Marking the 20-year anniversary of the war that changed the world, Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) is set to host the much-anticipated conference, The Invasion of Iraq: Regional Reflections, from 14 to 16 September at the Four Seasons Hotel Doha.

Joining an array of scholars, experts and policymakers at the international gathering, media figures will lend their unique insights and perspectives in discussions on Iraq’s tumultuous past and uncertain future.

Convened by GU-Q Dean Dr Safwan Masri and the Center for International and Regional Studies (CIRS), this public conference on the lasting implications of the 2003 Iraq War will merge journalism and academia for a multifaceted perspective that is both comprehensive and enriching, according to CIRS Associate Director for Research Zahra Babar.

She said that the participation of media experts at the conference enhances the event’s relevance and depth.

Their vantage point as observers and communicators bridges the gap between academic analysis and real-world understanding, serving to expand broader public engagement.

And providing the wider public opportunities to engage in these discussions is central to the mission of the conference, as well as the overarching goals of the Hiwaraat series.

Thought-provoking panels

The conference boasts an array of thought-provoking panels exploring the ongoing political, economic and social upheaval in the region. An opening panel on the impact of the Iraq war on global diplomacy will feature Iraqi anchor and Al Jazeera presenter Laila Al Shaikhli.

MSNBC news show host Ayman Mohyeldin will offer a series of interviews over breakfast on the current, media, political, and youth activism landscape in Iraq. Prominent media personalities featured in the conference include Othman Al-Mukhtar (Arab News Qatar), Mina Al-Oraibi (National, UAE) and Rasha Al-Aqeedi (New Lines Magazine).

The conference panel on The Emergence of D’aesh will see Rasha Al-Aqeedi and Othman Al-Mukhtar exploring the origins and enduring implications of transnational terrorism. Mina Al-Oraibi will also speak on a panel examining  Iraq’s complex web of relationships with its neighbours.

Samia Nakhoul, Middle East Editor at Thomson Reuters, will speak on the Arab Spring Connections panel, bridging Iraq’s experiences with broader regional movements.

Live Arabic translation will be available for the panels.

More information and a full list of conference panellists and upcoming conferences in the Hiwaraat Conference Series are available on the official conference website.

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