Coptic Solidarity Hosts Policy Conference on Egypt

Contact: Cynthia Farahat, 202-695-0506; www.copticsolidarity.org/conference

WASHINGTON, June 26, 2012 /Standard Newswire/ -- Coptic Solidarity will be holding a Policy Education Day at the US Capitol building on June 28, 2012, only days after the major upheaval created by the election of an Islamist, who ran on a Shari'a implementation agenda, to be President of Egypt. The Policy Day is now even more important in light of the high level of uncertainty that the new president and his party will protect human and minority rights.

The focus of the Policy Day is "US National Security and Advancing Human and Minority Rights in Egypt: Is there a policy connection?" with a special focus on policy imperatives, and U.S. foreign policy responses to the rise of extremism in the Middle East.

In addition to remarks by several Members of Congress, a number of prominent politicians, academics, human rights experts, and policymakers will share their views. Speakers include Lord David Alton, Member of the UK House of Lords; Jim Karygiannis, MP, Canadian House of Commons; Commissioner Katrina Lantos Swett, Chair of the USCIRF; Nina Shea, Director, Center for Religious Freedom, Hudson Institute; Fred Grandy, Vice President of the Center for Security Policy; Walid Phares, Advisor to the Anti-Terrorism Caucus in the US Congress; Emilie Kao Esq., previously at the Office of International Religious Freedom at the US Department of State; Zuhdi Jasser, President of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy; Fr. Filopater, a leader of the Maspero Youth Movement, Egypt; and Tawfik Hamid, Chair for the Study of Islamic Radicalism at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies.

The Coptic Solidarity Third Annual Conference will continue (*) on June 29, 2012, with additional speakers, including both academic and advocacy experts, focusing on the status of religious freedom in the Middle East, the U.S. approach to religious freedom in the Middle East, and the situation of minorities under Islamic rule. Speakers include Ann Buwalda Esq., Director, Jubilee Campaign; Tina Ramirez, Director of International and Government Relations, The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty; Gary Lane, Sr. International Correspondent, CBN; Carl A. Moeller, CEO, Open Doors; Raymond Ibrahim, Middle East and Islam specialist; Michele A. Clark, Christian Solidarity International; Faith McDonnell, The Institute on Religion and Democracy; Jordan Sekulow, Director at the American Center for Law & Justice ; Emanuel Ogebe, Managing Partner USN Law Group. Also taking part in the Conference are Coptic activists and representatives of Middle Eastern communities, Arab and Muslim Liberals, and NGOs.

Coptic Solidarity is an organization seeking to help minorities, particularly the Copts, of Egypt and support those working for democracy, freedom, and the protection of the fundamental rights of all Egyptian citizens. The international organization has headquarters in the Washington, D.C., area in the U.S., with key branches currently in Paris (for Europe) and Cairo. The organization believes that the international community plays a key role in helping ensure the protection and upholding of the rights of religious and ethnic minorities.

(*) The Policy Education Day (June 28) will be held at the Capitol Visitors Center, HVC 201.
The Coptic Solidarity Conference will be held at the Dulles Airport Marriott Hotel.

To attend the conference, please go to the Coptic Solidarity for free registration at www.copticsolidarity.org/register-now

For further information please call Cynthia Farahat at: 1 202 695 0506
www.copticsolidarity.org/conference