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Written by NIAC Staff
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Friday, 05 February 2010 |
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Washington DC - “We are not a doctor, and Iran is not a
patient,” declared Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Chairman of the House Foreign
Affairs’ Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. “Iran is a
sovereign state whose people are struggling bravely for their own freedom. It
is natural and right for us to want to support their struggle. The question is
how?”
So began the February 3 hearing, “America and the Iranian Political
Reform Movement; First Do No Harm,” before a committee divided along party
lines as to what the US should do regarding Iran’s opposition movement.
Several members of the minority complained that the concept of “do no harm” was
the wrong focus and used the platform to speak out against President Obama’s handling
of Iran’s disputed June Iranian elections. Ranking Member Burton stated,
“If we don’t give money, if we don’t give tangible support to the people who
are demonstrating—we should at least say we wish you success, we want to see
freedom ring…and we want to encourage freedom and democracy and the things we
believe in.”
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Written by NIAC Staff
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Thursday, 04 February 2010 |
Washington, DC - If you're looking for a part time job for the spring, you
are in luck! The US Census Bureau is looking for Iranian-American students,
retirees, and community activists for help in getting as many Iranian-Americans
counted in the 2010 census.
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Written by Iranian American 2010 Census Coalition
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Thursday, 04 February 2010 |
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Washington DC - The Iranian American 2010 Census Project proudlyannounces the addition of Andisheh Center, Association of Iranian American Professionals of San Diego, Bay Area Iranian-American Democrats, Empowered Women United, Iranican, Iranian Studies Group at MIT, Persian Center and Persian Cultural Club to its list of coalition partners.
Now at 19 partners and counting, the coalition was formed to ensuremaximum and consistent participation by Iranian Americans in the 2010 U.S.Census. The addition of these new organizations strengthens and expands thecoalition's outreach and penetration, providing it with more resources and alarger platform for educating Iranian Americans nationwide and encouragingtheir participation in the Census. The census is a count of everyone living in theUnited States. This includes people of all ages, races, and ethnic groups, aswell as both citizens and non-citizens. Like many ethnic groups, IranianAmericans have traditionally been undercounted; the2000 Census count of our community was only 338,000. This is a problem as itundermines our access to a variety of social services. The only solution is forus to register our Iranian origin, and to be counted by the Census Bureau. |
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Written by NIAC Staff
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Thursday, 04 February 2010 |
 Washington, DC - The
day you have been waiting for is finally here...You can order Maz Jobrani's
hilarious "Brown and Friendly" on DVD today, and experience the acclaimed
Iranian comedian and NIAC Advisory Board Member's hilarity over and over again! Order Maz's exclusive "Brown
and Friendly" pack and get the DVD, a "Brown and Friendly" tour t-shirt, and a
poster autographed by the "brown" man himself, all for $24.99! Don't miss out on this limited time offer!
Order Now
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Written by NIAC Staff
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Wednesday, 03 February 2010 |
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Washington, DC - "Why
isn't the International Community holding Iran accountable on human rights
issues?" asked Hadi Ghaemi from the International Campaign for Human Rights in
Iran. "The people want to be recognized. They exist, and the nuclear issue is
not the only prominent issue that should be reported on in Iran," he said.
At a panel presented yesterday by the Center for American Progress, Ghaemi was
joined by Geneive Abdo, Matt Duss and Michael Signer to discuss how the US can
elevate the role of Human Rights within its Iran policy. The panel
collectively agreed that greater focus is needed on human rights issues
involving Iran.
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Written by NIAC Staff
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Monday, 01 February 2010 |
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Washington, DC - Jaras website (Jonbesheh Rahe Sabz / Rahesabz.net),
one of the principal websites of the Green Movement, published a feature
article in Persian yesterday praising NIAC for its work to expand civic
participation among Iranian Americans. The article, which refers to NIAC as the
civil liberty defendants of Iranian Americans, also discusses the history of the
community, pointing out the generational shift that is taking place with NIAC’s
increasingly prominent leadership in the community .
Please
click here for the article.
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Written by NIAC
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Thursday, 28 January 2010 |
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Contact: Phil Elwood
917.379.3787
Washington, DC - The National Iranian American Council deplores today's Senate passage
of S.2799, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act
of 2009. The bill imposes indiscriminate,
unilateral sanctions that will hurt the Iranian people, restrict the
President's authority, and play into the hands of Iran's rulers who continue to
commit flagrant human rights violations.
