- Mrs. Pascale Warda and Mr. William Warda lecturing at a symposium held in Al-Mustansiriya University
- Research into freedom of belief, extremism and religious violence and their impact on peace and social stability
- The researchers reach conclusions and suggest recommendations to address the two phenomena to preserve the rights of belief and protects Iraqis from extremism
- Two certificates of appreciation to the researchers for their vision deserves to be listened and followed to build an equitable, democratic political system.
Al-Mustanseriya University - Department of Historical Studies of Al-Mustanseriya Centre for Arab and International Studies hosted on Tuesday 19/4/2022, Mrs. Pascale Warda Chairwoman of Hammurabi Human Rights Organization and Mr. William Warda, Public Relations Officer of the Organization, to present two lectures, the first entitled "Freedom of belief in Iraq and its impact on peace and social stability in Iraq.
The second lecture is on "Religious and Political Extremism and its Impact on Stability and Coexistence in Iraq". This came in a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Soudad Kathem Mahdi.
Mrs. Warda lecture was about freedom of belief, pointing out that it is a fundamental right and that conflicts erupted to protect beliefs, asserting that mind and not pressure and coercion were what gave rise to freedom of belief, adding that human history was completely devoid of a period in which people lived without religion, Mrs. Warda then touched upon doctrine and belief as a process of spiritual purification. She also referred to the attraction between freedom of belief and inconsistent politics pointing out that such freedom was the key to the relationship with God. Freedom of belief was also addressed in regional and international instruments conventions. Focusing on the means to protect freedom of belief stopping at the Iraqi legislative and legal framework to protect this freedom, she stressed that Iraq could not find its chance to build unless protect freedom of belief from containment policies and pressure aimed at changing religious affiliations.
Recommending for a review of the constitutional articles on freedom of belief within an advanced justice system and called for the recognition of minorities on the basis of equality and non-discrimination.
Mr. William Warda addressed extremism and religious violence, referring to the historical, geographical, political, economic and media factors leading to it, he also stopped at the types and trends of extremism indicating that confronting extremism is primarily the responsibility of the state, the emphasis should be on preventive remedies, because it is the basis on which the convictions of some should change. He also stressed that military solutions cannot be the only and ideal solution to rid Iraq of this devastating phenomenon, sustainable human development, unemployment and a fair system of accountability must be strengthened. There was then extensive discussion in the light of the two thesis.
The researchers were awarded two certificates of appreciation for their cultural achievement that serve rights of Iraqis in diversity, democratic construction and the promotion of human rights knowledge.
