At the invitation of Prof. Dr. Süleyman Kızıltoprak, Rector of Dumlupınar University, Kütahya, IRCICA Director General Prof. Dr. Mahmud Erol Kılıç delivered the 2025-2026 Academic Year Inaugural Lecture titled “Why isn’t Gaza only Palestine’s Problem?” on 27 October 2025. The program was attended by the Governor of Kütahya Mr. Musa Işın, the Rector and the Vice-Rectors of Dumlupınar University, faculty members, students, and guests from cultural circles. In his opening lecture, Rector Prof. Süleyman Kızıltoprak underlined the importance of Kütahya with its historical experiences and its heritage of science and learning. He stressed the important role of universities in combining science with morality lack of which would deprive education of its human dimension. The Rector reviewed the achievements of different faculties of the university during the past years. Following the opening addresses, Prof. Mahmud Erol Kılıç gave his lecture, in which he said that the problem of Palestine is not only a regional conflict but an issue of global justice and conscience. The tragedy ongoing in Gaza casts serious doubt on the notions of human rights and civilization and poses a test of ethical as well as of political nature to entire humanity. Prof. Kılıç pointed out that the Muslim world for its part has to strengthen its spirit of common conscience and solidarity and that universities, and the youth, can assume an effective role to help humanity build a future based on justice, compassion and cooperation.
