Baghdad: A seminar titled “The Position of International Law and the International Criminal Court in Confronting International Crimes and Terrorism” was held at Beit Al-Hikma, organized by The House of Wisdom – Department of Legal Studies, in partnership with the Strategic Center for Human Rights in Iraq. The event took place in the Al-Khwarizmi Hall and was attended by a distinguished group of professors and academics.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the session was led by Professor Dr. Ezz El-Din Al-Muhammadi, Head of the Department of Legal Studies at the House of Wisdom, with Dr. Dhikra Inam Ghaib acting as the rapporteur. The seminar featured several presentations from experts in the legal field. Dhirgham Kamel Abdul-Majid, a Legal Advisor at the Martyrs Foundation, presented a paper on ‘The Concept of International Crimes that Fall under the Scope of International Criminal Law,’ focusing on the application of international crimes and the significant role of the Department for the Protection of Mass Graves and Missing Persons.

Sara Basim Abdulmajid explored Iraq’s interaction with the International Criminal Court in her paper, “Iraq, the International Criminal Court, and its Jurisdiction,” analyzing the legal possibilities of prosecuting those responsible for severe crimes in Iraq, such as the Speicher massacre.

Mohammed Zamil Al-Saadi from the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers contributed with a paper titled “The Speicher Massacre in Light of International Criminal Law: Does it Constitute Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity, or War Crimes?” His research assessed the violations at Camp Speicher under Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, focusing on ISIS’s actions against the camp’s victims.

Zainab Obaidish Al-Khafaji of the University of Baghdad presented on “Protecting Women from International Crimes and Terrorism: Resolution 1325 as a Model,” discussing the international measures in place for safeguarding women during armed conflicts and the practical application of Resolution 1325 in Iraq.

Certificates of appreciation were awarded by Qahtan Naama Hassan Al-Khafaji, advisor to the House of Wisdom, acknowledging the participants’ contributions to the successful conduct of the symposium. The event concluded with engaging interventions and comments that enriched the scholarly discussions.