Georges-Anawati-Stiftung

The Georges-Anawati-Stiftung (Georges Anawati Foundation) is a non-profit foundation under private law (gemeinnützige Stiftung privaten Rechts) based in Rüthen, Germany. It is named after the Egyptian Dominican priest Georges Anawati (1905–1994), a scholar who played a significant role in the drafting of Nostra Aetate, the Second Vatican Council's declaration on the relation of the Church to non-Christian religions. The foundation was established in 2000 by Dietger Freiherr von Fürstenberg. The foundation's mission, as stated in its statutes, is to counteract the emergence of enemy images arising from ignorance and fear of the unfamiliar. It seeks to foster Christian-Muslim dialogue in Germany, supporting initiatives that promote mutual respect and understanding between Christians and Muslims through interreligious and intercultural dialogue. It funds creative, innovative projects that bring people from Christian and Muslim traditions together to meet, learn about one another, and act jointly. Through its activities, it aims to contribute to peace between people of different religions and cultures. The foundation pursues its goals through several means: direct funding of exemplary initiatives, publication of a scholarly book series on topics of Christian-Muslim dialogue (edited by Thomas Eich, Mouhanad Khorchide, and Stefan Reichmuth), nomination of candidates for the annual Pax-Bank Prize for intercultural dialogue, an essay competition for young Christian and Muslim scholars in cooperation with the Catholic Academy Rottenburg-Stuttgart, a postgraduate scholarship in cooperation with KAAD, and its own events, sometimes in cooperation with other organizations. It also provides free online access to foundational knowledge on Christian-Muslim relations through the Handbook of Christian-Muslim Dialogue (www.handbuch-cid.de). The foundation is governed by a board (Vorstand), a foundation council (Stiftungsrat), and an advisory board (Beirat). All members of these bodies serve on an honorary basis. The foundation council includes Gregor Freiherr von Fürstenberg (chair), Werner Höbsch, and Cosmas Hoffmann, with honorary members Stephan Schröer, Hans Vöcking, and Konrad von Bonin. The board consists of Erwin Waider and Harald Suermann. The academic advisory board is chaired by Harald Suermann. The foundation is based in Rüthen and operates primarily in Germany, focusing on the German context where over 7 million foreign residents live, about 4 million of whom identify as Muslims.

The Georges-Anawati-Stiftung was founded in 2000 by Dietger Freiherr von Fürstenberg as a non-profit foundation under private law, with its seat in Rüthen, Germany. It was named after Georges Anawati (1905–1994), an Egyptian Dominican priest and Islamic scholar who was involved in the drafting of Nostra Aetate, the Second Vatican Council's declaration on the relation of the Church to non-Christian religions. The foundation's creation reflected a growing need to foster dialogue between Christians and Muslims in Germany, particularly as the country's Muslim population grew. From its inception, the foundation focused on promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue, mutual respect, and understanding between Christians and Muslims. Its statutes explicitly aim to counteract the emergence of enemy images based on ignorance and fear of the unfamiliar. The foundation supports creative and innovative projects that bring people from Christian and Muslim traditions together. Over the years, the foundation has engaged in various activities. It funds exemplary initiatives, publishes a scholarly book series on Christian-Muslim dialogue (edited by Thomas Eich, Mouhanad Khorchide, and Stefan Reichmuth), and nominates candidates for the annual Pax-Bank Prize for intercultural dialogue. It also organizes essay competitions for young Christian and Muslim scholars in cooperation with the Catholic Academy Rottenburg-Stuttgart and offers a postgraduate scholarship in cooperation with KAAD. The foundation holds its own events, sometimes in cooperation with other organizations. A significant recent development is the launch of the online Handbook of Christian-Muslim Dialogue (www.handbuch-cid.de), which provides free access to foundational knowledge on Christian-Muslim relations. The foundation also supported a songbook project called "Pray for Peace" and published a monograph on Sharia and ethics in modernity, translated and commented by Serdar Kurnaz (Volume 9 of its book series). In 2025, the foundation marked the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, highlighting the role of Georges Anawati in its creation. The foundation is governed by a board, a foundation council, and an academic advisory board, all of whose members serve voluntarily. The foundation council includes Gregor Freiherr von Fürstenberg (chair), Werner Höbsch, and Cosmas Hoffmann, with honorary members Stephan Schröer, Hans Vöcking, and Konrad von Bonin. The board consists of Erwin Waider and Harald Suermann. The academic advisory board is chaired by Harald Suermann. The foundation continues to operate from Rüthen, focusing on the German context.

• 2025

  60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate marked; foundation highlights Georges Anawati's role.

• 2019

  Pax-Bank Prize awarded to Sister Carol Cooke Eid.

• 2018

  Pax-Bank Prize awarded to the Essen Interreligious Network IRE.

• 2017

  Pax-Bank Prize awarded to former German President Christian Wulff.

• 2016

  Pax-Bank Prize awarded to Tobias Specker.

• 2015

  Pax-Bank Prize awarded to Talat Kamran.

• 2014

  Pax-Bank Prize awarded to the Catholic Peace Foundation.

• 2013

  Pax-Bank Prize awarded to the Dortmund 'Football Tournament of Religions'.

• 2012

  Pax-Bank Prize awarded to Karl Cardinal Lehmann.

• 2011

  Pax-Bank Prize awarded to Nevfel Cumart.

• 2010

  Pax-Bank Prize awarded to Margret Bretzel.

• 2009

  Pax-Bank Prize awarded to Sister Monika Weber.

• 2008

  Pax-Bank Prize awarded to the exhibition 'Gesichter des Islam'.

• 2007

  Pax-Bank Prize for intercultural dialogue awarded to the Duisburg Hospitation Project.

• 2000

  Foundation established by Dietger Freiherr von Fürstenberg in Rüthen, Germany.

A non-profit foundation dedicated to fostering Christian-Muslim dialogue and interreligious peace in Germany, operating through project funding, publications, awards, and educational initiatives.

• Book series on Christian-Muslim dialogue

  Scholarly series edited by Thomas Eich, Mouhanad Khorchide, and Stefan Reichmuth. Volume 9: 'Scharia und Ethik in der Moderne' by Serdar Kurnaz.

• Handbuch christlich-islamischer Dialog (online)

  Free online handbook providing foundational knowledge on Christian-Muslim relations, available at www.handbuch-cid.de.

• Pray for Peace songbook

  A songbook project financially supported by the foundation.

• Pax-Bank Prize for intercultural dialogue
• Essay competition for young scholars
• Postgraduate scholarship

1. 1Georges-Anawati-Stiftung | Startseiteanawati.de
2. 2Georges-Anawati-Stiftung - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Georges-Anawati-Stiftung - Wikidatawikidata.org