College of Law Discusses Doctoral Dissertation on Crimes Arising from the Practice of Negative Social Customs and Traditions

The College of Law / University of Mosul witnessed today, Monday, August 24, 2026, the defense of a doctoral dissertation titled “Crimes Arising from the Practice of Negative Social Customs and Traditions” , presented by the student Abdulkhaliq Mutlaq Salih Omar Al-Khafaji, under the supervision of Professor Dr. Mohammed Abbas Hammoudi Al-Zubaidi.

The dissertation addressed the role of social customs and traditions in building society and their impact on criminal policy, particularly in the areas of criminalization, permissibility, and punishment, with a focus on negative social customs and traditions that infringe upon the interests protected by law, and the resulting legal and social consequences. It also highlighted the distinctiveness of Iraqi society and its adherence to social customs and traditions, and their influence on the criminalization of certain acts, as well as on the mitigation of punishment or exemption from it.

The study aimed to shed light on the most prominent crimes arising from the practice of certain prevailing social customs and traditions in Eastern societies, to clarify their legal classification, and to distinguish between positive customs and traditions and negative ones. Furthermore, it sought to draw the attention of the Iraqi legislator and public opinion to the dangers of certain practices that are inconsistent with the noble values of society, to explain their negative effects and consequences, and to emphasize the need for concerted efforts to confront them and criminalize them through explicit legal provisions.

The discussion committee consisted of:

• Professor Dr. Talal Abdul Hussein Al-Badrani – Chair

• Assistant Professor Dr. Nawfal Ali Abdullah – Member

• Assistant Professor Dr. Abbas Fadel Saeed – Member

• Assistant Professor Dr. Ahmed Mustafa Ali – Member

• Assistant Professor Dr. Israa Younis Hadi – Member

• Professor Dr. Mohammed Abbas Hammoudi – Member and Supervisor

This discussion comes within the framework of the College of Law at the University of Mosul’s interest in legal research addressing contemporary social issues, and its contribution to enhancing criminal studies related to the reality of society and its legislative needs.