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.”

Mohammed Yahia Adam, spokesperson for the Darfur exiled community said: "It is time for the Middle East and North African communities of the US to raise the issues of Genocide and ethnic cleansing that most peoples of the region have been submitted to, from Iran to Sudan."

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, Iran, Afghanistan, al-Qaeda, Arab Israeli Peace, 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 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:

Human rights and democracy organizations participating include:

Freedom House - Nina Shea
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies - Cliff May
American Anti-Slavery Group - Charles Jacobs
Christian Solidarity International - Keith Roderick

Forum speakers include:

Michael Meunir, US Copts Association
Dr. Ali Attar, Iraq America Freedom Alliance
Barbara Anne Ferris, Mideast American Women
Dr. Najmedine Karim, President of the Washington Kurdish Institute
Farid Ghadri, Syrian Reform Party
Elie Khawand, American Lebanese Coalition
Joseph Kassab, Chaldean National Council
Kamal Nawash, President, Free Muslims Coalition Against Terrorism
Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, American Islamic Forum for Democracy
Ali Ahmad, the Saudi Institute
Nir Boms, Center 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
Emmanuel Benhamou, 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

US Officials Messages
The White House
Congress

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