Fazil Moradi

Fazil Moradi is a Visiting Associate Professor at the Faculty of Humanities – Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study, University of Johannesburg, where he serves as convener of a monthly Actuvirtual Symposium. He holds additional academic affiliations as an Associate Researcher at the Institute for Social Anthropology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, and as an Affiliated Scholar at the Center for the Study of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Crimes against Humanity at the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies, Graduate Center—CUNY. His academic background includes prior research at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Halle and teaching at the Institute for Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Halle in Germany.

Dr. Moradi's research spans multiple interconnected fields with a focus on decolonial knowledge production and the legacies of violence. His work examines the Destruction of the Kingdom of Benin in 1897 and restitution of plundered artworks across Benin, Babylon and Egypt. He investigates memories of imperial-colonialism and femicidal/genocidal violence of the modern/colonial state, exploring how these historical processes continue to shape contemporary institutions. His concept of 'Al-Khwārizmīc [Algorithmic] Modernity' offers a critical framework for understanding the technological dimensions of colonial power. Other key research areas include Genophilia, Decolonial Knowledge and Politics, and Forced Displacement/Migration, all approached through a transdisciplinary lens that bridges anthropology, law, and political philosophy.

Analysis of Moradi's publication record reveals consistent engagement with themes of translation, evidence, and the politics of representation in contexts of extreme violence. His work demonstrates a methodological commitment to examining how colonial and genocidal violence are mediated through bureaucratic, legal, and technological systems. A significant portion of his research focuses on Kurdish experiences, particularly the impacts of chemical warfare in Halabja and the genocidal violence against Êzîdîs by the Islamic State. His scholarship consistently bridges theoretical innovation with urgent political concerns, particularly regarding the restitution of cultural property and justice for victims of state violence.

Dr. Moradi is actively involved in multiple research networks including the Sci-Tech Asia Research Network and Refugee Outreach & Research Network. His work with medical science scholars at Sahlgrenska Academy – University of Gothenburg examines the long-term impacts of chemical warfare agents. His academic contributions extend beyond traditional scholarly publications to include public intellectual engagement through platforms like openDemocracy, where he has written on contemporary political issues in Iraq and Kurdistan.