Youssef Ban El Mahdi was born in Tangier, Morocco. He has a PhD in the History of Eastern Religions and Civilisations from Abdelmalek Essaâdi University. He is a Lecturer on the history of ideas and dialogue of religions and cultures at the Department of Philosophy and Civilization at Abdelmalek Essaâdi University. His motto is: “If difference is destiny, dialogue is will and choice; and choosing dialogue means seeking peace.”