IDC 2017 Summit

IDC Summit 2017: American Leadership and Securing the Future of Christians in the Middle East

October 24-26 – Washington, D.C.

Take Action along with advocates from across the country to protect and preserve Christians and religious minorities in the Middle East.

Highlights

Press Conference at the National Press Club
Ecumenical Prayer Service: Bridging East and West
Policy and Awareness Symposium
Experts and Leaders from Around the World
Grassroots Mobilization
Meet with dozens of Members of Congress and Administration officials

*Free student registration. See below!

Fourth Annual

IDC Solidarity Dinner for Christians
in the Middle East
October 25, 2017

Summit Location

JW Marriott
1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004-1796

Credentials Pick Up Begins Tuesday October 24, 2017 at 1:00 pm

Book Your Hotel Here

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2017 Summit Sponsors

IDC 2017 Summit Policy Agenda

Click each title to expand

IDC supports the passing of H. Res.252 to promote the security, stability, and independence of Lebanon.

  • The Resolution encourages coordination between the Department of State, the UN, and humanitarian organizations to establish a safe zone in Syria for Syrian refugees displaced by war as the first step toward return and re-settlement.
  • The Resolution also focuses on the importance of the Lebanese Armed Forces being able to provide stability and security for the people of Lebanon, as well as calling for the implementation of UN Resolution 1701, which calls for the disarmament of all non-governmental forces in Lebanon. 

The Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and Accountability Act is a bill which would provide immediate relief to minority religious groups in Iraq and Syria, particularly Christians and Yazidis.

  • These communities would receive special humanitarian status and refugee resettlement priority in the US.
  • IDC is working with partners to urge the Senate to introduce and pass this resolution as quickly possible.

IDC supports the introduction of a resolution on the Accountability of American Allies in the Middle East. This resolution would ensure that American allies, especially those receiving foreign aid and with whom the U.S. partners on vital national security matters, do not countenance material support for violent extremism, which has brought genocide on Christians and other communities.   

  • The American people expect their allies will take steps to protect places of worship from reasonably foreseeable acts of terror.
  • The American people expect their allies will not tolerate support for U.S. government-designated terrorist organizations and will hold those who support such organizations to account. 
  • The American people expect their allies to respect the fundamental human rights of all people, including non-citizen workers who are Christian.

IDC supports a full acknowledgment by the Government of the Republic of Turkey of the Armenian Genocide as a first step in improving Turkish-Armenian relations, as stated in Senate Resolution 136.

IDC urges the U.S. government to identify and punish the Accessories of Genocide of the ISIS genocide.

  • IDC urges the Trump Administration to create a task force to  identify all persons and organizations that provided material support to ISIS and al-Qaeda, all who aided and abetted ISIS, to be brought to justice. The taskforce would also work to identify and account for aiders, abettors and accessories of terrorism.

Special Performance by Internationally Acclaimed Lebanese Singer

Abeer Nehme

Special Guests

Past Speakers

The Honorable Mike Pence

The Honorable Mike Pence

Senator Chris Coons

Senator Chris Coons

Senator Thom Tillis

Senator Thom Tillis

Senator Rob Portman

Senator Rob Portman

His Excellency Archbishop Christophe Pierre

His Excellency Archbishop Christophe Pierre

Ambassador Samuel Brownback

Ambassador Samuel Brownback

Ambassador David Saperstein

Ambassador David Saperstein

Ambassador Edward M. Gabriel

Ambassador Edward M. Gabriel

Congressman Dan Lipinski

Congressman Dan Lipinski

Representative Anna Eshoo

Representative Anna Eshoo

Congressman Robert Aderholt

Congressman Robert Aderholt

Administrator Mark Green

Administrator Mark Green

Congressman Keith Rothfus

Congressman Keith Rothfus

Representative Chris Smith

Representative Chris Smith

Congressman Randy Weber

Congressman Randy Weber

Congressman Mark Meadows

Congressman Mark Meadows

Congressman Jeff Fortenberry

Congressman Jeff Fortenberry

Congresswoman Jackie Speier

Congresswoman Jackie Speier

Congressman French Hill

Congressman French Hill

Congressman Andy Harris

Congressman Andy Harris

Congressman Steve Stivers

Congressman Steve Stivers

Congressman Doug Lamborn

Congressman Doug Lamborn

Congressman Darin Lahood

Congressman Darin Lahood

Congressman Chris Smith

Congressman Chris Smith

Congressman Ron Estes

Congressman Ron Estes

Congressman Ro Khanna

Congressman Ro Khanna

Congressman Glenn Grothman

Congressman Glenn Grothman

Congressman Jamie Raskin

Congressman Jamie Raskin

Congressman Randy Hultgren

Congressman Randy Hultgren

Congressman Brad Sherman

Congressman Brad Sherman

Carl Anderson: The 13th Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus

Carl Anderson: The 13th Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus

His Eminence Mor Dionysius John Kawak Archbishop and Patriarchal Vicar of the of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern United States