"Innocent Iranians are suffering every day at the hands of their own
government; today the Senate voted to increase their suffering," said Trita
Parsi, NIAC President. "The last thing
that the Iranian people need as they continue to battle for their rights and
dignity is for the US to target them rather than Iran's oppressive rulers."
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Written by NIAC Staff
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Thursday, 28 January 2010 |
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Phil Elwood
917.379.3787
Washington, DC - NIAC
condemns in the strongest terms the Iranian government's execution of
political dissidents Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani and Arash Rahmani Pour
today. NIAC calls on the Iranian government
to immediately end its campaign of politically motivated executions, release
all political prisoners, and ensure that detained individuals are no longer
denied the right to fair trial in accordance with international human
rights standards. NIAC also calls on the United Nations and its
member states to ensure that the Iranian government upholds its obligations and
is held accountable for acts committed in violation of the Iranian people's
rights.
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Written by NIAC Staff
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Monday, 11 January 2010 |
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NIAC is pleased to
announce its fifth annual Public Service Fellowship. This fellowship is the
first and only initiative designed to grant Iranian-American students the
opportunity to learn first-hand how the US government works by interning on Capitol Hill.
NIAC will place
three Iranian-American students in Congressional offices to fulfill an
internship during the months of June to August. Fellows will be required to
write about their experience for publication on our website. The leading candidate
will receive a stipend of $1000.
Rising college sophomores,
juniors, seniors, recent graduates and graduate students who are US citizens or
legal permanent residents of Iranian descent are eligible to apply.
Responsibilities of the fellow include: attending committee hearings, researching
legislation, general office duties, and other activities that promote
first-hand knowledge of the American legislative process.
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Written by NIAC Staff
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Wednesday, 27 January 2010 |
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Washington, DC -
This March, as millions of Iranians and Iranian Americans celebrate Norooz,
they may be joined by an unlikely group: the United States Congress.
H.Res.267, the Norooz Resolution, was unanimously approved today by the House
Oversight and Government Reform Committee and now awaits final passage before
the House of Representatives. For the first time ever, Congress is now
poised to officially recognize Norooz and the rich cultural traditions of
Iranian Americans.
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Written by NIAC Staff
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Wednesday, 27 January 2010 |
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Washington, DC - With the
Senate expected to approve comprehensive Iran legislation, S.2799, in
the
coming weeks, NIAC has released a guide offering suggested changes to
the legislation that would bring the bill more in line with the Obama
Administration's strategy.
S.2799 is intended to enhance
the President's options regarding Iran, providing him new tools to accomplish
US policy aims. However, senior Administration officials have expressed
serious concerns with the bill in the media
and in a letter
to Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton has stated a preference for
targeted sanctions aimed at "those who actually make the decisions" and do not
"contribute to the suffering of the ordinary Iranians, who deserve better than
what they currently are receiving". The Administration is now
involved in negotiations with Senate leaders to resolve these issues.
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Written by NIAC Staff
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Thursday, 14 January 2010 |
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Last week, NIAC united the Iranian-American community against Congressman Gresham Barrett's (R-SC) plan to reintroduce the Stop
Terrorist Entry Program (STEP) Act, a bill he originally introduced in
2003 that sought to deport all non-immigrant Iranians in the US and ban
Iranians from entering the US.
Iranian Americans immediately sprung into action, sending nearly 5,000
letters calling on Rep. Barrett to rethink his disgraceful
legislation. Hours after NIAC delivered your letters to his office,
Rep. Barrett confirmed to NIAC that the deportation language would be
removed in the revised bill.
This was a major victory, but the fight is not over yet.
The STEP Act was introduced on January 13th-it still labels all
Iranians as "terrorists" and would ban them from getting US visas. This
bill would prevent Iranians from visiting their family in the US, and
at a time of increasing repression in Iran, would impose even greater
burdens on Iranians seeking refuge.
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Written by NIAC Staff
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Thursday, 14 January 2010 |
Proposals by
Opposition should be heeded
For Immediate
Release
Contact: Phil Elwood
917.379.3787
Washington, DC - The National Iranian American Council
calls on the Iranian government to heed the productive proposals of leading
opposition figures and abandon the path of violence and oppression.
In the last two weeks, Mir Hossein
Moussavi, Mehdi Karroubi, and leading Iranian intellectuals and opposition
leaders abroad (Abdolali Bazargan, Akbar Ganji, Mohsen Kadivar, Ataollah
Mohajerani, Abdol Karim Soroush) have all issued proposals that aim to end the
country's political crisis peacefully by opening a pathway that would restore
the Iranian people's civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights.
