As a part of the “Listen & Talk” initiative, Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism (AOCE) held a symposium at the Egyptian Russian University (ERU) on “Identity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence and the Palestinian Cause.” The symposium aimed at raising awareness regarding two crucial issues, AI and the Palestinian cause.
- Identity and Protecting the Value System:
In their lecture, AOCE’s researchers provided a comprehensive and simplified definition of the concept of identity, explaining its principles, attributes, and set of values and ethics that shape individuals and the communities within society. They emphasized the utmost importance of “self-love and identity,” emphasizing the need to work hard to preserve identity and protect its inherent value system, deeply rooted in the history of the Egyptian character. This value system represents a strong bulwark against attempts to obliterate or distort it.
Moreover, they discussed a number of terms related to identity, including belonging, which refers to loyalty to a nation, an institution, or a belief. They noted that “multiple affiliations are not contradictory,” warning young people against falling into the trap of extremist organizations' media discourse, which creates mountains of imaginary barriers between the national and religious identities in an attempt to divide ranks and fragment loyalty.
- AI & the Zionist Weapon “Lavender”
The lecturers elaborated on the dangers that may arise from artificial intelligence (AI), giving an example of the Zionist entity’s exploitation of advanced technologies in its aggressive practices. They referred to technologies such as the “Lavender”, explaining that these technologies are systematically used to “track Palestinians, arrest and kill them, and destroy their homes,” as witnessed in the Gaza Strip. They emphasized that technology has become an unconventional tool of war used to commit large-scale crimes against humanity.
To recap, AOCE’s lecturers emphasized the importance of raising awareness among the youth about the Palestinian cause and the need to understand “the plots being hatched against our Arab world.” They strongly warned against deception by the Zionist entity's fallacious media discourse, which seeks to obscure awareness and distort facts. Moreover, they highlighted Egypt's pivotal and historical role in supporting the Palestinian cause.
The symposium witnessed significant interaction from attendees, featuring valuable contributions and fruitful discussions that emphasized the important role played by the Al-Azhar Observatory in promoting awareness about national, Arab, and international issues.