The international panel titled “World (Dis)Order and Aggression: The West and The Silencing of The Global South”, organized by the Scientific Studies Association (İLEM) and the World Lawyers Association (WOLAS), was held on the evening of Thursday, August 7, 2025, at the TDV ISAM Conference Hall.
Moderated by M. Beheşti Aydoğan, the panel opened with remarks addressing the historical contradictions of the West and its violations of international norms, which—particularly in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war—have fostered a sense of indifference across the Global South. Aydoğan noted that framing the conflict in terms of "white suffering" has only deepened this detachment.
Prof. Kevin Jon Heller, Senior Advisor on War Crimes at the International Criminal Court, delivered a critical analysis of Western double standards surrounding the discourse of "self-defense." Drawing a comparison between the Russia–Ukraine war and the U.S. invasion of Vietnam, Heller argued that international criminal law has often legitimized the actions of the West while punishing Russia—systematically overlooking the Global South in the process. One of his most striking remarks was:
“Those who live by the permanent veto die by the permanent veto.”
Legal scholar and academic Dr. Mohsen al Attar invited Muslims to reflect on the deeper meaning of morality from an Islamic perspective. Citing the Qur’an, he reminded that even in times of war, Muslims are commanded to uphold moral conduct—whether in Kashmir, Palestine, or Ukraine.
The event attracted strong interest as it opened up a critical and multidimensional discussion on global justice, representation, and the structural double standards embedded in the international order.
