Basic Diyala raises awareness

A seminar brings together knowledge and dialogue to break the cycle of extremism and build peace
The Faculty of Basic Education – English Language Department, in collaboration with the non-governmental organisation Khairat Al-Nahrain Humanitarian Organisation and the Faculty of Islamic Sciences, and in coordination with the Continuing Education Division and the Media and Government Communication Division, held a dialogue seminar entitled: ‘Preventing Extremism and Supporting a Culture of Coexistence for Peace Building,’ with broad participation from civil society organisations, provincial police leadership, community police, as well as a number of faculty members and students.
The seminar aimed to raise awareness of the dangers of extremism, promote the values of tolerance and coexistence among the various components of society, and establish the concept of dialogue as an effective means of preventing people from being drawn into extremist ideology, thereby contributing to building a safe and stable society.
The discussion session, which was presented by Dr. Maysa Rida Jawad, Dr. Nour Mohammed Hussein, and Mr. Khalid Ahmed Jamil, covered a range of topics, most notably: analysing the roots of extremism, its methods, and ways to prevent it; the impact of peaceful coexistence on promoting social stability; and highlighting the role of educational and security institutions in countering extremist rhetoric and the social responsibility of spreading a culture of peace and acceptance of others. The role of educational and security institutions in countering extremist discourse. And social responsibility in spreading a culture of peace and acceptance of others.
The symposium witnessed remarkable interaction from the participants, who praised the importance of holding such events within the academic community, emphasising the role of the university in raising awareness and building the intellectual capacities of students.
The Dean of the Faculty of Basic Education, Assistant Professor Dr. Ayman Abdul Aoun, also gave a speech in which he emphasised the importance of cooperation between faculties, government institutions and civil society organisations to unite efforts in confronting extremism, stressing the need to promote a culture of dialogue and tolerance within the university environment and to support youth initiatives that contribute to spreading peace.
The symposium recommended the need to strengthen educational programmes within the university on the concepts of coexistence and peace. It also recommended supporting student initiatives that promote the values of tolerance and non-violence, intensifying cooperation between academic departments and security institutions to ensure a safe and aware university environment, and including topics related to combating extremism in extracurricular activities and ongoing workshops. It also recommended including topics related to combating extremism in extracurricular activities and ongoing workshops, and launching awareness campaigns targeting students and the local community.
This symposium is part of a series of activities adopted by the college to promote an academic environment based on intellectual openness and respect for diversity, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular: Goal 4: Quality Education, Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals. The topics of the seminar are in line with these goals in supporting a culture of peace, building a cohesive society, and activating partnerships between educational, security and community institutions.