American Islamic Congress

Huffington Post: Religion and politics don’t mix, major religious groups tell presidential candidates

aic — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:24:28 +0000

This week, AIC jointly signed a statement of principles “on religion in political campaigns that calls on candidates vying for office to feel comfortable explaining their religious conviction to voters but also warn that ‘there is a point when an emphasis on religion becomes inappropriate and even unsettling in a religiously diverse society such as ours.’” Click here to read the full article by Jaweed Kaleem.

AIC February 2012 National Newsletter

aic — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:39:50 +0000

IN THIS ISSUE: “Faith, Money, Power” and “Science & Islam” along with CNN, MLK and opportunities to get involved at AIC. Click here to read the newsletter.

The Georgia State Signal: Egyptian human rights champion addresses Georgia State

aic — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:59:04 +0000

Social media is more than just a way to connect with friends—according to Egyptian activist Dalia Ziada, it can enable young people to bring about a “new era” in civil and women’s rights.

Appearing Thursday at an event sponsored by Project Nur and the Middle East Socio-Political Association, Ziada discussed the 2011 Egyptian Revolution that toppled dictator Hosni Mubarak.

Click here to read the complete article in the Georgia State Signal.

Project Nur February 2012 National Newsletter

aic — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:49:26 +0000

In the February 2012 Project Nur National Newsletter, find out about how MLK has inspired a new generation of civil rights activists; enter the “Dream Deferred” essay contest; catch up on recent Project Nur events around the country; and apply for an internship. Click here to read the newsletter.

The Emory Report: CNN Dialogue panelists see hope in the Middle East

aic — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:51:52 +0000

CNN Dialogues, a colloquium devoted to addressing major domestic and international issues, held its fourth event at Glenn Memorial Auditorium on Feb. 9 titled “The ‘Arab Spring’: A Path to Democracy?” CNN International anchor and correspondent Hala Gorani served as moderator.

Panelists included Ahed Al Hendi, an activist and Arabic programs coordinator at CyberDissidents; Carrie Wickham, associate professor of political science at Emory; Lamees Dhaif, a Bahraini journalist whose writing was banned by the Bahraini government because of her participation in the opposition movement there; Nic Robertson, senior CNN international correspondent who has reported extensive coverage from inside the Arab nations; and Dalia Ziada, activist and director of the American Islamic Congress in Egypt.

Click here to read more.

NPR: Egyptian human rights activist shares her thoughts on the revolution

aic — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:58:45 +0000

Steve Goss spoke to AIC Egypt Director Dalia Ziada on NPR’s Morning Edition in Atlanta while she was in town in February to appear on a CNN Dialogues panel.

Dalia Ziada is a 29-year-old human rights activist who serves as the Egypt director of the American Islamic Congress in Cairo. Last Thursday, she was in Atlanta to participate as a panelist in the CNN Dialogues presentation at Emory University on the “Arab Spring Uprisings and Democracy”. Here, she talks with WABE’s Steve Goss…

CNN: AIC’s Egypt Office Director Dalia Ziada takes part in CNN Dialogues event

aic — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:11:10 +0000

This past week in Atlanta, Dalia Ziada, Egypt Office Director for AIC, took part in a CNN Dialogues panel called “The Arab ‘Spring’: A Path to Democracy?” She was joined by Bahraini journalist Lamees Dhaif, Syrian activist Ahed Al Hendi, CNN Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson, and Emory University Assistant Professor of Political Science Carrie Wickham. The panel was moderated by CNN Anchor and Correspondent Hala Gorani.

For more information on the event, which was co-sponsored by Emory’s James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, click here.

Institute for War & Peace Reporting: Mixed progress on Egyptian civil rights

aic — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:33:17 +0000

Civil and political rights in Egypt have seen both progress and setbacks since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak just over a year ago. In an interview for IWPR, Dalia Ziada, Egypt Director of the American Islamic Congress, discussed the challenges still facing the country. Click here to read the full article.

CNN’s Brooke Baldwin interviews Egypt Office Director Dalia Ziada

aic — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:25:06 +0000

CNN News Anchor interviewed AIC’s Egypt Office Director Dalia Ziada in the CNN newsroom to learn more about the current political situation in Egypt as well as the issues women are facing and the the status of civil rights in the country. Dalia also spoke about AIC’s Egypt programs, which focus on civil rights, women’s rights and civil society building.

Click here to see the interview on CNN.

CBS Atlanta interviews AIC’s Egypt Office Director Dalia Ziada

aic — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:18:27 +0000

Click here to watch the interview with Dalia Ziada, Egypt Office Director for AIC.

UCSB Project Nur chapter holds canned food and sock drive

aic — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:15:13 +0000

Click here to read about the great work being done by the Project Nur students at the University of California Santa Barbara.

The canned food drive will begin on February 6th to assist the UCSB Associated Students Food Bank (http://foodbank.as.ucsb.edu/), which provides food to in-need UCSB students. The students simultaneously will be organizing a sock drive for the homeless community in collaboration with Doctors Without Walls (http://santabarbarastreetmedicine.org/).

CNN: Women and the Arab uprisings: 8 ‘agents of change’ to follow

aic — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:59:44 +0000

AIC’s Egypt Director Dalia Ziada was in named by CNN as an “agent of change” in the Arab Spring along with seven other women from the region. Click here to read the profiles.

