HBKU college hosts Qatari official to share diplomatic experiences

HE Dr Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani

The College of Islamic Studies (CIS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) recently welcomed a highly distinguished guest lecturer for their course on 'Islam, Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding', which forms a critical component of its Master’s Programme on Islam and Global Affairs. HE Dr Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani, Special Envoy of HE the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Counterterrorism and Mediation in Conflict Resolution, delivered a lecture on the Qatari experience in conflict resolution. As a recipient of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (Unitar) Award for Best Negotiator in 2020, HE Dr al-Qahtani had a rich repertoire of in-the-field anecdotes that exemplified the trends and challenges in peacebuilding, the complexities that mediators face in highly politicised situations, and the realities of peace diplomacy. He utilised Afghanistan as a case study and highlighted Qatar’s unique position, which has allowed the State to develop its own brand of diplomacy in the wider political context.