FAISAL PRIZE FOR ERDOGAN

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan won the 2010 King Faisal International Prize (KFIP) for Service to Islam. Prize in science (mathematics and medicine) was also declared. “The award for Islamic studies was withheld, as none of the nominees met the criteria laid down by the selection committee this year,” said Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, governor of the Makkah region and chief of the King Khaled Foundation (KKF). KFIP Secretary-General Abdullah Al-Othaimeen announced the names of the winners at the function, which was held at Al-Khozama Centre. The King Faisal Prize for Arabic Language and Literature was shared by Professor Abderrahman El-Houari Hadj-Saleh of Algeria and Professor Ramzi Mounir Baalbaki of Lebanon. Recep Tayyib Erdogan said he was proud to be conferred the King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam. He added, “Turkey will work hard to achieve the ambitions of the Muslim Ummah help establish international peace.