At the University of Sarajevo – Faculty of Islamic Studies, a lecture entitled Emir Abdelkader al-Jaza’iri and International Humanitarian Law: Contributions to Codification and Practice was delivered on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, in the Faculty’s amphitheatre. The lecture was given by His Excellency Mohammed Meraimi, Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The event was organised as part of the Faculty’s regular monthly lecture series and was moderated by Prof. Dr Senad Ćeman. The lecture was delivered in Arabic.
In his presentation, Ambassador Meraimi introduced the life and legacy of Emir Abdelkader al-Jaza’iri (1808–1883) as one of the most prominent thinkers and political leaders of the nineteenth century, whose understanding of struggle, ethics, and humanity in Islam exerted a significant influence on the development of modern international humanitarian law.
It was emphasised that Emir Abdelkader may rightfully be regarded as one of the pioneers of the humanisation of armed conflict, and that his practice represents an early historical example of norms later codified through the Lieber Code and the First Geneva Convention. Particular attention was drawn to the fact that the contributions of earlier civilisations, including the Islamic tradition, are often marginalised or overlooked in Western legal historiography. Special focus was placed on the 1843 decree, which established clear rules governing the treatment of prisoners of war, including the prohibition of killing, torture, and abuse, as well as the obligation to respect human dignity regardless of religious or national affiliation.
It was further underscored that Emir Abdelkader grounded his code of conduct in Islamic legal and ethical principles, rejecting brutal wartime practices and refusing to use prisoners as objects of trade or political leverage, even in cases where agreements were violated by the opposing side. The Ambassador noted that prisoners of war were guaranteed freedom of religion, the right to communicate with their families, and humane conditions of detention—rights that were formally codified in international humanitarian law only at a much later stage. The historical connection between Emir Abdelkader and Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross, was also highlighted, as was the international recognition Emir Abdelkader received during his lifetime, including acknowledgment by Pope Gregory XVI. In this context, he was presented as a symbol of intercivilisational dialogue and universal humanistic values.
In the concluding part of the lecture, the contemporary relevance of Emir Abdelkader’s legacy was emphasised, particularly in light of current challenges facing international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians in armed conflicts.
Following the lecture, a reception was held in honour of Ambassador Meraimi, attended by the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Dr Mustafa Hasani, vice-deans, and members of the Lecture Series Organising Committee. On this occasion, the Dean expressed his gratitude to the Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria for the lecture and conveyed his hope that this academic encounter 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 events of this kind represent an important contribution to the enhancement of scholarly, cultural, and friendly relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Algeria.
Photos: Dalila Čovrk