Unity Online Radio: Special Guests: Georgia Congressman John Lewis and Zainab Al-Suwaij

aic — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:33:32 +0000

Nonviolence and civil resistance were mainstays during the Civil Rights movement in the United States. That same technique is being used at the grassroots level in the Arab Spring movement that started just over a year ago. Our first guest is Georgia Rep. John Lewis, who was there, walking alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., activating the Power of Yes for an idea that was just becoming a possibility. We also welcome Zainab Al-Suwaij, an Iraqi who risked having a comic book about Dr. King’s principle’s of nonviolence translated into Arabic and used to train the youth in Egypt. Dr. King’s dream lives on … this time in the hearts of those seeking a better, more peaceful way in the Middle East.

Click here to listen to Zainab’s interview with Rev. Beverly Molander and Congressman John Lewis.

The Brandeis Hoot: Project Nur chapter at Brandeis hosts fundraiser for earthquake victims

aic — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:52:56 +0000

The Brandeis Chapter of Project Nur brought the Boston-based music collective and educational non-profit DÜNYA toBrandeis “to showcase the culture of Turkey while at the same time raise money for earthquake victims.” Click here to read the full article in the Brandeis Hoot.

February @ the AIC Center Featured Events

aic — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:07:05 +0000

Mystical Senegal – Intercultural Mixer

Friday, February 17 at 6:30PM
AIC Center
38 Newbury Street, Suite 702
Boston, MA 02116
Cover $5.00 - Advance Tickets Available AIC’s latest Intercultural Mixer features “Mystical Senegal” – come explore the diverse culture of Senegal and enjoy warm company, a hip crowd and light refreshments. Highlights of the evening include live ethnic music and a photo exhibit from Senegal. Feel free to wear your favorite ethnic outfit and bring your friends. RSVP (required) via events@aicongress.org or 617.266.0080 and get your tickets today!

Our Art Ourselves: Muslim Women Artists Explore their Hybrid Identities

Tuesday, February 21at 7:00PM
AIC Center
38 Newbury Street, Suite 702
Boston, MA 02116

Art offers a unique prism for understanding the social forces currently transforming Middle Eastern societies. The latest installment of AIC-WorldBoston’s Muslim Women Series spotlights three female artists whose work grapples with their hybrid selves.

With her youth divided between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, ground breaking painter Nada Farhat (artwork shown above) explores her bisected roots through award-winning work that has been displayed at both Aramco Hospital in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia and New England Medical Center.

Kuwaiti poet Mona Kareem is beset by a particular alienation: she is a native of Kuwait yet denied citizenship. She explores this existence in limbo through her writing.

For many years Niloofar Ziae taught drawing and painting in Tehran, helping young Persians express themselves despite a pervasive culture of censorship. Her own art explores scenes in Tehran and Boston, which she now calls home.

AIC and WorldBoston thank The Boston Foundation for underwriting the Muslim Women Series.

NPR: Egyptian human rights activist asks what’s next for her country

aic — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:38:22 +0000

For NPR’s “Here and Now,” Robin Young interviews AIC’s Egypt Director Dalia Ziada to discuss the situation in Egypt, how she views the country, and how AIC’s programs will help lead the way. Click here to listen to the interview.

AIC January 2012 Newsletter

aic — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:55:28 +0000

Check out AIC’s January 2012 Newsletter to find out the most current news and events from AIC. You can also subscribe to the newsletter by clicking here.

NPR: In Egypt’s new parliament, women will be scarce

aic — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:41:34 +0000

NPR’s “All Things Considered” caught up with AIC’s Egypt Director Dalia Ziada to speak with her about the role of women in the “Arab Spring” and the issues they now face as they fight for an equal voice in building a new kind of democracy for Egypt. Click here to listen to the story.

NPR: Martin Luther King’s ideas reverberate In Egypt

aic — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:28:41 +0000

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, NPR’s Robin Young interviewed AIC’s Dalia Ziada for Young’s “Here & Now” program to discuss the Arabic translation of the 1950′s “Montgomery Story” comic book. You can listen to and read the NPR coverage here and learn more about the comic book here.

Media coverage of AIC’s Fourth-Annual Cairo Human Rights Film Festival

aic — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:07:06 +0000

On Dec. 26 2011, AIC launched the fourth-annual Cairo Human Rights Film Festival (CHRFF) in Zamalek, downtown Cairo. The opening ceremony and screenings were held at Egypt’s most famous cultural center, Elsawy Culturewheel. The opening ceremony welcomed a large crowd with an introduction by Dalia Ziada, AIC’s Egypt Office Director and Zainab Al-Suwaij, AIC’s Executive Director. After honoring filmmakers and winners of AIC’s “Eye to Heart” film contest the 2011 festival winners were called to the stage to be honored and introduced to the media. The festival also honored activist Mostafa Alnaggar, who was elected recently as a member of parliament.

The opening ceremony concluded with the opening screening of seven winning viral videos from the “Eye to Heart” film contest, as well as the award-winning “Bringing Down a Dictator” by American filmmaker Steve York. Ironically, CHRFF was banned from screening “Bringing Down a Dictator” in 2009. Authorities had threatened to cancel the festival if this film was screened. In 2011, we were especially proud to present this film at the opening screening.

Arabic-language media coverage of the Fourth-Annual Cairo Human Rights Film Festival held Dec. 27-30, 2011:

Nile Live TV:

Elwafd WebTV:

2011 CHRFF Promo Video: