U.S. Muslims & Christians Form Coalition to Protect Christians & Promote Coexistence in Middle East
U.S. Muslims & Christians Form Coalition to Protect Christians & Promote Coexistence in Middle East
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/23/14) - A group of American Muslim and Christian organizations today announced the formation of an interfaith coalition to protect Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East.
Leaders of major Muslim and Christian organizations, religious leaders and activists met in Washington, D.C., at the invitation of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, to form a specific plan of action for the protection of Christians and religious minorities.
As a first step, Coalition members agreed to hold two conferences to develop support for Christians and religious minorities in the Middle East. The first conference will be held in Washington, D.C., followed by a second conference in an Arab country.
The committee elected Sir Rateb Y. Rabie, president/CEO of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, as chair and expressed an open arms policy to all organizations and groups committed to its mission.
The Free Muslims Coalition is delighted to be working with the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation and other groups for peace, justice and the common good.
For more information please contact:
Sir Rateb Rabie, 301-951-9400 extension 212 [email protected]
The coalition's leadership committee includes the Very Reverend Joseph Rahal, pastor of the St. George Orthodox Church, Syed Moktadir, president, All Dulles Area Muslim Society; Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, director of Islamic Society of North America, Nihad Awad, executive director, Council on American-Islamic Relations; Bassel Korkor, Esq., Syrian Christians for Peace; Haris Tarin & Salam Al Marayati, directors of office, Muslim Public Affairs Council; and Kamal Nawash, Esq., president, Free Muslims Coalition.
Also in attendance at the formation of the coalition were His Excellency Archbishop Atallah Hanna, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem; His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, the Armenian Church of America; Aram Suren Hamparian, executive director, the Armenian National Committee of America; Majd Akkawi, Director, Saints Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church; and Samer Khalaf, president of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
Kamal Nawash, 202-776-7190, [email protected]
