In a landmark event for Iraq’s academic community, the College of Arts at the University of Baghdad organised the first Iraqi Anthropology Day conference on Tuesday, 2 January. The event was attended by Dr. Ahmed Al-Mubarqa, Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Arif Al-Saadi, Cultural Advisor to the Prime Minister, and a number of professors and researchers in the social sciences
The conference began with the playing of the Iraqi national anthem, followed by the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah in honour of Iraq’s martyrs. It was then formally opened with a speech by Prof. Dr. Ali Abdul-Amir Sajet, Dean of the College of Arts and the conference supervisor, who stated: “For the first time, the College of Arts is unique in its interest in anthropology.” He emphasised the importance of this field, noting that anthropology researchers often conduct long-term, intensive field studies. He also stressed the ongoing support for holding the conference annually and noted that the College is in the process of establishing an anthropology laboratory for the first time in Iraq. He expressed gratitude for the support of the Prime Ministry and acknowledged the contributions of specialists in the field
The conference featured speeches by several notable figures, including the representative of the Prime Minister, Mr. Hussein Rahal from the Republic of Lebanon, the daughter of the late Dr. Shakir Mustafa, and Assistant Professor Dr. Thaer Ahmed Hasson, Head of the Department of Sociology. Additionally, gifts and shields of appreciation were presented to the participants
In conclusion, the first Anthropology Day conference at the College of Arts represented a historic moment in Iraqi academia and marked the beginning of a new era for anthropological research in the country
