The seminar was held under the auspices of the President of the Northern Technical University, Dr. Aliaa Abbas Ali Al-Attar, and under the supervision of Assistant Professor Dr. Ashiti Mahdi Aref, the Dean of the Institute, and in the presence of the heads of scientific departments and the institute’s staff. The seminar included presentations by Dr. Kamal Ibrahim Said and Dr. Emad Youssef Khoury, which were divided into two axes:

The first axis focused on the Islamic Shariah and jurisprudential position on providing relief to victims of earthquakes and natural disasters. The presentations highlighted the importance of humanitarian aid in the Quran and Sunnah and discussed the priorities and levels of relief, and its relationship with the Shariah objectives that call for supporting relief efforts in all areas defined by legal sources, along with the jurisprudential controls necessary for saving lives, preventing harm, and alleviating suffering. The speakers emphasized that providing assistance and relief to those in need is an authentic Islamic behavior and a noble trait that stems from genuine brotherhood, chivalry, and moral values. They also highlighted that Islam and various beliefs call for supporting those affected by disasters, such as earthquakes and natural disasters, and standing by them to alleviate their suffering, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever relieves a believer’s distress of the distressful aspects of this world, Allah will rescue him from a difficulty of the difficulties of the Hereafter.”

The second axis highlighted the role of international organizations and agreements, and Iraqi legislation in providing relief to victims of earthquakes and natural disasters. The presentations discussed the role of the United Nations in providing relief to victims of earthquakes and natural disasters, by clarifying the work of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other agencies in providing relief to people affected by disasters. Additionally, the seminar shed light on the role of the Arab Center for the Prevention of Earthquakes and Natural Disasters, and the importance of international cooperation in facing such crises, as it is a global solidarity.