2020 End of Year Highlights 

 Message from In Defense of Christians

We have been blessed in 2020 to see many successes on IDC policy priorities.  While we are proud of the strides we have made, our work is not over.  Under daily threat, the reality for religious minorities in the Middle East and Africa remains incredibly difficult.  Negatively affected by COVID-19, regional instability, and political turmoil, Christians continue to face unprecedented danger in the birthplace of Christianity. 

While restrictions may have limited our capacity to continue our work through traditional means, we remained flexible and turned to online platforms to reignite our advocacy efforts.  Please take a moment to view our press conferences, policy briefings and conversations with government officials and experts on our issues, included below. 

We also had the honor to host the seventh annual IDC Summit in September 2020.  This year, the Summit was held digitally due to Covid-19 measures, and was an unprecedented success!  The 2020 Digital Summit was themed: Combating Global Christian Persecution, and featured remarks from 14 Members of Congress, and numerous other government officials and Christian prelates, highlighting IDC's advocacy priorities.  You may watch the IDC 2020 Digital Summit by following the link below. 

Please take a moment to browse through IDC's 2020 highlights below.  We encourage you, our close friends and supporters, to reach out to us with any questions you may have, or to share your thoughts. 

Christmas Message from IDC President Toufic Baaklini

 2020 Digital Summit: Combating Global Christian Persecution

On September 23, 2020, IDC hosted its first-ever digital summit, which was titled: Combatting Global Christian Persecution.  Members of Congress, Administration officials, and experts in the field joined IDC in highlighting the plight of Christians across the Middle East and Africa.  Furthermore, IDC announced its 2020 Congressional Champions.

A playlist of individual remarks can be found here.

   2020 IDC Congressional Champions 

Early in 2020, IDC was proud to announce its bipartisan list of Congressional Champions. 

Congressional Scorecards for a number of Members of Congress can be found here.

Press Conferences and Policy Briefings

In light of the current public health measures, IDC has focused on hosting digital press conferences and policy briefings in an effort to continue our advocacy initiatives. 

Take a look at IDC's YouTube page for more important briefings.

Policy Briefing on Turkish Aggression in Iraq and Syria

IDC Senior Advisor Rich Ghazal interviews Armine Aleksanyan, Deputy Foreign Minister of Artsakh

IDC Webinar with USAID A.A. John Barsa, Toufic Baaklini, Rana Abro, and Samah Norquist of USAID.

Press Conference on the Genocide of Nigerian Christians

IDC Panel: Save Lebanon and Stop Turkey: How to Support Middle Eastern Christians in 2021

Press Coverage and Op-eds

IDC in the News

A full catalog of IDC's press coverage can be found here.

IDC on the Son Rise Morning Show

In 2020, IDC formed a partnership with the Son Rise Morning Show of EWTN Catholic Radio. Every week, we share live updates on the persecution of Christians in Africa and the Middle East and what Americans can do to help.

A full playlist of IDC's weekly appearance on the SRMS can be found here.

Former Rep. Frank Wolf on the SRMS discussing the designation of Nigeria as a CPC.

IDC Senior Advisor Michael Hage discussing Solidarity Lebanon.

Bishop Zaidan of the Eparchy Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles discussing Lebanon.

IDC on EWTN, MTV Lebanon, Voice of America and more!

A full catalog of IDC's press coverage can be found here.

IDC President Toufic Baaklini discussing the ongoing crisis in Lebanon on EWTN Nightly News.

IDC Press Conference on Turkish Aggressions Discussed on MTV Lebanon News

Senior Advisor Rich Ghazal on EWTN Nightly News Discussing Turkish Aggressions and the Hagia Sophia

 IDC Action Alerts

Tell Your Members of Congress to Quit the Turkey Caucus!

Turkey has a long history of denying its genocides of Christians across the Middle East. It has persecuted Christians within its borders, in Syria, in Artsakh, and elsewhere. It has gone so far as to bring jihadist fighters to terrorize Christians in Artsakh. America should never consider a country like this an ally.

Hezbollah is a threat to Christians in Lebanon, Tell Congress to Act!

Lebanon is a country built on religious pluralism, but for the last several decades, the Christian community has been under pressure. Today, Christians are being driven out of the country. Hezbollah, the Iran-backed terrorist organization, has been leading the country into a deep financial crisis, and Christians in Lebanon need our help or they will be the latest Christian community to go extinct.

Tell Your Member of Congress to Speak Up for Coptic Christians
Tell your Representative that Coptic Christians in Egypt deserve to be treated equally and live in safety by cosponsoring House Resolution 49.

Ask President Trump to Recognize the Armenian Genocide
In 2019, the House and Senate voted to recognize the Armenian Genocide. No U.S. president since Ronald Reagan has recognized this genocide, which targeted millions of Christians at the beginning of the 20th century. Denying genocide is unacceptable. Please ask President Trump to correct this injustice and recognize this genocide. It is time for the U.S. to stand with genocide victims and not genocide deniers.

 More Highlights!

Special Message for IDC on Roman Catholic Feast Day of Saint Charbel from

Cardinal Timothy Dolan 

Remarks from South Carolina State Senator Vincent Sheheen at the South Carolina State House in Columbia, South Carolina.

IDC thanks Cardinal Gregory of the Archdiocese of Washington for his powerful sermon at the Mass for Persecuted Christians of the Middle East at Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Washington, DC.

"We gather at the Eucharistic table this evening to pray for religious freedom, not only in the Middle East, but throughout the world."

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