Shakir Muhammad Usman
@auis.edu.krd
Lecturer/Visiting Scholar: Social Science Department
American University of Iraq, Sulaimani
I hold an interdisciplinary PhD. and it focuses on the "History of Shia, Sunni and Yazidi Conflict: A Political, Social or Religious Conflict and its Impact on the Peace Process in the Middle East" with special focus on Kurdistan, northern Iraq. Along with an MA in English and MA in Urdu, I also hold a Master degree in Peace, Development, Security and International Conflict Transformation Studies. I have practical experience with national and international organizations in Africa, Pakistan, Grenada, Brazil, Austria and the Middle East. My academic research highlights how religion, politics, education systems, culture, gender and the idea of nation-state can be used to achieve personal or political goals and how they can foster conflicts.
Currently, I hold Jan Warner Visiting Scholarship at the Center for Gender and Development Studies at American University of Iraq, Sulaimani, where I conduct research and support the Department of Social Science by teaching classes.
EDUCATION
Interdisciplinary Ph.D. (2021)
University of Innsbruck – Austria
History of Shia, Sunni and Yazidi Conflict: A Political, Social or a Religious Conflict and its Impact on the Peace Process in the Middle East
M.A. in Peace, Development, Security and International Conflict Transformation Studies (2018)
The UNESCO Chair for Peace Studies, University of Innsbruck – Austria
M.A. in Urdu Language & Literature (2006)
University of Peshawar – Pakistan
Postgraduate Diploma in Education (2004)
University of Peshawar – Pakistan
M.A. in English Language & Literature (2003)
University of Peshawar – Pakistan & UFRJ – Brazil
B.A. in English Literature, Law & Theology (2001)
University of Peshawar – Pakistan & UFRJ – Brazil
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Peace and Conflict Studies, Gender Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Kurdish History, Yazidi History, Yazidi Genocides, Shia-Sunni Conflict, Iraq-Kurdistan Conflict
FUTURE PROJECTS
"A Middle Eastern Religious Minority in Search of Peace: Historiography of 74 Instances of Yazidi Mass Atrocities and Genocides"
Article II of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide “defines genocide as the commission of certain acts with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group” (The United Nations Convention 1948). This proposed research explores ways of highlighting the genocides suffered by the Yazidis and suggests how authorities can avert future incidents. First, this research will document the genocides suffered by the Yazidis in the Mesopotamian region. There is a common narrative that Yazidis have experienced 74 genocides; second, this research project will use this claim to frame the investigation and to determine the historical context of the genocides. Before the 2014 genocide, Yazidis were forgotten and left to the mercy of their Muslim neighbors. Their painful history was ignored and lacked proper documentation.
Applications Invited
Collaborators
A Book: Yazidi Encyclopedia: A Concise History of Yazidi Religion and Culture.
A lot has been written on Yazidism, but this book is an attempt to provide maximum information about the Yazidi religion, culture and history under one cover. This book is a collection documenting and preserving Yazidi history, the history of their genocides, the causes of these genocides, strategies for preventing future genocides, gender roles, status of women and the concept of disability in Yazidism, violence and segregation against Yazidis, and customs, traditions, culture and religious practices of Yazidism.
Applications Invited
Publisher
A Book: The Kurds: Past, Present and the Way Forward. A book draft in progress.
Applications Invited
Publisher
RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Publications
Articles:
(2020). “Islam & Pakistan: A Critical Pakistan Journal of Society, Education and Language (PJSEL), Pakistan.
(2021). “Yazidis: A Tale of Lost, Found and Misunderstood Legacy in the Light of Mimetic Contagion: Journal of Violence, Mimesis, and Culture, Michigan State University, USA.
(2021). “Epistemological Violence against the Yazidi Community: A Historical PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, the Netherland (with A. G. Bhatti and M. Imran).
(2021). “The Idea of Female Muezzins and Imams in Islam: A Challenge to the Pakistani Pakistan Journal of Society, Education and Language (PJSEL), Pakistan.
Book:
(2001). Zawal Apnay Urooj per hay – An Urdu poetry book. Al-Syed Graphics, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Book Chapters in Portuguese:
(2021). “Religião, Islã e os Equívocos Sobre o Islã.” Religião em Suas Diversas Faces. Vol. 2. Editor UFPB CTC. Brasil (with Gilmário Kassandro Xavier Pinheiro).
(2021). “Maria e Jesus no Islã” Religião em Suas Diversas Faces. Vol. 2. Editor UFPB CTC. Brasil (with Gilmário Kassandro Xavier Pinheiro).
International Conferences & Workshops
(2021). “The Idea of Female Muezzins and Imams in Islam: A Challenge to the Pakistani 6th International Paris Conference on Social Sciences – July 9-11, Paris, France.
(2021). “Disability: Diversity & Inclusion in the Global An international workshop at the Center for Gender and Development Studies, AUIS funded by the EU.
Industry, Institute, or Organisation Collaboration
Center for Gender and Development Studies, American University of Iraq, Sulaimani.
Center for Genocide Studies, Duhok University, Iraq.
Board Member, Peace Studies Fund – An organization thriving to support needy students to pay their tuition fee (Since January 2020)
A Member of a research method committee, Social Science Department, AUIS Peace Studies Fund – An organization thriving to support (Since February 2021)