 |
About the conference
2018 – 103 years after the genocide of Armenians and 80 years after the gneocide in Dersim, a broad debate concerning these crimes is still not possible. As a result of lacking reappraisal the Middle East is furthermore an arena of ethnic and confessional connoted wars. The genocide of Ezidis is the latest example for it. Though, a critical approach to the history is essential for establishment of peace in the region as well as development of a democratic political culture. |
The democratic autonomy is the perspective of Kurdish side for the region which finds expression in the autonomous regional administration of Rojava/North Syria, where various ethnic groups and faith communities are equally represented, and in the municipalities of DBP in North-Kurdistan/Turkey, at least before occupation of interior ministry-appointed trustee.
The conference aims to process the genocides in the region in their historical context and to introduce democratic perspectives for the Middle East.
SESSION 1 „From past to the present: genocides in the Middle East“
• Prof. Dr. Mihran Dabag (Historian, Bochum): The Armenian genocide – denial vs. reappraisal
• Mehmet Bayrak (Historian, Deutschland): The Dersim genocide – a further example of a genocide in Kurdistan
• Prof. Dr. Ian Ilhan Kizilhan (Psychologist, Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg): The Ezidis – the genocide of 21st century
Moderation: Ismail Küpeli (Political scientist), Ruhr-University Bochum
SESSION 2 „From present to the future: Democratic models for the Middle East“
• Michael Knapp (Historian, Berlin): The model of Rojava – a democratic option for the Middle East
• Leyla Imret (Co-Major of Cizre, Turkey): grass-roots democratic perspectives via local administrations
Moderation: Dersim Dagdeviren (Physician, chair of Kurd-Akad, Dortmund)
FINAL DISCUSSION
„Process history and generate future– perspectives for the Middle East“
Moderation: Cihan Ünlübayir (Social worker, Kurd-Akad, Frankfurt a.M.)