Dr Lily Hamourtziadou
Senior Lecturer and Course Lead in MA International Relations and Security
- Email:
- lily.hamourtziadou@bcu.ac.uk
Lily researches and teaches international politics and security. She is principal researcher for leading NGO Iraq Body Count, twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, and participates in NATO meetings as human security mentor.
Lily’s work contributes to peace efforts and civilian harm mitigation in armed conflict. Her work has helped achieve positive changes in policy, humanitarian responses or planning, and contributes to the on-going assessment of conflict globally. She is regularly consulted and interviewed on global and national security matters by the media and international organisations.
She is a member of the Counter Terrorism Evidence Based Review Group, which is part of the Counter Terrorism Policing HQ, that devises policy and strategy, coordinates and evaluates national CT projects, facilitates the collaboration between academia and the building of a Prevent database, and works with the government and intelligence agencies.
She is a member of the West Midlands Military Education Committee that oversees and monitors the work of the Royal Naval Unit, Officers Training Corps, and University Air Squadron, and liaising with them to advise and promote equal and beneficial partnership between the Council, the MEC, the MoD, and Universities.
Areas of Expertise
- International Relations
- Middle East
- Global Security
- Irregular Warfare
- The War on Terror
- Human Rights
- Casualty Recording
- Research-based teaching
- Student mentoring
Qualifications
- BA Philosophy and English
- MA European Studies
- PhD International Relations
Memberships
Iraq Body Count:
- I have been the principal researcher and analyst of this NGO since 2006.
Counter Terrorism Evidence Based Review Group (Met Police):
- I am a member of CTEBRG, which is part of the Counter Terrorism Policing HQ, that devises policy and strategy, coordinates and evaluates national CT projects, facilitates the collaboration between academia and the building of a Prevent database, and works with the government and intelligence agencies
West Midlands Military Education Committee: The role of the committee members is:
- To oversee and monitor the work of the three University Service Units: the Royal Naval Unit; Officers Training Corps; and University Air Squadron, and to liaise with them in order to advise and make recommendations where appropriate.
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To receive annual reports at an AGM on the activities of the military service units.
- To advise the constituent Universities on matters relating to military education.
- To encourage and promote an interest in military education within the Universities.
- To liaise with the three Services, making recommendations or advising on matters relating to the appointment of commanding officers and senior honorary posts in accordance with the arrangements established by each Service.
- To foster arrangements to promote equal and beneficial partnership between the Council, the MEC, the MoD, and Universities.
- To liaise with the Council of Military Education Committees, which is the national body of Military Education Committees.
Teaching
-
BA Criminology
- BSc Professional Policing
- MSc Policing and Intelligence Analysis
- MA International Relations and Security
Research
Currently working on two books:
- Historical Memory in Crisis. The Role of Memory in War Politics and Post-Conflict Reconciliation (to be published by Routledge).
- Middle East Faultlines: Hegemony and Geopolitics (to be published by Lynne Rienner Publishers).
Postgraduate Supervision
-
Leon Skerritt (policing far-right extremism)
- Balvinder Saini (conscientious objectors)
Publications
Books
-
Hamourtziadou, L. (2024) Human Costs of War
- Hamourtziadou, L. (2021) Body Count; The War on Terror and Civilian Deaths in Iraq, Policy Press.
- Hamourtziadou, L. (2024) The Ethics of Remote Warfare, University of Wales Press.
Book chapter
- Hamourtziadou, L. (2024) ‘Just War Theory and Drone Warfare: Morality, Virtual Wars and Human Security in the War on Terror’ in Williams, H., Boucher, D., Sutch, P. and Reidy, D. (eds) Handbook in International Political Theory, Palgrave.
Edited Journal Issues
-
Hamourtziadou, L and Gokay, B. (eds) Journal of Global Faultlines (2024) Vol 11 (2) https://www.scienceopen.com/journal-issue?id=c565bd69-78ea-4b7f-9abf-bb44b318058d
- Hamourtziadou L. (ed) Journal of Global Faultlines (2024) Vol 11 (1) https://www.scienceopen.com/journal-issue?id=70ef78e1-d7c7-4078-9fd4-15f57a077dc7
- Hamourtziadou, L and Gokay, B. (eds) (2023) ‘Re-thinking security in a time of a changing world (dis)order’, Journal of Global Faultlines, Vol 10 (1).
- Hamourtziadou, L. and Khan, S. (eds) (2021) ‘War crimes and crimes against humanity: decolonizing discourses of international justice’ Journal of Global Faultlines, Vol 8 (2).
- Hamourtziadou, L. (ed) (2021) ‘Security, legitimacy and crisis in the aftermath of colonialism and in the midst of a pandemic: the role of state organs’, Journal of Global Faultlines, Vol 8 (1).
- Hamourtziadou, L. (ed) (2020) ‘Security challenges of the 21st century: new challenges and perspectives’, Journal of Global Faultlines, Vol 6 (2).
