Five years ago, on August 2nd 2017, Aly Elsamman died. Thus ended the unusual fate of an independent multi-facetted personality whose career showcased a wide spectrum of commitments and activities related, from student activism, journalism, politics and economics through to interreligious dialogue on an international level.

Back in 1994, Aly Elsamman had already begun the long road to promote dialogue, fraternity and peace among the world’s foremost monotheistic religions by organizing the very first three monotheistic religions conference at La Sorbonne, in Paris. He went on to orchestrate – and become one of the signatories to – two historic agreements. The first, in 1998, between Al-Azhar in Egypt and the Vatican in Rome, paved the way to the first visit by a Catholic Pope to Egypt, which took place in 2000. The second, between the Al-Azhar and the Anglican Communion, came into being in 2002. There can be no doubt but that these accomplishments set the stage for the Abu Dhabi declaration jointly signed by Pope Francis II and Grand Imam of A-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb, in February 2019. The resolution adopted on February 4th 2021 by the United Nations General Assembly declared February 4th the “International Day of Human Fraternity.” These events were the fruit of a process that Aly Elsamman had started on many years previously.

This modest book aims to bear witness to Aly Elsamman’s personnality, the Egyptian patriot and visionary artisan of the Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue and Education of Peace. Sadly he is no longer with us to see his efforts being rewarded, but he would certainly take great joy in seeing the progress that has been made as a result of his hard work and dedication.