UNESCO CHAIR For Inter-Religious Dialogue Studies in The Islamic World
Dr. Alaa Shatnan, Director of the UNESCO Chair, participated in the international conference titled “The Memory of Pain in Iraq: A Century of Genocides, Massacres, and Human Rights Violations”, organized by the Iraqi Center for Documenting Extremism Crimes in Iraq. The conference was held on Wednesday, April 17, 2025, at the Holy Al-Abbas Shrine.
Dr. Alaa Shatnan contributed within the framework of the panel titled “Integrated Strategies for Preventing Violent Extremism”, highlighting the collaborative efforts between UNESCO Chairs and other institutions to lay the foundations for peace and coexistence.
In his presentation, Dr. Shatnan discussed the strategy of the UNESCO Chair at the University of Kufa in utilizing the Chair’s focus on interfaith dialogue to shed light on the phenomenon of violent extremism, much of which is rooted in distorted interpretations of certain religious concepts. The Chair has based its educational, workshop, and awareness activities on both international and local experiences and theories—most notably, the United Nations’ strategies for combating violent extremism and building peace, as well as local efforts inspired by the spirit of divine religions, particularly Islam.
He highlighted the Iraqi experience, especially the pivotal role of the supreme religious authority, Sayyid Ali al-Sistani, in extinguishing the flames of sectarian strife after the 2003 change. Through his wisdom, al-Sistani laid the foundations for peaceful coexistence among Iraq’s diverse communities and helped prevent bloodshed by supporting the Iraqi constitution and adopting democracy as a framework for governing the country.
