The Department of Communication and Journalism at the Faculty of Information and Communication (FIC) at Antonine University (UA), in collaboration with the Maharat Foundation and the Forum of Memory and Future (FMF), is organizing an awareness-raising activity titled “Dealing With the Past.”
This initiative invites students to critically reflect on Lebanon’s Civil War and its enduring implications for politics, society, and collective memory. By creating an inclusive and interactive space for dialogue, the session aims to strengthen youth engagement in national conversations on memory work, transitional justice, and the rights of victims.
Designed specifically for FIC students, the activity encourages participants to examine how historical narratives are constructed, transmitted, and contested, and to explore the role of media and communication in shaping public understanding of the past.
Event Details
Audience: UA FIC students
Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026
Time: 11:30 AM–1:30 PM
Location: Hadat–Baabda Campus, Fr. Louis Rohban Hall
Program Details
11:30–11:40 AM | Introduction
Opening remarks by:
- Mirna Bassil, Department of Communication and Journalism, UA
- Roula Mikhael, Maharat Foundation
- Ali Abou Dehn, Association of Lebanese Political Prisoners in Syrian Prisons
- Soha Fleifel, Forum Civil Peace Service (forumZFD Lebanon)
11:40 AM–12:25 PM | Walkthrough of Memory Stations
Moderated by Maharat facilitators
Four interactive Memory Stations will guide participants through curated material, including: printed visuals and historical timelines, testimonies and personal stories, infographics and key facts, excerpts from reports and academic research, curated audiovisual material, and selected quotes from victims’ families, historians, and advocates.
The four thematic stations are:
- History Education and Narratives of the Civil War
- Missing and Forcibly Disappeared Persons
- Transitional Justice and Accountability
- Memory, Archiving, and the Role of Media
Students will rotate in small groups and engage in guided reflections and short activities.
12:45–1:15 PM | Interactive Discussion: Bridging Past to Present
This participatory dialogue will connect current justice-related challenges in Lebanon to their historical roots in the Civil War, fostering deeper engagement and collective reflection.
Ms. Soha Fleifel will present the pillars of transitional justice and explain their importance in addressing past violations and building sustainable peace.
Mr. Ali Abou Dehn will address ongoing challenges to justice, focusing on the case of Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons as a concrete example of unresolved accountability.
For more information, contact the FIC:
📧 assistant.fic@ua.edu.lb
📞 +961 5 927000 ext. 2401