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Written by NIAC Staff
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Wednesday, 13 January 2010 |
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Major Victory for Iranian-American Community
For Immediate Release
Contact: Phil Elwood
917.379.3787
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Written by Patrick Disney
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Thursday, 07 January 2010 |
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Washington, DC - Since Iran's disputed presidential election
in June, lawmakers in the United States have searched for ways to support the Iranian
people's movement for basic rights and freedoms. Yet, with the tattered history of US
involvement in internal Iranian politics, they must tread lightly or else risk
buttressing the Iranian government's claim that its opponents are "agents of
foreign powers."
Taking those concerns into consideration, Rep. Keith Ellison
(D-MN) introduced H.R. 4303, the Stand with the Iranian People Act (SWIPA), to
support the Iranian people's democratic movement by ensuring that America's
Iran policy imposes pressure on the Iranian government--not the innocent
Iranian people. In order to do this,
SWIPA imposes targeted sanctions on Iran's human rights abusers, while
simultaneously relaxing restrictions on US humanitarian assistance delivered
directly to the Iranian people.
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Written by NIAC Staff
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Monday, 11 January 2010 |
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تحلیل:
قانون حمایت از مردم ایران
واشنگتن
دی. سی. – از هنگام انتخابات ریاست جمهوری ایران در خراد ماه امسال، قانونگذاران ایالات
متحده راههای مختلفی را برای پشتیبانی از جنبش مردم ایران به منظور دستیابی به
حقوق و آزادیهای اولیه خود مورد بررسی قرار دادهاند. با این وجود، با تاریخ تباه
مداخلههای ایالات متحده در سیاستهای داخلی ایران، آنان باید خیلی آهسته و
محتاطانه قدم بردارند وگرنه بر ادعای دولت ایران مبنی بر اینکه مخالفانش
"عوامل قدرتهای خارجی" هستند صحه میگذارند.
با در نظر
گرفتن این ملاحظات، کیت الیسون (نماینده جمهوریخواه ایالت مینسوتا) قانون اچ. آر.
۴۳۰۳ یا «قانون حمایت از مردم ایران» ((SWIPA را معرفی کرد تا از
جنبش دموکراتیک مردم ایران با این تضمین که سیاستهای آمریکا در مورد ایران فشارش
تنها بر روی دولت ایران است – و نه مردم بیگناه ایران- پشتیبانی کند. به منظور
انجام چنین امری، این قانون تحریمهای هدفمندی را بر روی نقضکنندگان حقوق بشر در
ایران تحمیل میکند، حال آنکه همزمان محدویتهای در خصوص کمکهای بشردوستانۀ
ایالات متحده که به طور مستقیم برای مردم ایران ارسال میشود کمتر میگردد.
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Written by NIAC Staff
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Monday, 14 December 2009 |
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Washington, DC - For decades, Iranians have lived under the double burden of repression by their government and unintended hardship caused by US sanctions. Even now, Congress is rushing to pass the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act (IRPSA), which will only contribute to the Iranian people's suffering by seeking to restrict Iran's supply of heating oil and gasoline. Prominent members of Iran's opposition movement, such as Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi, as well as human rights defenders like Shirin Ebadi and Akbar Ganji, have all spoken out strongly against such sanctions that punish innocent Iranians.
Today, however, a group of Members of Congress are standing up to reverse this failed paradigm. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) has introduced the Stand with the Iranian People Act (SWIPA), and Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) has introduced the Iranian Digital Empowerment Act (IDEA). Together, these unprecedented pieces of legislation will enable the US to genuinely support the Iranian people by removing unnecessary obstacles that have made their struggle for rights and freedom more difficult
Click here to tell Congress to stand with the Iranian People!
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Written by Muhammad Sahimi
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Tuesday, 01 December 2009 |
لابی اسراییل، نومحافظهکاران و جامعهی ایرانیان آمریکا
نویسنده: محمد سهیمی
از ژوئن سال ۲۰۰۵ یعنی زمانی که محمود احمدینژاد رئیس جمهور
ایران شد، طرفداران اسراییل و نومحافظهکاران در آمریکا در تلاش برای تحریک کردن
آمریکا و جوامع بینالمللی برای جنگ و یا تحریمهای اقتصادی سنگین بر علیه ایران بودهاند.
