About Professor Mohammed Ihsan

Genocide Expert | Global Scholar | Former Minister | Government Advisor | Advocate for Justice and Peace

Professor Mohammed Ihsan is a distinguished Kurdish Iraqi academic, genocide expert, former minister, and international advisor with a career spanning over two decades in law, diplomacy, and post-conflict reconstruction. Born in Zakho, Iraq, he has lived and worked across six countries, bringing a global perspective to every role he undertakes.

With three PhDs and numerous academic appointments—including at Yale, King’s College London, and the University of Exeter—Dr. Ihsan is a recognized authority in genocide studies, international law, transitional justice, and human rights. He has led critical work in forensic evidence collection, playing a pivotal role in uncovering and documenting mass graves and crimes committed during the Anfal campaign against the Kurds.

As a former minister in the Kurdistan Regional Government, he held key roles during Iraq’s post-Saddam transition, shaping national policy on justice, reconciliation, and federal relations. His work was instrumental in representing Kurdish interests at the federal level and addressing the long shadow of atrocity and displacement.

Known for his strategic thinking and cross-cultural diplomacy, Dr. Ihsan continues to bridge the worlds of academia, governance, and humanitarian advocacy—driven by a lifelong commitment to truth, justice, and peace.

 

Renowned for his direct, strategic thinking and mastery of cross-cultural diplomacy, Dr. Ihsan brings a unique blend of academic excellence, political experience, and global insight to every role he undertakes.

Government & Political Leadership Roles:

• Minister – President of the General Board of Disputed Areas, Kurdistan Regional Government (2011–2015)
• Minister – KRG Representative to the Iraqi Federal Government (2007–2012)
• International Investigator of Genocide Crimes, Iraq (2001–2005)

Academic & Research Appointments:

• Senior visiting Professor, Yale University-Jackson School for Global Affairs (2025—Present)
• President, International University of Erbil, Kurdistan (2014–present)
• Senior Research Fellow & Full Professor, King’s College London, UK (2015–present)
• Honorary Professor, University of Exeter, UK (2015–present)
• Visiting Professor, University for Peace, Costa Rica (2015–present)
• Visiting Professor, Near East University, Cyprus (2018–present)
• Visiting Professor, Korean International University, South Korea (2017–2018)

Education:

• PhD in International Law, University of London, UK
• PhD in Political Science, University of Exeter, UK
• PhD in Comparative Religion, University of London, UK
• Master’s in International Law, University of London, UK
• Bachelor’s in English Literature, University of Mosul, Iraq

Selected Publications:

• Nation Building in Kurdistan: Memory, Genocide and Human Rights (Routledge, 2017)
• Silent Genocide Against the Kurds (Al Mada, Beirut, 2014)
• The Iraqi Army After 2003 (Al Mada, Beirut, 2014)
• Conflict and Conflict Management in Today’s World (Al Mada, Beirut, 2012)
• Kirkuk and Disputed Areas in the Iraqi Constitutional Framework (Al Mada, Beirut, 2012)
• Kurdistan and the War Dilemma (Al Hikma, London, 2012)

Areas of Expertise:

• International Law
• Post-Genocide Reconstruction
• Human Rights and Transitional Justice
• State-Building and NationhoodState-Building and Nationhood
• Conflict Resolution and Disputed Territories
• Comparative Religion and Cultural Diplomacy