The UNESCO Chair for Genocide Prevention Studies in the Islamic World at the College of Arts, University of Baghdad, in collaboration with Omran—the social sciences journal published by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies and the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies—organized a conference titled “Research in a Time of Great Darkness: Genocide, War Crimes, and Political Violence.”
The conference was attended by the President of the University of Baghdad, Professor Baha Ibrahim Ensaf, Ph.D. who inaugurated the event with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by his opening speech. Professor Ali Abdulameer Sajit, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Arts, also delivered remarks, while Prof. Salah Al-Jaberi, Ph.D., Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair, provided an overview of the concept of genocide, the founding principles of the Chair, and its significance in preventing such crimes and documenting them.
The conference aimed to broaden the definition of genocide beyond physical violence to include cultural and political cleansing. It examined historical cases, including the Palestinian issue and the civil wars in Sudan, Syria, and Libya, while also seeking to raise awareness, combat genocide and political violence, and urge the international community to take responsibility in resolving conflicts and addressing the legacies of colonialism to ensure regional stability and a better future for its peoples.
Participants discussed the role of colonialism and its mechanisms in dismantling societies and fueling political violence. They highlighted the responsibility of states and global powers in managing these crises and emphasized the importance of academic research in developing alternative strategies to confront these challenges and promote justice and peace.
The conference brought together forty researchers from various Arab and Islamic countries, along with a large number of professors from different universities and disciplines, as well as students and administrative staff.
