Landmark Projects
Landmark Projects
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■ Fathi M. A. Ahmed to Launnch Thinking Like a Legal Translator
■ Fathi M. A. Ahmed to Launnch Thinking Like a Legal Translator
A new book by Fathi M. A. Ahmed, Thinking Like a Legal Translator, is to be launched as a practice-driven guide to the craft, pressures, and professional judgment that define high-stakes legal translation. Framed as a “journey” through real working conditions, the book sets out to make visible what often remains hidden in finished translated texts: the decisions, risks, and trade-offs that shape legal meaning across languages.
At the heart of the book is an attempt to map how professional legal translators actually think—especially when precision is not merely stylistic, but legally consequential. Across four chapters and a set of document-based appendices, the work argues that legal translation is less about replacing words than about managing legal effect, institutional expectations, and the reader’s ability to rely on the target text as an operative instrument. A Roadmap to “the Opposite Shore”
Chapter I introduces readers to the translator’s mental workspace, following step by step the typical challenges encountered inprofessional assignments and the strategies used to address them. Using concrete examples, it presents legal translation as an exercise in controlled problem-solving—where the translator’s central ambition is a “safe passage to the opposite shore,” meaning a target text that functions properly in its new legal-linguistic environment.
Inside the United Nations Translation Environment
Chapter II moves into the distinctive world of legal translation at the United Nations, where multilingual production meets complex law-making, diplomacy, and institutional style. Drawing on first-hand experience, the chapter reviews the system’s performance in practice—highlighting both achievements and shortcomings, and examining why they occur. The discussion focuses on the recurring constraints of large-scale institutional translation: volume, time, consistency demands, and the tension between formal equivalence and communicative effectiveness.
International Criminal Law as a Case Study
IIn Chapter III, the lens widens to legal translation in international settings, using international criminal law (ICL) as the central example. The chapter recounts experience leading the team that translated the Lexsitus Commentary on the Law of the International Criminal Court (CLICC), with particular attention to collaboration between translators and subject-matter experts. By tracing how translation choices interact with specialist legal analysis, the chapter highlights a recurring theme of international legal work: terminology is never “just terminology,” but a gateway to doctrinal understanding...(See more)
Cairo, 14 February 2023
The Arabic Lexsitus Team has announced the completion of the Arabic translation of the Lexsitus Commentary on the Law of the International Criminal Court (CLICC). This extensive work, covering around 2,300 pages, is now accessible on the Lexsitus platform, which offers a wealth of resources on international criminal law in multiple languages, including Arabic. The Arabic version of CLICC will soon be available in both e-book and printed formats, with the printed edition distributed via Amazon at cost price. CLICC provides an in-depth, provision-by-provision analysis of the Rome Statute and the ICC's Rules of Procedure and Evidence.
Brussels, 1 November 2023
In a newly released anthology, Religion, Hateful Expression, and Violence, Fathi M. A. Ahmed sheds light on the vital role Muslim religious leaders can play in countering extremist ideologies. Ahmed’s chapter, titled Translational and Terminological Sensitizing of Muslim Religious Leaders of Al-Azhar in the Combat Against Hate Speech, explores how precise language and translation can help shape powerful counter-narratives to combat hate speech and extremist rhetoric.
His work comes at a time when, despite military setbacks, extremist groups like Daesh (ISIS) continue to pose global threats. Ahmed emphasizes how Al-Azhar, one of the oldest and most influential Islamic institutions, can leverage translation and communication to weaken the influence of extremist groups and promote messages of peace and tolerance.
The conference featured contributions from several distinguished experts, including Karim A. A. Khan KC, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The proceedings have culminated in a publication that includes the works of esteemed authors and scholars such as Prof. Mohamed Elewa Badar, Rana Moustafa, Dorit Beinisch, Emiliano J. Buis, Vincenzo Buonomo, Ioana Cismas, Mona Elbahtimy, Nazila Ghanea, Madan B. Lokur, David J. Luban, Justice Adel Maged, Kishan Manocha, Ochi Megumi, Svein Mønnesland, and Usha Tandon. Together, these contributions offer a comprehensive exploration of the pressing issues surrounding religion and hate speech.
Cairo, 15 September 2015
Fathi M. A. Ahmed has successfully completed the Arabic translation of Crimes Against Humanity: Historical and Contemporary Application, a seminal work by the late Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni, widely regarded as a leading authority in international criminal law. Published by Darun-Nahda Al-Arabiya in Cairo, this translation project was not merely a linguistic endeavor but a meticulous, year-long collaboration. Throughout this process, Ahmed engaged in extensive discussions with Bassiouni to ensure the accurate conveyance of complex legal terminology in Arabic.
The significance of translating a work of this caliber extends far beyond a simple word-for-word transfer. Crimes Against Humanity, published by Cambridge University Press, serves as a foundational text in international law, intricately tied to both legal theory and practical jurisprudence. Bassiouni’s writings, known for their scholarly depth and precision, present unique challenges for translators. Given the complexity of international criminal law and its specific terminology, Ahmed’s task required a profound understanding of legal concepts and frameworks. This is particularly crucial in Bassiouni’s examination of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide, where even slight variations in terminology can lead to significant changes in meaning.
Fathi M. A. Ahmed's contributions extended far beyond the responsibilities of a traditional translator. His collaboration with Bassiouni included in-depth discussions on how to accurately render key legal terms to maintain their full meaning in Arabic, especially for audiences unfamiliar with Western legal traditions. Bassiouni, a distinguished authority in international law, recognized the significance of this partnership. Together, they worked meticulously to ensure that the Arabic version of the book retained the intellectual rigor of the original, preserving the integrity of its legal analysis.
Manama, Bahrain, 1 November 2011
Fathi M. A. Ahmed’s participation in translating the final report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) into Arabic represents a significant milestone in Bahrain’s pursuit of accountability following the unrest of 2011. The BICI, established to investigate widespread allegations of human rights violations during the February and March protests, revealed serious abuses, including police brutality, systemic torture, and unlawful detentions. The final report, which meticulously documented these events, was essential in shedding light on the realities of the unrest and laying the groundwork for future reforms.
More to come...
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