Yunus Emre Institute crew with Turkish ambassador and his wife at Ramadan iftar
Speaking at the event on Tuesday in Cairo, the institute’s director, Satiye Karaalioğlu, said the world urgently needs the values of peace and love linked to Yunus Emre’s philosophy amid escalating conflicts in several regions.
Head of the Yunus Emre Institute in Cairo Satiye Karaalioglu speaks at the Ramadan iftar event.
The iftar was attended by Turkey’s ambassador to Egypt, Salih Mutlu Şen, director of the Egyptian Armed Forces Language Institute, Brigadier General Taysir Mohamed El-Attar, in addition to Egyptian cultural and media figures.
Karaalioğlu said the Cairo branch, which opened in 2010, has expanded its activities in language teaching and cultural programming. She described it as the institute’s largest centre worldwide in terms of student numbers, adding that thousands of Egyptians have enrolled in Turkish language courses.
“The institute’s message is rooted in Turkish Sufi poet Yunus Emre’s philosophy of peace, tolerance and fraternity,” she said.
The event comes as Ankara and Cairo seek to deepen cooperation after years of strained relations, with cultural initiatives forming part of broader diplomatic engagement.
Şen said the institute’s educational programmes have supported Turkish businesses operating in Egypt by helping provide graduates with language skills suited to the job market. He also noted an increase in Turkish companies investing in Egypt and a rise in the number of Turkish tourists visiting the country.
Turkish ambassador Salih Mutlu Sen addresses guests at Yunus Emre Institute iftar.
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