocco jointly won this year’s King Faisal Prize for Islamic Studies, Asir Governor and Director General of King Faisal Foundation Prince Khaled announced here last night. Other prize winners were from Italy, Germany, Japan and the United States.
Addressing a press conference, Prince Khaled, who is also chairman of the prize committee, said the winner of the prize for Islamic service will be announced after Eid Al-Adha. The committee withheld the prize for Arabic literature, he added.
Professor Axel Ullrich of Germany’s Max-Planck Institute for Biochemistry and Professor Umberto Veronesi of the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, Italy, shared the medicine prize for their work on breast cancer.
Professor Marion Frederick Hawthorne of the University of California shared the prize for science (chemistry) with Professor Koji Nakanishi of New York’s Columbia University. Hawthorne is involved in pioneering cancer research while Nakanishi’s work includes ways of fighting loss of sight among the elderly, the foundation said.
Prince Khaled blasted the smear campaign against the Kingdom by a certain sections of the Western media. He said he does not believe in clash of civilizations. “Because there is only one civilization — the civilization of humanity. We support all those who contribute to the building of future civilization,” he added.
Prince Khaled denied the accusation that King Faisal Prize was racist and said 30 American scientists have so far won the annual prize, first awarded in 1979. The prize is considered the most prestigious in the Arab and Islamic world.
The total prize money is SR3.75 million ($1 million), with each winner receiving $200,000 in cash in addition to a 200-gram, 22-carat gold medallion and a certificate summarizing the winner’s work.
The prize is awarded to scholars and scientists who make significant contributions in the spread of Islam and welfare of Muslims, Arabic literature, medicine and science.
The King Faisal Foundation was established by the late King Faisal’s sons to commemorate their father’s efforts in the service of Muslims, and for reviving Islamic heritage and promoting the development of humanity.
Besides awarding the King Faisal Prize, the foundation carries out humanitarian activities including charity work, investment projects, scholarships and health projects in more than 29 countries across the world.
Institutions and organizations around the world nominate candidates for the prizes. Service to Islam nominees are reviewed only in the final Selection Committee meeting.
Nominations for each of the other four prizes go through a review process that lasts several months. Winners are chosen at the King Faisal International Prize headquarters in Riyadh. These rigorous procedures have earned the prize the esteem of scientific and academic communities.
