June 2021 Newsletter
June was a fruitful month at IDC.
IDC Advocacy Director Steven Howard continued his efforts to build consensus among key Senate and House committee members on a number of IDC priorities, including garnering support for a UN-led conference on Lebanon, confronting Turkey for its violations of religious freedom, and holding accountable the Ethiopian Government for human rights violations in the Tigray region.
In early June, Secretary of State Antony Blinken testified before both houses of Congress, and directly addressed Iran’s malign behavior in the region, including its support for proxy militias in Lebanon and Iraq. The Secretary of State also reaffirmed his commitment to engage Congress on matters of U.S. foreign policy. Prior to the hearings, IDC advised committee members on the relevant issues to be discussed.
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Ambassador to the United Nations, also testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and praised the role of UNIFIL in achieving stability in Lebanon, and addressed Hezbollah’s repeated violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions calling for disarmament.
We also authored an op-ed titled Deal or no Deal: Iran’s Foreign Proxies Must be Dismantled, published in the National Interest. The article posits that any potential reentry into a future Iran deal must be conditioned on Iran’s discontinuation of support for its proxy militias.
On June 15, IDC solemnly commemorated Syriac Genocide (Sayfo) Remembrance Day. Also on June 15, Advocacy Director Steven Howard, hosted a policy briefing, “Christians in Turkey: The Way Forward for Equality and Religious Freedom.”
Finally, IDC was honored to participate in the SOUL for Lebanon Conference, held simultaneously in Washington, DC and Beirut, Lebanon.
On July 14 at 6:30 pm, IDC will host its annual Ecumenical Prayer Service at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Washington, DC.
The IDC Team also continues to prepare for IDC Summit 2021: Combating Oppression & Empowering the Oppressed, September 21-22, in Washington, DC and online. We hope you can join us!
Toufic Baaklini
President and Chairman of the Board
Richard Ghazal
Executive Director
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Congratulations to Nadine Maezna
A warm congratulations to Nadine Maenza on her election as Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
Commissioner Maenza has been an invaluable member of IDC's Board of Advisers and we look forward to working with her in this new
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Policy Briefing
On Tuesday, June 15, IDC hosted a policy briefing, "Christians in Turkey: The Way Forward for Equality and Religious Freedom."
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Op-Eds
Deal or No Deal: Iran's Foreign Proxies Must be Dismantled
Toufic Baaklini and Richard Ghazal
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Son Rise Morning Show
IDC's Rich Ghazal highlights the importance of Pope Francis's Lebanon initiative on the Son Rise Morning Show.
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IDC's Steven Howard highlights IDC's upcoming policy briefing on Christians in Turkey on the Son Rise Morning Show.
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IDC’s Richard Ghazal reflects on Syriac Genocide Remembrance Day, on the Son Rise Morning Show.
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IDC's Sarah Bassil discusses the current crisis that Christians in Iraq are facing as Religious Freedom Week begins on The Son Rise Morning Show
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IDC in the Media
Providence Magazine: Options for Turkey’s Religious and Cultural Minorities
Abijah Crawford
"In a recent policy briefing, Steven Howard and Sarah Bassil of In Defense of Christians (IDC) were joined by David Vergili, Ohannes Kılıçdağı, Tugba Erdemir, Aykan Erdemir, and Elizabeth Prodromou. This diverse panel of experts discussed the current political, cultural, and religious environment of Turkey, as well as potential policy options for a more democratic and religiously rich Turkey."
Click here to read the full article.
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Upcoming Events
IDC Prayer for Lebanon
Date: July 1, 2021
Time: 10:00 AM (ET)
Location: Zoom Webinar
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Ecumenical Prayer Service
Date: July 14, 2021
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral
2815 36th Street NW
Washington, DC
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IDC is proud to be a partner organization of the International Religious Freedom Summit 2021.
July 13-15, 2021
Omni Shoreham Hotel
2500 Calvert Street, N.W.
Washington, DC
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IDC is a non-profit, non-partisan 501 (c) (3) organization that seeks the protection and preservation of Christians and Christianity in the Middle East through raising global awareness, mobilizing international support, and educating policymakers toward constructive international policies on their behalf.
Contact Us
IN DEFENSE OF CHRISTIANS
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TEL: +1 (202) -351-6195 - Email: info@indefenseofchristians.org