Members of Congress, Middle East Experts, and Distinguished Guests to Gather on July 7 

7/5/2016 Washington D.C. (International Christian Concern) – International Christian Concern (ICC) is pleased to announce, as part of its first annual The Bridge conference, a policy day to discuss both the challenges to promoting human rights and religious freedom in the Middle East and strategies for civil society, religious leaders, and policy makers to effectively promote these rights in the short and long-term.  The policy day is set for the morning of July 7^th (10am – noon) at the Capitol Visitors Center Congressional Meeting Room North (268).  This event is open to the public and press.

ICC is honored to welcome the following keynote speakers:

• Jeff King, President, International Christian Concern
• Congressman Joe Pitts, Co-Chairman, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
• Mr. Alberto Fernandez, Vice-President, Middle East Media Research Institute
• Congressman Trent Franks, Co-Founder, International Religious Freedom Caucus
• Ms. Kristina Arriaga, Commissioner, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
• Congressman Chris Smith, Chairman, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations
• Congressman Randy Hultgren, Executive Committee Member, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission

These speakers will be followed by a panel of experts on human rights in the Middle East.  The distinguished panel includes:

• Dr. Tom Farr, President, Religious Freedom Institute & Director, Religious Freedom Project, Georgetown University
• Ms. Nina Shea, Director, Hudson Institute Center for Religious Freedom
• Mr. Sunjeev Bery, MENA Advocacy Director, Amnesty International
• Ms. Jomana Qaddour, Policy Analyst, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

For more information please visit The Bridge website.

For press wishing to cover the event, please contact Marylin Guillen-Carrera at marketing@persecution.org or at 1-800-ICC-5441.

You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you reference ICC (International Christian Concern) and include our web address, www.persecution.org. ICC is a Washington D.C.-based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church.  For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.