Yesterday evening, Sunday, Dr. Abdelkarim Abushwairb, a distinguished Libyan researcher and historian, passed away after a prolonged battle with illness at the age of 85. His academic and literary journey spanned several decades, leaving an indelible mark on the fields of medicine, historical investigation, and literary translation.
Dr. Abushwairb was a prolific contributor to the cultural and academic landscape, particularly known for his efforts in translating documents related to Libyan history from the Ottoman archives from Turkish to Arabic. Born in Tripoli in 1938, he pursued his medical studies at the Faculty of Medicine in Istanbul, Turkey, and later obtained a Ph.D. in Pediatrics from the University of London.
In recognition of his contributions to science, thought, and history, the University of Tripoli awarded Dr. Abushwairb an honorary doctorate in 2022.
He leaves behind a rich legacy, comprising dozens of publications in the fields of medicine, pediatrics, historical documents, and translations. His extensive intellectual output includes numerous books and studies such as “Documents on Health Conditions in Libya,” “Colloquial Arabic for Doctors,” “Missions and Activities of the Ottoman Red Crescent,” and the research collection “Child in Medical Bibliography.” He also worked on critical editions of historical texts like “History of Physicians” and “Folk Medicine in Libya,” and translated works such as “Journey through the Great Desert,” “Transportation in the Province of Tripoli,” and “Prominent Figures and Landmarks in the History of Medicine in Libya.” Furthermore, he contributed papers to conferences on Islam and the history of medicine.
The Arabic Language Academy is organizing a celebration early this month to honor this esteemed historian and scholar, in recognition of his significant contributions to medicine and translation.