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| | IDC President Tonia Khouri was featured on MTV Lebanon News to weigh in on the Iran Nuclear Deal. Mrs. Khouri underscored Iran's malign role in accelerating the exodus of Christians from the Near East. | | | | | |
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February 2022 Newsletter Dear Friends and Supporters, IDC kicked-off the month of February by joining our partners at the Religious Freedom Institute (RFI) and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in a roundtable discussion with the newly confirmed Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Ambassador Rashad Hussain. IDC is slated to meet again with the Ambassador in March to discuss specific policy objectives. IDC was also hosted this month by the Hungarian Embassy in Washington, DC. IDC expressed its gratitude to the government of Hungary for its tremendous work to safeguard and strengthen beleaguered Christian communities in the Middle East and around the world, and explored opportunities for continued cooperation. On February 2, IDC issued a press release calling on the Biden Administration to condition any possible return to the Iran Nuclear Deal on Iran's dismantling of its regional proxy militias. I also appeared on MTV Lebanon News to discuss Iran's malign role in accelerating the exodus of Christians from the Near East. On February 15, IDC again issued a press release applauding the recent appointment of Judge Boulos Fahmy as Egypt's first Christian to lead the Supreme Constitutional Court, a historic milestone for Christians in Egypt. IDC continues to support House Resolution 117 in support of Coptic Christians in Egypt. In February, IDC executive director Richard Ghazal met with several Members of Congress and staff, including Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), James Lankford (R-OK) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) to discuss emerging opportunities and work on legislative initiatives. Among these initiatives are the effort to achieve justice for Syriac Christian security forces illegally abducted from Syria and sentenced to life in Turkish prison. We also provided expert counsel to Senator Lankford on the economic, humanitarian and security issues currently gripping Lebanon. This month, IDC was encouraged to receive news about the recent criminal indictment in Turkish court in the abduction and murder case of the elderly Chaldean couple, Hurmuz and Shmouni Diril. IDC continues to fervently advocate for criminal accountability for perpetrators of crimes against Christians in Turkey. IDC’s mission is powered by its people. IDC is looking to grow its team with talented men and women to advocate for Christians in the Middle East and around the world. Click here to learn more and apply for career and internship opportunities at IDC. We look forward to growing our team and mission. -Tonia Khouri President & Chairman | | | | | |
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| | | | | | IDC joined the Religious Freedom Institute (RFI) and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in a roundtable discussion with Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Amb Rashad Hussain. | | | | | | | | | | | | This past month, IDC had the following congressional meetings and engagements to discuss emerging concerns and work on legislative initiatives in response: • Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) • Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) • Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) • Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) • Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) • Senator James Lankford (R-OK) • Congressman Gus Billirakis (R-FL) | | | |
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IDC met with Deputy Chief of Mission Magor Ernyei at the Hungarian Embassy. IDC Executive Director Richard Ghazal thanked Mr. Ernyei for Hungary's tremendous work to safeguard and strengthen beleaguered Christian communities in the Middle East and around the world. IDC representatives and Hungarian Embassy officials also discussed areas for cooperation. | | | |
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IDC Calls on the Biden Administration to Condition a Return to the Iran Nuclear Deal on Iran's Dismantling of its Regional Proxies IDC issued a press release calling on the Biden Administration to condition any possible return to the Iran Nuclear Deal on Iran's dismantling of its regional proxy militias. “A foreign policy that strikes at the foundation of Iran’s terror franchise is necessary...and will also protect the region’s religious minority communities from human rights violations by the radical, theocratic, and expansionist regime,” said IDC President Tonia Khouri. | | | | | |
IDC Applauds the Appointment of Egypt's First Christian to Preside over Supreme Constitutional Court IDC issued a press release applauding the appointment of Egypt's first Christian judge to preside over the Supreme Constitutional Court. IDC Executive Director Richard Ghazal commented, “The Egyptian government of President Sisi, in recent years, has demonstrated incremental progress through constitutional and systemic reforms, and there still remain more opportunities to afford Coptic Christians equal citizenship in their native homeland.” | | | | | |
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| IDC's recent press release addressing necessary conditions for a U.S. return to the Iran Deal was highlighted by All Arab News. "A Washington-based human rights organization said that in exchange for a nuclear deal, the Biden administration should demand that Tehran stops supporting its proxies – terror organizations such as Hezbollah and the Houthis which pose a threat to 'the region’s remaining Christians, among others'." | | | | |
| | | IDC Vice President Andrew Doran highlighted in an article for the Wall Street Journal why anti-Semitism is a battle Christians should be invested in fighting. "It is often said that anti-Semitism begins with the Jews but never ends with them. There is much evidence for this. Yet Christians shouldn’t be spurred to action only because we might be next but simply because anti-Semitism is evil." | | | | | | | | After two years of IDC advocating for accountability in the abduction and murder case of an elderly Syriac-Chaldean couple, Hurmuz and Shmouni Diril, a Turkish criminal court has filed a criminal indictment. | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The IDC Board Speaker Series featured IDC's esteemed board members and experts, who highlighted the many facets of IDC's mission. Follow the link below to watch each installment of the nine-week IDC Board Speaker Series. | | | |
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IDC is looking for talented and dedicated men and women to join our team and advocate for Christians in the Middle East and around the world. To learn more and apply for career and internship opportunities click the button below. | | | |
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In Defense of Christians
700 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Ste 2055 | Washington, District of Columbia 20003
202-351-6195 | info@indefenseofchristians.org | | | | | |
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