Dr. Martin Forstner is a Professor at the Faculty of Translation Studies, Linguistics and Cultural Studies, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz. He received his PhD degree in Islamic Languages at Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz. He was the President of International Conference of University Institutes of Translation and Interpreting Studies (CIUTI) from 1996 to 2006. Since 2006 he has been the Secretary-General of CIUTI. His research interests include the history of the Abbasid Caliphate, cultural history of the Maghreb; Islam and human rights, state, civil and criminal law in the Arab countries; translation theory and intercultural communication.