His Eminence Mor Dionysius John Kawak Archbishop and Patriarchal Vicar of the of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern United States

His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, Archbishop of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of New York

His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, Archbishop of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of New York

His Excellency Elias Zaidan

His Excellency Elias Zaidan

Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian

Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian

Sam Tadros

Sam Tadros

Brian Grimm

Brian Grimm

Toufic Baaklini

Toufic Baaklini

Charles Hage

Charles Hage

Neemat Frem

Neemat Frem

Bishop Gregory Mansour

Bishop Gregory Mansour

Thomas Farr, Director of the Religious Freedom Project at Georgetown University

Thomas Farr, Director of the Religious Freedom Project at Georgetown University

Mark Tooley, President of the Institute on Religion and Democracy

Mark Tooley, President of the Institute on Religion and Democracy

Professor Robert Destro, Catholic University Law

Professor Robert Destro, Catholic University Law

Knox Thames, Special Advisor for Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia, U.S. Department of State

Knox Thames, Special Advisor for Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia, U.S. Department of State

Carl Anderson, the 13th supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus

Carl Anderson, the 13th supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus

Kent Hill, Executive Director of the Religious Freedom Institute

Kent Hill, Executive Director of the Religious Freedom Institute

Stephen Hollingshead Managing Director of the Safe Haven Project

Stephen Hollingshead Managing Director of the Safe Haven Project

Brian Katulis, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress

Brian Katulis, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress

Nermien Riad, Executive Director of Coptic Orphans

Nermien Riad, Executive Director of Coptic Orphans

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Summit Schedule

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

2:00pm Opening Press Conference at the National Press Club
Moderator
Andrew Doran
Vice President and Senior Policy Adviser of In Defense of Christians
Introduction
Carl Anderson
The 13th supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus
Remarks by Patriarch Rai, Patriarch John X Yazigi, Patriarch Absi and His Holiness Catholicos Aram I
Speakers
Aram Hamparian
Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America
Robert Nicholson
Executive Director of The Philos Project
6:30 to 8:30pm Ecumenical Prayer Service at Saint Matthew’s Cathedral
Special Performance by Internationally Acclaimed Lebanese Singer

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

8:00am Breakfast and Keynote Remarks
9:30am Lebanon and Syria: Security and Stability Post Conflict
Moderator
Tonia Khouri
Chairman of Economic Development for DuPage County
Speakers
Neemat Frem
President of The Maronite Foundation in the World
11:00am How to Advance U.S. Interests by Protecting Religious Minorities in the Middle East
Speakers
Loay Mikhael
Head of Foreign Relations Committee of the Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council
Aram Hamparian
Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America
Robert Nicholson
Executive Director of The Philos Project
Nermien Riad
Executive Director of Coptic Orphans
12:30pm Lunch
2:15pm Who Are America’s Allies and Enemies in the Middle East? A Hard Look at Turkey, Iran and the Gulf States
Moderator
Andrew Doran
Vice President and Senior Policy Adviser of In Defense of Christians
Speakers
Pamela Pryor
Senior Advisor, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, U.S. Department of State
Brian Katulis
Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress
3:45pm Interactive Workshops: How to Organize Your Community. Setting Up In-District Meetings with Members of Congress- Maximizing Effective Advocacy
Moderators:
Philippe Nassif
Executive Director of In Defense of Christians
Steven Howard
National Outreach Associate of In Defense of Christians
Facilitators:
Father Paul O' Callaghan
Dean of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral
Nahren Anweya
Assyrian American activist for the persecuted Christians and other minorities
Speakers
Art Estopinan
President of The Estopinan Group
Armen V. Sahakyan
Board Member, ANCA Eastern Region
Milad Zohrob
Chair of IDC Detroit Chapter
Antoinette Balta
Officer of IDC Orange County Chapter
6:30pm Solidarity Dinner Cocktail Hour
7:30pm Solidarity Dinner

Thursday, October 26, 2017

8:00am Breakfast
9:00am Advocacy Day Briefing: Policy and Education on Capitol Hill
10:00am Senate Canvassing
12:30pm Lunch (TBD)
1:30pm Capitol Hill Canvassing
3:00pm Congressional Auditorium Event: Hearing from Members of Congress
5:00pm Closing Cocktail Party