Enhancing Cultural Awareness and Community Stability: College of Arts Organizes Seminar to Confront Violent Extremism
In an effort to promote cultural awareness and societal stability, the College of Arts at the University of Samarra organized a scientific seminar titled: “Empowering Faculty Members to Promote Cultural Awareness and Combat All Forms of Violent Extremism from a Modern Human Rights Perspective.” The seminar was delivered by Assistant Professor Dr. Bakr Abdul-Majid Muhammad and Dr. Basim Muhammad Hamad.
The seminar aimed to reinforce concepts of awareness and social coexistence within academic environments, to instill values of tolerance and intellectual openness, and to improve faculty competencies in spreading cultural awareness and combating extremist ideologies.
Dr. Abdul-Majid highlighted the phenomenon of extremism, describing it as an extension of a long history of radical thought, and noted that extremism has become one of the primary drivers of global terrorism.
Dr. Muhammad, on the other hand, discussed the role of technological advancement in the spread of extremism through increasingly complex methods, which has turned it into a global threat regardless of a nation’s economic status or political system.
The seminar also addressed the fact that terrorist activities are no longer confined to conflict zones; instead, they now pose a threat to all societies, targeting civilians to spread fear and exert pressure on governments.
In this context, the speakers recommended raising cultural awareness and promoting human rights values as key tools in confronting violent extremism. They also emphasized the importance of integrating moderate discourse into educational curricula and intensifying academic efforts to spread moderate thought—contributing to the protection of societies from the dangers of extremism and strengthening intellectual security and societal stability.
