Former Justice Minister of Canada to Testify at Congressional Briefing on Jewish Refugees

Washington, DC (PRWEB) July 17, 2007 -- Renowned international human rights advocate, Dr. Irwin Cotler, former Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada will testify before a congressional briefing on Thursday, July 19, 2007, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building: Room 2200.

In this bi-partisan effort, under the auspices of its co-chairmen, Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA), and Congressman Frank R. Wolf (R-VA), 'The Congressional Human Rights Caucus' will hear testimony on: 'Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries: Truth, Justice and Reconciliation.'

Dr. Cotler is one of the world's foremost experts on human rights, having served as Counsel to former prisoners of conscience in the Soviet Union (Andrei Sakharov), South Africa (Nelson Mandela), Asia (Muchtar Pakpahan) and to Professor Saad Edin Ibrahim, the leading democracy advocate in the Arab world.

Other speakers include: Dr. Henry Green, Professor and Former Director of the Judaic and Sephardic Studies at the University of Miami; and Mrs. Regina Bublil Waldman, co-founder of JIMENA, whose family was nearly murdered, while escaping from Libya in 1967.

Stanley Urman, Executive Director of Justice for Jews from Arab Countries said, "When the issue of 'refugees' is raised within the context of the Middle East, people invariably refer to 'Palestinian refugees', virtually never to the plight and flight of Jews, Christians and other minority populations from Arab countries. Neither the mass violations of human rights nor the displacement of Jews and others from Arab countries has ever been adequately addressed by the international community. There are two resolutions on Middle East refugees currently before the US Congress - H.Res. 185 and S.Res. 85."

'Justice for Jews from Arab Countries' and 'B'nai B'rith International,' worked with 'The Congressional Human Rights Caucus' to plan this briefing. For more information, contact Stanley Urman at 917-640-8028.

Editor's Note: Justice for Jews from Arab Countries (JJAC) is a coalition of Jewish communal organizations operating under the auspices of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and the American Sephardi Federation in partnership with the American Jewish Committee, the American Jewish Congress, Anti-Defamation League, Bnai Brith International, the Jewish Public Council for Public Affairs and the World Sephardic Congress.

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