Duhok,  April 14 , 2025 – University Press Office (UNPO) - In observance of Anfal Remembrance Day, the University of Duhok (UOD) reaffirmed its academic and moral commitment to preserving Kurdish history and acknowledging the atrocities committed during the Anfal Campaign, one of the darkest chapters in modern Kurdish history. The College of Humanities, in collaboration with the Sociology Department, the KOMATA Center, and the Cultural and Social Center at UOD, hosted an enriching academic symposium and cultural panel aimed at fostering awareness, memory, and scholarly documentation of the genocide. 

This event aligns with UOD’s 2023–2038 Strategic Vision, particularly its focus on:

• Cultural heritage preservation
   
• Post-conflict academic responsibility
   
• Digital archiving initiatives
   
• Community engagement
   
• Strengthening interdisciplinary research on collective memory and transitional justice
   

🎓 Academic Panel: A Forum for Memory and Responsibility

The commemorative event opened with welcoming remarks by Prof. Dr. Saeed Khudeda Alu, Dean of the College of Humanities, who emphasized the need to institutionalize remembrance and critically engage students and scholars with the historical truths of Kurdistan’s genocidal past.

Moderated by Dr. Zubaida Saeed Saleh, Head of the Sociology Department, the panel tackled the theme of "Documenting and Digitally Archiving the Anfal Genocide" through diverse scholarly contributions:

• Dr. Salah M. Saleem Mahmoud, Director of Beşikҫi Center for Humanity Research (BCHR), highlighted the role of universities in shaping public memory and advancing ethical historiography.
   
• Dr. Mohammed Ihsan Ramadhan, a renowned expert on Kurdish history and genocide studies, joined remotely to share international best practices in digital documentation and archival preservation.
   
• Mr. Rizgar Taha Othamn, Director of the KOMATA Center, provided an overview of ongoing efforts to collect, catalogue, and digitize survivor testimonies and historical materials.
   
• Mr. Omed Mohamad Taher, Head of the Convention Center (UNCC) at UOD, addressed the need to frame the Anfal Campaign within global discussions on genocide recognition, memory politics, and human rights education.
   

🎬 Documentary Screening: “The Home Without a Mirror”

A centerpiece of the commemoration was the screening of the powerful documentary “The Home Without a Mirror,” which recounts the harrowing true story of a young Kurdish man subjected to torture by the Ba’ath regime. The film not only documented his survival but symbolized the broader trauma endured by Kurdish communities across the Kurdistan Region.

The screening was followed by a reflective discussion between the audience and the panellists, offering insights into cinema as a medium of resistance, healing, and historical preservation.

🌐 Institutional Vision and Outreach

This event is part of a broader institutional initiative to integrate cultural memory, archival research, and genocide education into academic curricula and community engagement programs. It also supports UOD’s internationalization goals through collaborative projects with universities, NGOs, and research institutes committed to transitional justice and cultural documentation.

By linking historical trauma to academic analysis, UOD seeks to educate future generations, inform policymaking, and contribute to long-term reconciliation in post-conflict societies.

UOD Media, April 23, 2025

Reported by: Rondik Fadhil Adil

Photography by: Mohammed Abdulkareem Tahir 

🔍 Meta Keywords:

• Anfal Genocide Commemoration
• Kurdish History Documentation
• University of Duhok Cultural Heritage
• Digital Archives and Memory Studies
• Genocide Education in Iraqi Kurdistan