The Islamic State's Religious Cleansing and the Urgency of a Strategic Response

May 2015

Past Event

The Islamic State's Religious Cleansing and the Urgency of a Strategic Response

Past Event

The Peninsula Hotel

May 07, 2015

May 2015

Past Event

700 5th Ave
New York, NY 10019

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Speakers:

His Eminence, Cardinal Timothy Dolan

Archbishop of New York

The Reverend Benedict Kiely

Founder, Nasarean.org

Mark L. Movsesian

Frederick A. Whitney Professor & Director, Center for Law and Religion, St. John’s University School of Law

Sarkis Boghjalian

Executive Director of Aid to the Church in Need—U.S.

Michael J.L. La Civita

Communications Director, Catholic Near East Welfare Association

His Excellency, Bishop Gregory John Mansour

Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn

Kirsten Powers

Columnist, USA Today and Author, The Silencing: How the Left is Killing Free Speech

The Reverend Johnnie Moore

Author, Defying ISIS and Co-Founder, The Cradle Fund

Mindy Belz

Editor, World Magazine and author of a forthcoming book on Iraq

Joseph Kassab

President & Founder, Iraqi Christians Advocacy and Empowerment Institute

As military plans are being laid for an offensive to liberate Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, from Islamic State militants, this conference focused on the policies and strategies urgently needed to help the Middle East’s vulnerable religious minorities.

Leading the discussion was Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, and Hudson Distinguished Scholar Walter Russell Mead. They were joined by experts from multiple pontifical humanitarian agencies, writers, and noted experts.

Nearly a year after the Islamic State swept through northern Iraq and enforced its convert-or-die ultimatum, tens of thousands of Iraqi Christians and members of other ancient religions remain in encampments in Kurdistan and neighboring countries. They subsist on international humanitarian aid and their children lack access to education. Many are losing hope of ever returning to their homes and, with few options to resettle within the region, many are seeking to leave.

Is there any hope that these Christians and other religious minorities can remain in the Middle East?

Read a transcript of Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s seven point plan to end persecution of Christians.

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