The historian behind Mosul Eye
About the author
Bio, keynotes, conferences, affiliations, teaching, projects, awards, and selected publications.
Born in 1986 in Mosul to ancient Moslawis, Omar Mohammed was schooled in the alleys of Badr al-Din Lu’lu’ before going on to study in Cairo, Paris, and New Haven. Though he holds a BA, an MA, and a PhD, IT has nonetheless rendered him largely illiterate.
Since coming of age, he has been leading a double life — as a historian and otherwise — using English to write up his scholarship, and Arabic and French to write between the lines of what could not be signed, in the stubborn attempt to distinguish fiction from reality. Although childless, his cat, named Plato, who behaves accordingly, and his dog, Grace, hold his heart, even as he shares his time between Paris, Washington, the Mediterranean, and a city he keeps returning to, whether or not it is his to return to. Of course, they share his love with the archives nobody else would read…
To put Mosul on the global map.
The Author's Mission
The Record
Author Record
Engagements, lectures, conferences, affiliations, projects, recognitions, and writing.
Open the dossier
Keynotes & Lectures
Universities where the author has delivered keynote lectures & seminars
ItalyUniversità degli Studi di Napoli L'Orientale
Conferences
Major international speaking engagements
GermanyDLD ConferenceDigital Life Design · Munich
FranceUNESCO ParisRevive the Spirit of Mosul · with DG Audrey Azoulay
Affiliations
Research, advisory & consultancy roles
Teaching
University courses taught by the author · 2023–2026
Projects & Initiatives
What the author has founded, leads, or built
Awards & Recognitions
Honors, prizes & listings
Selected Publications
Chapters in edited scholarly volumes
“ISIS Attack on the Divinely Protected City of Mosul: A Terrorist Attack on Diversity and Peace”
In Mariz Tadros, Philip Mader & Kathryn Cheeseman, eds., Poverty and Prejudice. Bristol University Press, 2023.
“Space, Time and People: How the Destruction of Mosul’s Heritage Reshaped the Future of the People”
In Lorenzo Kamel, ed., Collapse and Rebirth of Cultural Heritage: The Case of Syria and Iraq. Peter Lang, 2020.
“IŞİD’in Düşüşünden Sonra Musul ve Civar Kasabaları”
In Davut Hut, ed., Yüzyıllık Sorun: Musul Vilayeti. VakıfBank Kültür Yayınları, 2020.
Entry in the Encyclopaedia of Islam, Three
Brill · Encyclopaedia of Islam, Three
Articles & Op-eds
Bylined journalism, policy writing & commentary
“The Forever War: The Doctrine and Legacy of ISIS Child Soldiers”
GWU Program on Extremism · Policy Report · February 2023
“History’s Rhymes in the Fall of Kabul and Mosul: Flawed Ideas, Broken Promises, and Poisonous Spin”
with Haroro J. Ingram · ICCT — International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, The Hague · September 2021
“Fraternity is More Durable than Fratricide: Pope Francis Visits Iraq”
with Victoria Fontan · Contending Modernities, University of Notre Dame · March 2021
“Mosul’s New Chapter: What do students think about the new books arriving at Mosul library, after Isis destroyed the previous building and collection?”
Index on Censorship, Vol. 48(3) · September 2019
“Eye of the Storm: The historian known as Mosul Eye on documenting what Isis were trying to destroy”
Index on Censorship, Vol. 47(1) · April 2018
Foreign Policy — Contributor Page
Bylined commentary at Foreign Policy