Monday, 25 May 2026
“Three Centuries” book illuminates the enduring bonds of Turkish-Egyptian heritage
In the softly lit halls of the Egyptian Automobile and Touring Club, a sense of shared history and hope filled the air as Turkish Ambassador Salih Mutlu Şen welcomed an audience of writers, journalists, artists, and dignitaries.
The evening was more than a cultural event—it was a celebration of the deep and textured ties that unite Turkey and Egypt, woven powerfully around the stories found in the newly translated book, **“Three Centuries: Family Chronicles of Turkey and Egypt”
Originally penned by Emine Fouad Tugay—a woman whose bloodline intersects with King Farouk, Khedive Ismail, and Ottoman statesman Ahmed Mukhtar Pasha—the book is a rare, intimate narrative of how the destinies of Turkish and Egyptian families have been interwoven over hundreds of years.
Thanks to the efforts of Ambassador Şen and the support of Tugay’s family, the book has now made its debut in Arabic, opening a fresh window for Egyptian readers to experience this shared legacy firsthand.
As Ambassador Şen guided the evening’s conversation, his voice offered warmth and admiration for the resilient friendship between the two nations. “This book,” he shared, “is both a bridge and a mirror—reflecting not only family histories but also beloved traditions, struggles, and achievements that belong to us all.”
He spoke of the long journey of Turkish migration to Egypt, dating back to Ahmed Ibn Tulun in the 9th century, and spread across the centuries with figures like Muhammad Ali Pasha, whose reforms and vision transformed Egyptian life. Nearly 60,000 Turks built their homes in Egypt by the 19th century, blending cultures and contributing to every aspect of society—from education and literature to architecture and governance.
The ambassador reminded listeners that the prosperity of today’s Egypt and Turkey is rooted in these early collaborations: the spread of schools, the advent of printing, the building of railways, and a golden age of cultural exchange. He recalled Sultan Abdulaziz’s visit to Cairo in 1863—a symbol of royal kinship that echoed the familial warmth between Cairo and Istanbul.
Noting that histories are so often shaped—or sometimes misshaped—by the times in which they are written, Ambassador Şen encouraged all to treasure authentic accounts like “Three Centuries,” as well as works such as Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu’s “The Turks in Egypt and Their Cultural Heritage” and Mohamed Arif Pasha’s “Among the People.” He emphasized that sharing these stories with younger generations is vital: “Our youth deserve to know the intricate beauty and strength of our shared narrative,” he said, his words gentle yet resonant.
He also drew attention to the women who shaped that narrative. Among them was Zeyneb Kamil, revered in both countries for her compassion and generosity—a legacy still alive today in Istanbul hospitals bearing her name. The ambassador shared the hopeful news of a forthcoming film celebrating her life, a project sure to touch hearts and deepen mutual understanding.
The evening was also an occasion to highlight the growing economic ties between Turkey and Egypt. Turkish companies, buoyed by Egypt’s talent and opportunity, have invested passionately in the country’s future, especially in the textile sector. As factories prepare to open and jobs blossom, the ambassador saw these endeavors as modern echoes of the centuries-old spirit of cooperation celebrated in Tugay’s memoir.
In closing, Ambassador Şen’s words were filled with tenderness and optimism. He pictured a future where Turkey and Egypt continue to walk side by side—two sovereign nations, rich in history and humanity, forging new memories while honoring the old. “Three Centuries,” he affirmed, “reminds us that what joins us is far greater than what divides us. Our story is not just one of the past, but of all the tomorrows waiting to be written—together.”