The Rehabilitation and Employment Unit at the College of Law – University of Baghdad organized an awareness workshop on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, entitled “Intellectual Awareness for University Students Against Deviant Ideas.” The workshop was held in the college building hall and attended by third-year students.
The workshop was delivered by Assistant Lecturer Israa Abdul-Amir Ahmed, who discussed the importance of building intellectual awareness among university students and enhancing their ability to distinguish between sound academic discourse and deviant ideas that may target young people through various methods.
The workshop aimed to develop students’ critical thinking skills, enabling them to analyze ideas rather than accept them as absolute truths. It also sought to promote the values of pluralism and coexistence and to reinforce the concept that differences are natural and healthy rather than threatening. The workshop further focused on exposing the mechanisms of extremist and populist discourse that exploit emotions and anger to create division, as well as strengthening national and legal belonging by promoting the concepts of citizenship and the rule of law. In addition, it emphasized protecting the intellectual environment of the university by creating a safe space for dialogue free from accusations and exclusion.
The workshop included several key topics, most notably:
•The conceptual framework of deviant ideas
•The causes of their spread among youth
•Their individual and social consequences, especially the fragmentation of social cohesion
•The role of the university in prevention and treatment
The workshop concluded with a number of recommendations, including:
•Introducing specialized training programs in critical thinking and discourse analysis skills
•Establishing student dialogue forums under academic supervision
•Organizing awareness campaigns on the dangers of digital sectarianism
•Supporting psychological counseling services within universities
•Strengthening cooperation between universities and the media to promote moderate discourse
•Involving students in preparing awareness initiatives
•Integrating the concepts of citizenship and pluralism into extracurricular activities
•Monitoring extremist discourse within the university environment and addressing it educationally rather than punitively
This workshop is part of a series of activities organized by the Rehabilitation and Employment Unit aimed at supporting intellectual awareness and promoting a safe university environment.
