Questions surrounding Egypt’s national identity and how it can evolve in response to contemporary challenges are at the heart of a three-day conference that opened on Monday at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
The “Egyptian Identity: Deep-Rooted Heritage and a Renewed Vision” conference brings together ministers and officials, prominent thinkers and researchers, and around 450 young men and women representing Egypt’s 27 governorates.
Participants include school and university students, youth federations and parliamentary simulation groups.
The conference aims to engage young people in shaping a renewed vision of their national identity, with scientific sessions and roundtable discussions addressing key issues related to defining and safeguarding Egyptian identity amid contemporary challenges.
Topics include identity between the past, present and future; identity and cultural discourse; identity in the digital age; the discourse of political Islam movements on Egyptian identity; and national identity amid economic and social challenges.
The conference opened with a documentary entitled “Egyptian Identity: Deep-Rooted Heritage and a Renewed Vision”, produced by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
The film highlighted President El-Sisi’s calls on several national occasions to redefine and strengthen Egyptian identity and confront attempts to manipulate it.
The conference is expected to provide a platform bringing together academic, political, religious and culture.
