Amnesty International USA Media Advisory
Friday, May 9, 2007
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, 212-633-4150
"Muslim Voices on Darfur" News Conference Slated for Capitol Hill on Wed., May 14
(Washington) -- Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), Amnesty International USA Executive Director Larry Cox, Amjad Atallah and Niemat Ahmadi of the Save Darfur Coalition, Omer Ismail of the ENOUGH Project, along with other members of Congress and invited Muslim leaders, will speak out on the Darfur crisis on Wednesday, May 14, to press for urgent leadership by the U.S. administration to speed up the full deployment of U.N. peacekeepers and save lives.
At a press conference slated for 11 a.m. on Capitol Hill (May 14), Rep. Ellison, the first Muslim member of Congress, will join with other representatives and Muslim leaders to send the message that deployment of the UN peacekeeping mission is proceeding too slowly, leaving civilians exposed to continuing brutal attacks by the Sudanese government and government-backed militia.
Aerial bombings over recent days by the Sudanese military have hit civilian targets in North Darfur, including a May 4 attack on a primary school and marketplace that claimed civilian lives.
"I urge the leaders of the world to listen to our collective voice when it comes to the genocide of our brothers and sisters in Darfur," Congressman Ellison stated. "Ending suffering, and the pursuit of peace are not exclusively Christian, Jewish or Muslim values but values shared by all. Our human response to the suffering in Darfur must be a united drive to end the conflict, meet humanitarian needs, and ensure the promise of a better future for all," Ellison said.
"The world hasn't paid enough attention to Muslim organizations and individual Muslim leaders who have strongly condemned devastating human rights abuses in Darfur and who continue to press for more effective action to stop the killing," said Lynn Fredriksson, Amnesty International USA's advocacy director for Africa. "Their perspectives and their outrage over delays in resolving this crisis need to be heard by our own government as well."
The news conference follows an unprecedented statement on March 29 by a coalition of 20 international Muslim groups appealing to the Arab League to take a stand on Darfur by contributing more aid, demanding an end to the obstruction of peacekeepers, supporting a real ceasefire and promoting the peace process.
The coalition included human rights and aid agencies from countries as diverse as Britain, Germany, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bahrain, Iran, Turkey, Australia and the United States.
The United Nations - African Union Mission in Darfur (known as UNAMID) may not fully deploy until early 2009. While civilians are under continuing attacks by armed militias, government forces and Darfuri rebel groups. The international community has failed to sufficiently commit essential air and ground transport equipment for the peacekeeping operation to succeed. Meanwhile, the Sudanese government continues to create obstacles to deployment and humanitarian operations.
"The U.S. government, China, and other donor states and U.N. Security Council members have an obligation to provide the funding, equipment and personnel necessary for the full and speedy deployment of UNAMID, and essential humanitarian assistance in Darfur and throughout the conflict region," said Fredriksson.
More than 2.6 million Darfuri civilians, including one million children, have been driven from their homes by armed conflict. Hundreds of thousands have died due to the conflict, and more than 90,000 have been displaced since January 2008 alone.
WHAT: Muslim Voices for Darfur Press Conference
WHO: Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN), Amnesty International USA Executive Director Larry Cox, Amjad Atallah and Niemat Ahmadi with the Save Darfur Coalition, Omer Ismail with the ENOUGH Project, and Garelnabi Abusikin, along with other members of Congress (invited).
WHEN: Wednesday, May 14, 11 a.m.
WHERE: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2456
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Make a difference!
» Arrest Now! Urge U.S. Support for the International Criminal Court's Darfur Cases
» Make the Full Deployment of UNAMID a Reality
» Millions of civilians deprived of aid by the Sudanese government
