***MEDIA ADVISORY***
Middle Eastern American Convention for Freedom and Democracy to Hold Forum, Dinner on Oct. 1
Americans of Middle Eastern descent unite to support war on terror, denounce oppression and radicalism
On Friday, October 1, Americans of Middle Eastern descent will gather in Washington D.C., to show their support for the efforts to defeat terrorism and radicalism and to create a free and peaceful Middle East.
“At these dangerous and critical times, we want to provide a forum for all Middle Eastern Americans who support the United States in the war against terror and applaud the fact that the Middle East has one less tyrant after the fall of Saddam,” said Dr. Joseph Gebaily, the convention’s executive director. “As the primary victims of the prevailing intolerance in the Middle East, we strongly support the war on terrorism and efforts to promote democracy in all nations of the region.”
The convention will allow participants to exchange views and ideas with longtime veterans of the struggle against terrorism and tyranny. Despite their diverse backgrounds, the participants share a historic and deeply motivated allegiance to the United States and aspire to see a free and peaceful Middle East.
The convention includes a discussion forum from 5 to 6:30 p.m. that will address U.S. foreign policy, Iraq, Afghanistan, al-Qaeda, Arab Israeli conflict, Syria’s occupation of Lebanon, the genocide in Darfur, women’s rights, and democracy. From 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., the discussion will continue over dinner. A representative from the Bush administration is expected to deliver a message from the President. Messages from Members of Congress will also be presented. Both the discussion forum and the dinner are open to the press.
The convention is sponsored by American associations from Arab, Kurd, Chaldo-Assyrian, Iranian, Sunni, Shia, Christian, Sudanese, Maronites, Mauritanian, Berber, Aramaic, Jewish, and other backgrounds, including:
- American Islamic Congress
- American Islamic Forum for Democracy
- American Coptic Association
- American Lebanese Alliance
- American Lebanese Coordination Council
- American Libyan Freedom Alliance
- American Maronite Union
- American Middle-East Christian Association
- Assembly for Lebanon
- Assyrian Academic Society
- Assyrian American National Federation
- Center for Islamic Pluralism
- Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Mauritania
- Committee in Support for Referendum in Iran
- Free Muslim Coalition Against Terrorism
- Iraq America Freedom Alliance
- JIMENA, Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa
- Kabyle Berber Movement
- Kurdish Patriotic Union
- Lebanese Information Center
- Reform Party for Syria
- Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom
- Sudan-Darfur Organization
- The American Coptic Association
- The Centre for Freedom in the Middle East
- The Saudi Institute
- US Alliance for Democratic Iran
- US Copts Association
- Washington Kurdish Institute
- Women's Forum Against Fundamentalism in Iran
- World Lebanese Cultural Union - USA
Human rights and democracy organizations participating include:
- Freedom House
- Foundation for the Defense of Democracies
- American Anti-Slavery Group
- Christian Solidarity International
Forum speakers include:
- Dr. Ali Attar, Iraq America Freedom Alliance
- Dr. Najmedine Karim, President of the Washington Kurdish Institute
- Farid Ghadri, Syrian Reform Party
- Michael Meunir, US Copts Association
- Mrs. Jila Kazeronian, Women’s Forum against Fundamentalism in Iran
- Elie Khawand, American Lebanese Coalition
- Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, American Islamic Forum for Democracy
- Ali Ahmad, the Saudi Institute
- Barbara Anne Ferris, Mideast American Women
- Nir Boms, Centre for Freedom in the Middle East
- Yahia Mohammed Adam, RMCE, Massaleit Community in Exile, Darfur
- Jimmy Mulla, Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom
- Mohammed al Jahmi, American Lybian Freedom Alliance
- Kamal Nawash, President, Free Muslims Coalition Against Terrorism
- Resa Bulorchi, US Alliance for a Democratic Iran
- Emmanuel Benhmou, JIMENA, Jews Indigenous from the Mideast and North Africa
- Dr. Mohammed al Maitani, Middle East Forum for Democracy, Yemen
- Mansour Kane, President, Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Mauritania
Dinner speakers include:
- Ms. Zainab al-Suwaij, American Islamic Congress
- Attorney Robert Dekelaita, Assyrian American National Federation
- Dr Joseph Gebeiley , Director, Executive Committee of the Convention
- Professor Walid Phares, Coordinator, National Committee of the Convention
- Walid Maalouf, USAID, Public Diplomacy, Middle East Office
Who: Middle Eastern American Convention for Freedom and Democracy
What: Discussion forum and dinner
When: Friday, October 1, 2004
Forum, 5-6:30 p.m.
Dinner, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Where: Wardman Park Marriott Hotel
2660 Woodley Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
Contacts:
For convention background and forum speakers contact Professor Walid Phares
Phone: (202) 207-0188
Fax: (202) 207-0191
Email at Mideastoctober1@aol.com
For logistical and technical questions please contact Ms. Ramesh Separhad
Phone: 703-906-2671
Fax: (202) 318-0402
Email at Mideastoctober1@aol.com
