Ambassador of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria to Bosnia and Herzegovina H.E. Mohammed Meraimi Delivered a Lecture at the Faculty of Islamic Studies UNSA

At the University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Islamic Studies, on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, in the faculty's amphitheater, a lecture was held on the topic "Emir Abdelkader al-Jazairi and International Humanitarian Law: Contribution to Codification and Practice," delivered by His Excellency Mohammed Meraimi, Ambassador of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The lecture was organized within the framework of regular monthly forums, and the moderator of the lecture was Prof. Dr. Senad Ćeman. The lecture was held in the Arabic language.

In his presentation, Ambassador Meraimi introduced and work of Emir Abdelkader al-Jazairi (1808–1883) as one of the most significant thinkers and political leaders of the 19th century, whose contribution to the understanding of struggle, ethics, and humanity in Islam had a strong influence on the development of modern international humanitarian law.

It was emphasized that Emir Abdelkader is rightly considered one of the pioneers in the humanization of armed conflicts, and that his practice represents an early historical example of norms that would later be codified through the Lieber Code and the First Geneva Convention, noting that the contributions of earlier civilizations, including Islamic civilization, are often neglected in Western legal historiography. Special attention was given to the decree of 1843, which clearly prescribed rules of conduct towards prisoners of war, including the prohibition of killing, torture, and abuse, and the obligation to respect human dignity regardless of religious or national affiliation.

It was emphasized that Emir Abdelkader based his code of conduct on Islamic legal and ethical principles, rejecting brutal wartime practices and refusing to use prisoners as a means of trade or political pressure, even in cases of agreement violations by the opponent. The Ambassador highlighted that prisoners of war were guaranteed freedom of religion, the right to contact their families, and humane conditions of stay – rights that were formally codified in international humanitarian law much later. The historical connection between Emir Abdelkader and Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross, was also pointed out, as well as the international recognition that the Emir enjoyed during his lifetime, including recognition from Pope Gregory XVI, presenting him as a symbol of inter-civilizational dialogue and universal humanistic values.

In the conclusion, the contemporary relevance of Emir Abdelkader's legacy was emphasized in the context of current challenges of international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians in armed conflicts.

After the lecture, a reception was held for Ambassador Meraimi, attended by the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hasani, vice-deans, and members of the Commission for Organizing Forums. On that occasion, the Dean of the Faculty expressed gratitude to the Ambassador of Algeria for the lecture, and highlighted the hope that this academic meeting would contribute to further strengthening institutional and academic cooperation between the University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Islamic Studies and relevant institutions in the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria.

It was concluded that such events represent a significant contribution to strengthening scientific, cultural, and friendly ties between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Algeria.

Photos by: _{Dalila Čovrk}