FRH Seminar: Ethics of War and Double Standards
The Faculty of Religions and Human Sciences (FRH) at MU held a seminar entitled "Ethics of War and Double Standards: The War on Gaza as a Model”, on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at the university campus (Block A).
The event hosted Dr. Hassan Jouni, a professor of International Humanitarian Law, and Dr. Ali Fadlallah, a lecturer in International Law and Islamic Studies. They were interviewed by Dr. Musbah Badran, a researcher in Islamic International Humanitarian Law, at the university campus, in the presence of the university president, Professor Ali Alaeddine, as well as a gathering of academics, interested individuals and students.
After reciting verses from the Holy Quran and the Lebanese national anthem, Dr. Badran delivered a brief presentation on Israeli violations of international standards and the ethics of war in Gaza during the ongoing conflict and previous wars.
Dr. Jouni then addressed the complex relationship between ethics and law, describing it as very intricate. He pondered whether humans can maintain their ethics and humanity during wars. He emphasized "the importance of refining humanity during war, as war itself is an act against humanity and humanitarian principles". He stressed the need for constant efforts to establish laws and norms for war, incorporating them into international treaties and agreements.
Dr. Fadlallah, in turn, raised several issues, including the problem of humans and wars. He presented various Quranic verses related to this topic and discussed historical events where wars played a pivotal role. Dr. Fadlallah pointed out that there are always discussions about the ethics of war without their practical application, as war has been an enduring aspect of human history.
The seminar concluded with several questions posed by the audience to the guest speakers.