AIC to Shed Light on MB Military Tribunal

AIC to Shed Light on MB Military Tribunal


The American Islamic Congress (AIC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to building interfaith and interethnic understanding. The organization grew out of the ashes of September 11. It believes American Muslims must take the lead in building tolerance and fostering a respect for human rights and social justice at home and throughout the Muslim world. Within the Muslim community, its members are building a coalition around the agenda of unequivocal denunciation of terrorism, extremism, and hate speech. Reaching out to all people of conscience, they try to promote a genuine interfaith dialogue and educate about the diversity within Islam


The organization stirred many questions after it opened a branch in the Egyptian capital Cairo. The organization has other branches in Iraq and it adopts the so called international commitments in development programs that include helping to rebuild the Iraqi school system by training teachers, restoring school buildings, and providing direct aid to students.


The organization launched a new campaign – called “Hands Across the Mideast” – to unite Americans and Middle East reformers to promote civil rights in the region.


We aim to correct the image of Muslims in the West after the painful 11 September attacks”, said Dalia Ziada, the Chief Executive of the American Islamic Congress (AIC) in Cairo.


“We also support woman”s rights and freedom of opinion and expression in Egypt” said the young human rights activist.


Dalia denied that the organization is politically motivated and said that her organization is a non-governmental and non-profit organization.


Ziada”s view towards the military tribunal trying the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) leaders, reflects the view of an organization that may create a new reality among Egyptian civil society organizations. She rejects the military tribunals and said that her organization may establish a campaign which Ziada called Etkallim (Speak Out) aiming to give space to many Egyptians whose opinions are neglected in the Egyptian political circles.


“We want them to to move and call for their rights peacefully” said Ziada, the Chief Executive of the American Islamic Congress (AIC).


The young activist said that the campaign, scheduled to be held two months later, aims to shed light on the military tribunal against the Muslim Brotherhood leaders. She said that the campaign will call for trying those referred to the military tribunal in front of a civil court.


“The government must deal with the Muslim Brotherhood in a better way. It shouldn”t have referred them to the military tribunal”, added Ziada.


Zeinab Al Sweg, the executive director of the American Islamic Congress (AIC) has said in earlier statements around establishing a branch for the organization in Cairo:” The target from establishing a representing branch for the American Islamic Congress (AIC) in Egypt because it is the heart of the Arab world. It is a serious step to cooperate with local and international organizations working in Egypt and the Middle East in general to spread human rights principles, specially woman”s rights, freedom of expression, religious tolerance and other other violations that have become a status quo in the Middle East.


The American Islamic Congress (AIC) also puts on its agenda shedding light on the conditions of Egyptian bloggers.


Many bloggers are harassed and arrested by Egyptian security services.


Karim Amer, an Egyptian blogger who is currently in prison, has been defended by Dalia Ziada after Egyptian security authorities accused him of defaming Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and of contempt to Islam.


The organization said in its official statement that its work in Cairo is based on three main three axes: Defending freedom of speech for bloggers and human rights activists, spreading nonviolence principles in defending civil freedoms, and rejecting daily violations against woman”s rights. These are done in coordination with local and international organizations working in Egypt and the region”.


Dalia Ziada who runs Cairo branch of the American Islamic Congress (AIC) is a young human rights activist “25 years” who drew the attention of the AIC in her participation in the competition “a postponed dream” sponsored by Hamsa Initiative. She participated with an essay about woman”s rights in Egypt, after which she attended a number of conferences and workshops held by the organization in the Middle East around violence, religious tolerance and civil rights. Ziada contributed with a key role in the campaign defending Egyptian young detained blogger Karim Amer who is currently in Egyptian prisons.


It is mentioned that the American Islamic Congress (AIC) is the first US Islamic organization establish a branch in Cairo. The organization has other branches in Boston and Iraq in addition to the main office in the US capital Washington DC.