The Faculty of Sharia and Law at IUG received Mr. Ronald Ofteringer, Director of Global Affairs and Relations with the Islamic World at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and Mr. Yousef Al Yazji, ICRC Media Officer to discuss preparations for the jointly held  International Conference “International Humanitarian Law in Light of Islamic Sharia – Implementation Guarantees and Contemporary Challenges” which will take place  at the Islamic University of Gaza on the 25th and 26th of October, 2015.

Mr. Maher Al Susi, Dean of the Faculty of Sharia and Law, Dr. Rafiq Radwan, Head of the International Conference ‘International Humanitarian Law in Light of Islamic Sharia, Dr. Maher  Al Holy, Head of the Scientific Committee, Dr. Mu’min Shwaideh, Head of the Organizing  Committee, and Dr. Ayman Abu Sweirih, Director of the Faculty of Sharia and Law attended the meeting.  

Mr. Ofteringer expressed his delight to be present at IUG and to work with IUG Faculty of Sharia and Law in holding such an important conference. “We should be conducting more research  on the similarities between the Islamic Sharia and the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in order to ensure the safety of the people around the world.”, Mr. Ofteringer said.

He also  reaffirmed the nature of ICRC’s work around the world and how it connects with universities, scientists, and religious scholars  in the Islamic world so as to clarify the concepts of the IHL and how the latter agrees  with the laws of Sharia.

After welcoming Mr. Ofteringer, Dr. Al Susi pointed out there was misunderstanding of the concepts of International Humanitarian Law and that the West generally has a problem in understanding  the Islamic Sharia and its role in the times of peace and war.

The Conference discusses four main themes which are: Human Concepts of Islamic Sharia and the International Humanitarian Law, Basic Principles Concerning the Armed Conflicts in Islamic Sharia and the International Humanitarian Law, Rights of Victims and Means of their Protection in Armed Conflicts in Islamic Sharia and the International Humanitarian Law and Implementation Guarantees of Armed Conflicts’ Rules in Islamic Sharia and the International Humanitarian Law and Contemporary Challenges