PRESS CONFERENCE: Monday 11/7 in DC: Middle Eastern dissidents and human rights defenders speak out ahead of President Biden’s trip
NGOs will feature representatives from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt to discuss human rights concerns during a 2:30 p.m. briefing at the Hart Senate Office Building
MEDIA ADVISORY Monday, July 11 at 2:30 p.m. ET
(WASHINGTON)–The Monday, July 11 at 2:30 p.m. ETdissidents and human rights defenders from the Middle East and members of Congress will join the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED), Human Rights Watch, PEN America, the Freedom Initiative, Freedom House, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Win Without War, and Human Rights First for a media briefing ahead of President Biden’s July 15-16 visit to Saudi Arabia to meet with GCC+3 leaders.
President Biden has vowed to center human rights in his administration, including pledging to make Saudi Arabia ‘the pariah that they are’ and saying Saudi officials ‘must be held accountable’ of the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi. During this trip, President Biden will meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as well as Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa.
Ahead of Biden’s trip, prominent human rights advocates whose family members are being unjustly detained will urge President Biden to raise the case of their families when he meets with GCC+3 leaders, and they will highlight some of the concerns human rights issues in Saudi Arabia. , Bahrain and Egypt.
WHO:
- Lina al HathlulSaudi human rights defender and sister of women’s rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul (who is subject to a travel ban to Saudi Arabia)
- Maryam al-KhawajaBahraini human rights defender, former co-director of the Gulf Center for Human Rights, and daughter of Abdulhadi al-Khawaja (who was sentenced to life in prison in Bahrain for her pro-democracy work)
- Sana’a SeifEgyptian activist and filmmaker, sister of writer Alaa Abd el-Fattah (imprisoned in Egypt and on hunger strike for 100 days)
- Jim McGovern (D-MA)Human Rights Commission co-chair Tom Lantos
Supported by:
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Freedom House, the Freedom Initiative, Human Rights First, Human Rights Watch, PEN America, Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED), Win Without War
WHEN: Monday, July 11 at 2:30 p.m. ET.
WHERE: Hart Senate Office Building, Room 902, 120 Constitution Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
RSVP: For RSVP, which is required due to current security constraints, please use this form. If you have any questions, please email april.brady@pomed.org or call 202-804-4747.
