RIYADH, 10 March 2008 -- Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah received the King Faisal International Prize (KFIP) for his service to Islam at a ceremony held at the Prince Sultan Hall of the Al-Faisaliah Hotel last night.
The king said he was honored to accept the prize on behalf of the world Islamic community.
Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, director-general of the King Faisal Foundation, other members of the royal family, Cabinet ministers and foreign diplomats also attended the event.
This year marked the 30th anniversary of the awards. Last night's recipients bring the total number of laureates who have won KFIP awards to 195.
The king handed prizes to joint winners Professor Ahmed Matloob Al-Nasiri from Iraq and Professor Muhammad Rachad Hamzaoui from Tunisia for Arabic language and literature.
The prize for medicine went jointly to Professor Donald Dean Trunkey and Professor Basil Arthur Pruitt from the United States.
Professor Rudiger Wehner from Germany received the award for science.
Each of the four prizes consisted of a hand-written certificate summarizing the laureate's work, a commemorative 24-carat gold medal and a cash award of SR750,000 ($200,000).
In his welcome speech, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, who is also chairman of the KFIP Board of Trustees, thanked King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan for their support.
"What an evening, gathering scholars in celebrating knowledge, reinforcing our resolve to serve Muslims and raising our zeal to a new pinnacle," said Prince Khaled. "Prizes enable the foundation to show its appreciation to men and women who make outstanding contributions in their respective fields," he added.
King Abdullah was selected for the prize in recognition of his outstanding services to Islam and Muslims, both within the Kingdom and abroad. His domestic accomplishments included the establishment of mega economic cities and King Abdullah University for Science and Technology and the formation of Human Rights Commission and National Dialogue Center.
In his acceptance speech the king said: "I would like to tell you frankly that when I heard that I have been selected for the King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam, I was reluctant to accept it as I know that there are many other Muslims who deserve the prize more than me... Finally, after praying to God, I decided to accept it on behalf of all Muslims who serve Islam silently away from the limelight without waiting for any reward or thanks."
Accepting the award, professor Trunkey said, "This prize is significant to me at this time as I increase my effort to improve trauma care delivery on an international basis. A prestigious award such as this recognizes my efforts, but more importantly, recognizes the terrible impact injury has worldwide and in particular in developing regions."
Prince Khaled explained that recipients are selected according to merit alone making the Faisal Prize one of the most prestigious international recognition to be given to scholars and scientists.
The KFIP has acted as a springboard for laureates -- 12 KFIP winners have gone on to become Nobel Prize laureates.
By Mohammed Rasooldeen
© Arab News 2008
