March Newsletter
IDC Government Relations
2018 has really been very busy for IDC as we have continued to champion the needs of Christian communities in the Middle East at every level of the Federal Government. See some exciting highlights below:
President of IDC Toufic Baaklini with the House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce and Former Congressman Jerry Weller. ‬Chairman Royce has just returned from an important visit to Egypt to discuss security and civil issues with President el-Sisi.
IDC President Toufic Baaklini, IDC Executive Director Philippe Nassif, and IDC Government Relations Associate Peter Burns, with Sam Brownback at his swearing-in ceremony as Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. IDC worked closely with Amb. Brownback’s team ensure a successful confirmation process in the Senate.
Left: IDC President Toufic Baaklini thanking Vice President Mike Pence for his leadership in getting funding to rebuild northern Iraq after brutal ISIS genocide.
Right: IDC President Toufic Baaklini meeting with Zoltán Balog, Hungarian Minister of Human Capacities. Minister Balog has overseen a major humanitarian project to rebuild the Christian town of Teleskof.
IDC President Toufic Baaklini and former Congressman Jerry Weller meet with Congressman Adam Kinzinger. Congressman Kinzinger is a tireless voice on Capitol Hill for the security and stability of Lebanon.
IDC President Toufic Baaklini and former Congressman Jerry Weller meet with Mark Green Administrator of USAID to discuss the need for infrastructure to be rebuilt and economic development in Northern Iraq so displaced Christians can return to their ancestral homes.
IDC President Toufic Baaklini and former Congressman Jerry Weller meet with Middle East Subcommittee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Chairwoman Ros-Lehtinen sponsored House Resolution 673 which calls on Egypt to protect Coptic Christians from violence and harassment.
Rep. John Curtis, newest member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, pictured here with IDC President Toufic Baaklini and Former Congressman Jerry Weller. ‬
IDC Chapters Activities

On February 28th, IDC National Outreach Associate Steven Howard traveled to Columbia, South Carolina to kick-off IDC’s new South Carolina Chapter. Special thanks to State Senator Vincent Sheheen and Michael Acquilano with the South Carolina Catholic Conference for organizing the chapter launch.
Pictured Above (from left to right): IDC South Carolina Chapter Member Elie J. Abikhaled, Steven Howard, Senator Sheheen, IDC SC Chapter Member Paul H. Raad and Michael Acquilano.

On February 19, IDC National Outreach Associate Steven Howard and Intern Carmen Diaz participated in the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington Summit for Young Leaders and spread awareness about the plight of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East.
On February 10-11, IDC National Outreach Associate Steven Howard had the honor of accompanying His Excellency Elias Zaidan, Bishop of the Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon and IDC Board Member, to Cleveland, OH to celebrate St. Maron’s feast day with the IDC Cleveland Chapter and St. Maron’s parish.
Above (pictured left to right): Steven Howard and Bishop Zaidan

On February 9, IDC Executive Director Philippe Nassif was joined by the Houston Chapter in a meeting to welcome His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, to IDC’s Religious Advisory Board and discuss outreach to the Houston community.
Above (pictured left to right): Houston Chapter Chair Mathilda El Hachem, Co-Chair Mark Narfawl, Cardinal DiNardo, Rev. Jeffrey Lee Bame and Philippe Nassif.
Live in Southern California or New York City?

IDC’s National Outreach Associate Steven Howard will be hitting the road to meet with our current chapters in these communities as well as to meet with IDC Advocates interested in starting new ones! Feel free and email him at steven@indefenseofchristians.org if you’re interested in starting or joining a chapter.
Click on the map to see where your nearest IDC chapter is or to learn how to start a new one!

IDC is honored to welcome to our board Mr. Ian Spier, Lady Caroline Cox, Dr. Nadim Haddad, Mr. Mark Tooley, and Mr. Fady Chamoun. We look forward to their future collaboration with IDC!
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