Organized by the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, and in cooperation with the Saudi delegation to UNESCO, an exhibition entitled “Faisal: A Life in the Heart of the Twentieth Century” opened at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, in celebration of the centenary of the journey of King Faisal bin Abdulaziz – may his mercy be upon him. God – historical to Europe (Britain, Ireland, France) in 1919 AD.
The inauguration was attended by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al-Faisal, in the presence of the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to UNESCO, Princess Haifa bint Abdulaziz Al Muqrin, and a group of officials.
The exhibition, which runs from March 13 to March 24, highlights the role of King Faisal – may God have mercy on him – in the treaties and partnerships that built bridges between the Kingdom of Arabia and Europe, and introduces the peoples of the world to his personality, history and biography as a model for the historical leader, and one of the prominent kings of the Kingdom and its most prominent political and historical figures who It had a global impact and influence in the twentieth century.
In his speech to the audience, Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, indicated that “the exhibition documents King Faisal’s historical journey to Europe 100 years ago, and reveals an important stage in the history of Franco-Saudi relations in particular and the history of Saudi-European relations in general.”
Speaking about that trip, Prince Turki Al-Faisal said, “Without a doubt, King Faisal’s first historical trip established strong diplomatic relations between the Kingdom and French officials, who exchanged visits between the two countries, which contributed significantly to the consolidation of bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, France and Europe in a significant way.” general". He added, "Those relations that contributed to shaping the political vision for the future of diplomatic relations that King Faisal drew at the time."
For her part, the permanent representative of the Kingdom to UNESCO, Princess Haifa bint Abdulaziz Al Muqrin, welcomed the attendees, and praised the significance of the exhibition in its second stop, which is one of the most prominent exhibitions held by the King Faisal Center, in introducing the world to the personality of King Faisal, may God have mercy on him, and introducing peoples. Biography, which is considered a school for generations.
It is noteworthy that the exhibition includes a collection of King Faisal's private belongings, as well as a number of manuscripts, telegrams, letters, paintings, maps and photographs documenting the history of Faisal's journey to Europe 100 years ago, as well as a group of press articles and pictures of press coverage that dealt with that historical trip. All of it through 7 chapters, each chapter presents an important stage in the life of King Faisal, starting with “Najd” in which his life began and from which he embarked on his tour towards Europe, passing through his visit to India while he was in the prime of his youth, and this trip came in the second chapter. As for the third chapter, it includes his first European stop, which is his visit to “London” in 1919 AD, and then comes the trip to England, Wales and Ireland, which is included in the fourth chapter. As for the fifth chapter, it documented the observations that Al-Faisal witnessed during his visit to the fighting sites in Europe after the end of the First World War.
As for his visit to Paris and his European tour, it was included in the sixth chapter, and the exhibition culminated in the final chapter on “legacy”, which reviewed the positive results of Al-Faisal’s historic visit to Europe.
Asma Fernan (Paris) @a_fernane
