A S U

Under the patronage of  Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, and in an atmosphere of pride and national honor, the University commemorates March 19, marking the return of the beloved city of Taba to Egyptian sovereignty. This occasion highlights the pioneering and central role of the University’s faculties—particularly the Faculties of Law and Arts—in the ‘Recovery of the Land and Preservation of Dignity’ through legal and historical channels.

The Taba saga was not merely a territorial dispute but an intellectual battle on the international stage, where Ain Shams University contributed its finest academic expertise to represent Egypt before international arbitration bodies. Among its distinguished figures were two unforgettable pillars:

Professor Dr. Ahmed El-Keshiry (may he rest in peace), Professor of Private International Law at the Faculty of Law and one of the leading legal scholars of the modern era, whose authority was a cornerstone of the Taba National Committee and the Egyptian defense team led by Dr. Ismat Abdel-Meguid. He also played a pivotal role in the arbitration proceedings under Ambassador Dr. Nabil El-Araby, and his international experience as a judge at the World Bank Administrative Tribunal and Vice President of the International Arbitration Center in Paris provided the legal foundation establishing Egypt’s sovereignty over every inch of its land.

Professor Dr. Yunan Labib Rizk (may he rest in peace), a historian of modern Egypt and head of the History Department at the Faculty of Arts, was an active and essential member of the Taba National Committee and defense team. With his historical expertise, he presented evidence, documents, and maps that refuted Israeli claims, demonstrating that rigorous historical research is an indisputable asset in international forums.

Ain Shams University’s commemoration today is not merely a historical retelling but a reaffirmation that the lecture halls of the Faculties of Law and Arts have long been ‘factories of men’ and platforms for defending Egypt’s rights. While the Faculty of Law provided legal reasoning and international jurisprudence, the Faculty of Arts contributed historical, geographical, and documentary evidence, creating a model of academic collaboration in service of national security.

The enduring legacies of the late Dr. Ahmed El-Keshiry, with over a hundred research publications and contributions to global dispute resolution systems, and Dr. Yunan Labib Rizk, whose works cemented the understanding of the Egyptian identity, remain guiding lights for the University’s students and researchers.

Ain Shams University renews its commitment to honor its esteemed professors who never withheld their knowledge and served as pillars of the nation during its most critical historical moments. May God have mercy on the departed and reward them abundantly for their dedication to their country and to science, affirming that Egypt will remain strong through its devoted citizens and creative scholars.