College of Political Sciences

The European Foundation for Dialogue and Development and the Baytna Foundation for Culture, Arts, and Heritage held a dialogue symposium entitled: “Citizenship in the Context of Cultural and Religious Pluralism and Its Role in State-Building,” on Wednesday, 9 April 2025. The symposium was attended by a number of academics, researchers, politicians, and activists from Iraq, the Arab world, and abroad. Among them was the Dean of the College of Political Science at the University of Mosul, Assistant Professor Dr. Tareq Mohammed Tayeb Dhahir, who presented his research paper on this topic.

The paper addressed the clarification of the terms “peacebuilding” and “citizenship-building,” and the challenge of integrating the two. It also discussed the importance of reforming the legal system by overcoming the entrenched sectarian quota system in order to achieve a cross-sectarian electoral system. Furthermore, it emphasized the need to support civil society through the initiation of a comprehensive national dialogue. The paper then touched upon the role of citizenship in the Iraqi model: available opportunities and anticipated challenges. It concluded with the necessity of political awareness at the societal level as a key factor in protecting ideas and achieving the true concept of citizenship and the desired transitional justice.

Following the presentation, the floor was opened for comments and discussions that enriched the proposed topics. At the conclusion of the symposium, a visit was made to the landmarks of the Great al-Nuri Mosque (currently under reconstruction), which is considered a spiritual and national monument with deep symbolic significance in people’s hearts, minds, and collective memory. The Dean was accompanied in the symposium by the Head of the Media and Government Communication Division.