Dr. Abdeljelil Temimi

Dr. Abdeljelil Temimi

Dr. Abdeljelil Temimi is widely recognized as one of the most prominent and influential Arab historians and scholars of the modern era, distinguished by a pioneering academic career in history, archival science, and information studies. He played a foundational role in developing the scholarly and intellectual framework of Ottoman and Morisco studies and forged enduring intellectual and academic bridges between the Arab East and West.

Born in Kairouan, Tunisia, on July 21, 1938, Dr. Temimi received his primary and secondary education in Tunisia before earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Baghdad. His academic path culminated in 1972 with a Doctorat d’État in Modern History from Aix-Marseille University in France—the first such degree awarded to a Tunisian in modern history.

He also earned several distinguished international qualifications, including:

• Diploma from the French National Archives (Paris), 1970
• Diploma in Information and Archival Science, University of Pittsburgh (USA), 1972
• Training at the U.S. National Archives in Washington, D.C., 1972

Academic and Administrative Career

Dr. Temimi has held several senior academic and administrative positions, including:

• Director of the Tunisian National Archives (1970–1972)
• Professor and later Professorship at the University of Tunis
• Director of the Higher Institute of Documentation (1982), where he organized 17 international and Arab conferences across diverse fields

Through his leadership, archival and information sciences evolved from a purely technical field into a strategic tool for Arab integration, strengthening academic ties between Tunisian institutions and major Arab universities such as Cairo University.

Founding of Scientific Institutions

Dr. Temimi established several landmark scholarly institutions, including:

• The Centre for Ottoman and Morisco Studies (1986), later renamed the Temimi Foundation for Scientific Research and Information
• The Maghreb Historical Review (1974)
• The Moroccan Journal of Documentation and Information
• The Arab Journal of Archives, Documentation and Information (1996)
• The Arab Journal of Ottoman Studies (1990)

Under his stewardship, the Foundation has published more than 170 books and organized over 350 scientific conferences.

His contributions to Arab and International Academia

Dr. Temimi has represented the Arab world in numerous prestigious international bodies, including:

• Founding member of the Arab Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives (ARBICA)
• Chair of the Arab Committee for Ottoman Studies since 1982
• Chair of the International Committee for Morisco-Andalusian Studies since 1983
• Vice President of the International Council for Philosophy and Human Sciences (UNESCO)
• President of the Arab Federation for Libraries and Information (1994–2000)
• Member of the Turkish Historical Society since 1988

Honours and Awards

His achievements have been recognised with numerous international honours, including:

• French Order of Arts and Letters (1984)
• Tunisian Order of Cultural Merit (1991)
• Honorary Doctorate from Istanbul University (1997)
• Prince Claus Award (The Netherlands, 1997)
• Honorary Membership of the International Council on Archives (2004)

Scholarly and Intellectual Output

Dr. Temimi has authored more than thirty books, covering Ottoman history, Morisco studies, Arab–Turkish relations, archival science, and knowledge society debates. Selected works include:

• Research and Documents in Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian, and Libyan History, 1816–1871
• Le Beylik de Constantine de Hadj Ahmed Bey (1830–1837) (Tunis, 1978)
• The Ottoman Empire and the Question of the Andalusian Moriscos
• Studies in Morisco-Andalusian History
• Studies in Arab–Ottoman History, 1453–1918
• The General Bibliography of Morisco-Andalusian Studies
• Studies in Christian–Muslim Relations
• Crisis of Research in the Humanities in Tunisia and the Arab World
• Writing Arab History: Between Aspiration and the Failure of Achievement
• The Arab–Ottoman–Turkish Relationship: Studies and Documents
• New Studies in Morisco History
• The Knowledge Society and the Arab Historian: Questions for Elites
• Religion and Society through the Testimony of Sheikh Mohamed Saleh Al Nifer and the Records of the Muslim Youth Association (1939–1956)
• Habib Bourguiba: Founder of the Modern State and the End of a Myth
• Defending the Tunisian Revolution