The government delegate to the Community of Madrid, Francisco Martín, has today attended the presentation of the first edition of the Casa Arabe “Friendship” Award, convened to recognize the work of individuals or entities that have promoted the dissemination of the Arabic language. In its first edition, the prize went to the Arabist and editor Carmen Ruiz Bravo-Villasante.
The jury’s decision was announced on December 18, on the occasion of the International Day of the Arabic Language. In their deliberation, the members of the jury valued positively the dedication of Carmen Ruiz to the study, research and dissemination of the Arabic language throughout her life, and in particular her work on the methodology of teaching Arabic.
Arabic language expert
Carmen Ruiz was born in 1947, she is a former professor of modern Arab literature and thought at the Autonomous University of Madrid. He has translated from Arabic books in prose of notable poets. He has also participated with translations in several anthologies, writing numerous articles and books on Arabic language, literature and thought, among other issues. She has served on the editorial board of several specialized magazines, including Almenara, Arab Affairs, and Idearabia, and is also the creator and director of the independent publishing house CantArabia.
About the Arab House
The Casa Arabe has its headquarters in Madrid and Cordoba, it was created in 2006 with the aim of being a center of studies and knowledge about the Arab world and a point of support of Spanish diplomacy towards the Arab countries. It was established through an agreement between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation, the Junta de Andalucía, the Community of Madrid and the municipalities of Madrid and Córdoba.