Journal articles
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Hamourtziadou L. and Wels W. (2025) ‘Biometrics to Necrometrics: What the Dead Can Tell us About War. A Human Security Approach to Collecting and Analysing Conflict Data from the Dead’, Journal of International Humanitarian Legal Studies
- Hamourtziadou, L., Lukasik, P. and Chapichadze, K. (2025) ‘War and national memory: Georgian, Polish, and British perspectives’ Journal of Global Faultlines, Vol 12 (1) https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.13169/jglobfaul.12.1.0003
- Hamourtziadou L. and Ward E. (2024) ‘The importance of documenting the casualties of armed conflict’, Journal of Global Faultlines, 11 (2) https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.13169/jglobfaul.11.2.191
- Hamourtziadou, L. and Skerritt, L. (2024) 'War crimes and questions on justice in asymmetric warfare: the case of Iraq', Journal of Global Faultlines, 11 (1) https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.13169/jglobfaul.11.1.0009
- Hamourtziadou, L. Jackson, J. and Winch, R. (2023) ‘Russia’s and America’s 21st century wars: Mirror Images?’ Journal of Global Faultlines, 10 (1).
- Hamourtziadou, L. and O’ Sullivan, A. (2021) ‘Crimes of a “benevolent” hegemony: configurations of UK power in Northern Ireland and Iraq’ Journal of Global Faultlines, 8 (2), October 2021.
- Hamourtziadou, L., Jackson, J. and Headech, S. (2021) ‘On the use of force’, Journal of Global Faultlines, 8 (1).
- Hamourtziadou, L. and Jackson, J. (2020) ‘Covid-19 and the myth of security’, Journal of Global Faultlines, 7 (1).
- Hamourtziadou, L. and Gokay, B. (2020) ‘The Promised Spring: death and neoliberalism in Iraq’, Security Dialogues, 11 (1) pp. 45-60.
- Hamourtziadou, L. and Jackson, J. (2020) ‘Winning Wars: The Triumphs and Myths of Technology’, Journal of Global Faultlines, 6 (2).
- Hamourtziadou, L. and Jackson, J. (2018) ‘5/11: Revisiting the Gunpowder Plot’, Journal of Global Faultlines, 5 (2).
- Hamourtziadou, L. (2017) 'Human security and the emergence of modern-day body counts: the law, the theory and the practice of casualty recording', Journal of Global Faultlines, 4 (1).
- Hamourtziadou, L. and Gokay, B. (2016) 'Whiter than White –Race and Otherness in Turkish and Greek National Identities', Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies.
The Conversation
- Hamourtziadou, L. (2023) ‘Iraq 20 years on: death came from the skies on March 19 2003 – and the killing continues to this day’
https://theconversation.com/iraq-20-years-on-death-came-from-the-skies-on-march-19-2003-and-the-killing-continues-to-this-day-201988 - Hamourtziadou, L. (2023) ‘Ukraine war: casualty counts from either side can be potent weapons and shouldn’t always be believed’
https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-casualty-counts-from-either-side-can-be-potent-weapons-and-shouldnt-always-be-believed-198894 - Hamourtziadou, L. (2022) ‘Ukraine War: how Russian denial of civilian casualties follows tactics used in Syria’
https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-how-russian-denial-of-civilian-casualties-follows-tactics-used-in-syria-179583 - Hamourtziadou, L. (2022) ‘Afghanistan: Taliban plans for suicide brigade reveal changing nature of warfare in 21st century’
https://theconversation.com/afghanistan-taliban-plans-for-suicide-brigade-reveal-changing-nature-of-warfare-in-21st-century-174829 - Hamourtziadou, L. (2021) ‘Five myths about drone warfare busted’
https://theconversation.com/five-myths-about-drone-warfare-busted-133660?fbclid=IwAR3rYbRAHv0hejsmv7D2gxB4AwLShzBR0OihjpXfjBwkFdUg99KIiQgTRJY - Hamourtziadou, L. (2021) ‘Iraq: thousands of police officers have died in the line of duty’
https://theconversation.com/iraq-thousands-of-police-officers-have-died-in-the-line-of-duty-160881 - Hamourtziadou, L. (2021) ‘Pope Francis in Iraq: visit highlights recent history of atrocities against Christians’
https://theconversation.com/pope-francis-in-iraq-visit-highlights-recent-history-of-atrocities-against-christians-156416
OpenDemocracy
- Hamourtziadou, L. (2022) ‘Tunnel Warfare: the Islamic State’s subterranean war’ https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/north-africa-west-asia/tunnel-warfare-the-islamic-states-subterranean-war/
- Hamourtziadou, L. (2022) ‘Why Tony Blair is just the right person to get Britain’s top honour’
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/why-tony-blair-is-just-the-right-person-to-get-britains-top-honour/ - Hamourtziadou, L. (2021) ‘The deadly legacy of 20 years of US war on terror in Iraq’
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/north-africa-west-asia/the-impact-of-the-war-on-terror-on-iraq-state-economy-and-civilian-deaths/?fbclid=IwAR2-zo6YEu8NsMi0g4mHd9I0apjj-Sg1hVrvtTcbbdipvAJxhO4UcGoQBhg - Hamourtziadou, L. (2021) ‘From invasion to failed state: Iraq’s democratic disillusionment’
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/north-africa-west-asia/from-invasion-to-failed-state-iraqs-democratic-disillusionment/ - Hamourtziadou, L. (2021) ‘Killed in the line of duty: the catastrophic deaths of 14,000 Iraqi officers’
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/north-africa-west-asia/killed-line-duty-catastrophic-deaths-14000-iraqi-officers/ - Hamourtziadou, L. (2020) Casualties of ‘war on terror’ in Iraq: life, security and liberty
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/north-africa-west-asia/casualties-of-war-on-terror-in-iraq-life-security-and-liberty/ - Hamourtziadou, L. and Gokay, B. (2016) 'Will Chilcot mention the real reasons for the Iraq War and the hundreds of thousands who have died since March 2003?'
