OPENING LECTURE BY OUR FACULTY PROFESSORS

The 2025-2026 Academic Year Opening Ceremony at Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University was held in the Prof. Dr. Fuat Sezgin Conference Hall with an opening lecture titled “Palestine: The Story of the Nakba and Zionism” given by faculty members of the Faculty of Theology. The program, which began with a moment of silence and the National Anthem, continued with the opening speech by our University Rector, Prof. Dr. İsmail BOZ. In his speech, our Rector emphasized not only the excitement of the start of a new academic year but also the conscientious and intellectual responsibility of drawing attention to the Palestinian issue. Following this, the opening lecture was moderated by our Faculty Dean, Prof. Dr. Abdullah Hikmet Atan. The first speaker of the program, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rami İbrahim Mahmut, a faculty member of our Faculty, addressed the historical process in the Palestinian territories, the emergence of the concept of Nakba (Great Catastrophe), and the historical effects of Zionist ideology. Following this, our Faculty Vice Dean, Assoc. Prof. Dr. [Name], delivered a lecture. Bilal Toprak offered his assessments on the effects of Zionism on modern nation-state structures and its reflections on the current situation in Palestine. The opening ceremony concluded with our Rector, Prof. Dr. İsmail Boz, presenting certificates of appreciation to the lecturers who delivered the opening lecture, followed by a group photo session.