On the Destruction and Reconstruction of Palestinian and Syrian Cultural Heritage

This event will examine the impact of cultural destruction on Palestinians and Syrians, particularly on education and cultural survival in exile. The panel will explore how education systems can become weaponised as a means of cultural repression. Notably, the panel takes place during a profound crisis of international law. Legal scholars and human rights experts widely recognise that Israel’s actions meet the criteria for genocide under the 1948 UN Genocide Convention. In an era when the laws prohibiting the destruction of cultural and educational sites are routinely violated, the event will discuss what role, if any, the intersection of culture, education and law can play in documenting cultural loss and providing a framework for reconstruction.

Speakers:

• Jumanah Bawazir (Forensic Architecture, Goldsmiths, University of London)
• Mezna Qato (University of Cambridge)
• Oudai Tozan (Oxford)

Chair:

• Professor Conor Gearty (LSE)

This event functions on a first-come, first-served basis. To secure your place, we recommend arriving early.