https://www.opendemocracy.net/Arab-Awakening/bulent-gokay-lily-hamourtziadou/will-chilcot-mention-real-reasons-of-iraq-war-and-hundreds-of-thousa - Hamourtziadou, L. and Gokay, B. (2015) 'Body counting and precision bombing in failed states'
https://opendemocracy.net/bulent-gokay-lily-hamourtziadou/body-counting-and-precision-bombing-in-failed-states
Iraq Body Count publications
- Hamourtziadou, L. Dardagan, H. and Sloboda, J. (2024) ‘IRAQ 2023: Tribal wars, 'terrorist elements' and continuing air strikes’
https://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/numbers/2023/ - Hamourtziadou, L., Dardagan, H. and Sloboda, J. (2023) ‘Iraq’s Residual War’ https://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/beyond/residual-war/
- Hamourtziadou, L. and Dardagan, H. (2022) ‘Iraq 2021: Grave violations. Chronicling the rising tide of child deaths’
https://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/numbers/2021/ - Hamourtziadou, L. (2021) ‘On the 18th anniversary, Iraq’s state of war’
https://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/beyond/state-of-war/ - Hamourtziadou, L., Dardagan, H. and Sloboda, J. (2021) ‘Death in Baghdad’
https://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/beyond/death-in-baghdad/ - Hamourtziadou, L (2021) Iraq 2020: ‘Legitimacy, security and war crime let-offs’
https://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/numbers/2020/ - Hamourtziadou, L. (2020) Iraq in 2019: Calls for a ‘True Homeland’ met with deadly violence
https://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/numbers/2019/ - Hamourtziadou, L., Dardagan, H. and Sloboda, J. (2018) ‘Generation: War; 15 years in the shadow of ceaseless conflict’
https://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/beyond/generation-war/ - Hamourtziadou, L., Dardagan, H. and Sloboda, J. (2017) 'Another year of relentless violence in Iraq. IBC’s 2016 analysis of civilian deaths'
https://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/numbers/2016/ - Hamourtziadou, L. (2016) 'Lest we forget'
https://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/beyond/lest-we-forget/ - Hamourtziadou, L. (2016) 'Besieged: Living and dying in Fallujah'
https://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/beyond/besieged_fallujah/ - Hamourtziadou, L. (2016) 'Iraq: Wars and Casualties 13 years on' https://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/beyond/13-years-on/
- Hamourtziadou, L., Dardagan, H., Sloboda, J, and Dougherty, J. (2016) 'Iraq 2015: A Catastrophic Normal' https://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/numbers/2015/
- Hamourtziadou, L. (2015) ‘War’s Moral Chaos’
https://www.iraqbodycount.org/analysis/beyond/moral-chaos/
Media Work
- Lily is regularly interviewed by and collaborates with national and international media.
Work With Industry
- Counter Terrorism Evidence Based Review Group (Met Police). She is a member of CTEBRG, which is part of the Counter Terrorism Policing HQ, that devises policy and strategy, coordinates and evaluates national CT projects, facilitates the collaboration between academia and the building of a Prevent database, and works with the government and intelligence agencies.
- Airwars. Since 2014 she has worked with this NGO on reports, sources, incidents under investigation and identification of casualties.
- Every Casualty Counts. She has facilitated the publication of Standards for Casualty Recording, through her collaboration with ECC to develop and promote best practice in casualty recording globally.
- Action on Armed Violence. She covered the Independent Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan and has written reports for AOAV.
- UN High Commission for Refugees. As a Middle East expert, she wrote monthly briefings for UN staff on the security of Iraq and neighbouring countries, both disseminating data and advising on strategy and humanitarian aid.
- NATO Cyber Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence: research and collaboration on the use of biometrics by armed forces, contractors working with armed forces and ICT companies involved in military acquisition and procurement.