این گروهها تلاشهای متعدّدی را برای اهداف خود در پیش گرفته که از جمله آنها
بزرگ کردن و دروغ گفتن در مورد برنامهٔ انرژی هستهٔ ایران، انتشار مقالات ضد ایران
در روزنامههای معتبر آمریکا و پیگیری اعمال تحریمهای اقتصادی بر علیه ایران در کنگره
آمریکا بوده است. این گروه همچنین از شبکههای اینترنتی بهره برده است. هر یک از وبسایتهای پرطرفدار ایرانی (همچون Iranian.com) دارای بلاگرهای
هستند که بسیاری از آنها قویاً جنگ با ایران و یا تحریمهای
اقتصادی سنگین بر علیه ایران را تبلیغ کرده و منافع اسراییل را پشتیبانی میکنند.
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Written by NIAC Staff
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Friday, 13 November 2009 |
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The
following statement was issued by NIAC in response to today's article in the
Washington Times:
Washington DC - NIAC is proud
of its work to advance US national security through a smarter and more
effective policy on Iran. NIAC rejects the insinuations made by
Washington Times that its activities are in violation of tax laws, the
Foreign Agents Registration Act and lobbying disclosure laws.
NIAC has provided
tens of thousands of documents and all its financial records in order
to prosecute a defamation case against Hassan Dai. Those documents
prove the allegations made against NIAC are completely false. The judge
denied Dai’s motion to dismiss the case on 18 out of 19 counts.
Realizing this, the defendants have decided to maliciously leak those
documents to a reporter at the Washington Times, Eli Lake, in an
attempt to litigate the case in the media rather than in a court of law.
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Written by NIAC Staff
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Tuesday, 03 November 2009 |
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Ever
since NIAC has become a recognized and effective voice for the Iranian-American
community in Washington DC, opponents of NIAC's efforts have engaged in a
defamation campaign, seeking to silence the organization by falsely connecting
it to the Islamic Republic.
What
is happening is ominously similar to what has happened in Iran - radical and
extremist elements are increasingly dominating the public discourse, while the
moderate center gets smeared into silence.
Here at NIAC, of
course, we refuse to be silenced.
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Written by Sam Stein
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Thursday, 05 November 2009 |
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This article recently appeared in the Huffington Post.
In the usually wonky world of non-profit issue-advocacy organizations, a decidedly political campaign has been waged against foreign policy institutions that promote diplomacy over militarism.
Two relatively new organizations -- each covering distinctly opposite ends on the spectrum of Middle Eastern affairs -- have been the target of withering public relations attacks in recent weeks and months.
The National Iranian American Council (NIAC), an organization that promotes diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and Iran, sprung to prominence recently for its active media presence in the aftermath of Iran's disputed elections though its influence in the nation's capital had been felt long before then. But as NIAC's voice grew louder in foreign policy circles, so too did the vehemence of its critics.
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Written by NIAC Staff
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Thursday, 21 May 2009 |
For Immediate Release
Contact: (202) 386-6325
Rep. Harman Retracts
Statement on Iran, Expresses Regret
"I
regret any concern they might have caused," Harman Tells NIAC
Washington, DC – The National Iranian American Council (NIAC)
welcomes Rep. Jane Harman’s retraction and clarification of her statement
regarding the “separation” of Iran’s ethnic groups and regret for the concern
it caused.
“I was not and am
not calling for the creation of ethnic tensions or separation in Iran – nothing
would be less productive,” said Harman in a statement to NIAC. “Although my comments on Iran were taken out
of context, I regret any concern they might have caused.”
“My point was that
the diversity of views in Iran should be better understood in order for the
United States to formulate the best strategy for persuading the Iranian
government not to pursue nuclear weapons development,” Harman added.
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Written by NIAC Staff
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Tuesday, 19 May 2009 |
Washington DC - Following the inflammatory comments by Rep.
Jane Harman (D-CA) earlier this month, NIAC has sent a letter expressing
outrage at the Congresswoman's suggestion that Iran should be "separated" along
ethnic lines.
The letter, signed by NIAC President Trita Parsi, was
submitted in conjunction with a campaign to send numerous
messages from Iranian Americans across the country asking that the
Congresswoman retract her statements. NIAC
will remain in contact with Rep. Harman's office about this disturbing
statement and will continue to press for a retraction.
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Written by NIAC Staff
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Monday, 06 October 2008 |
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Contact: Goli Fassihian
Tel: 202 215 0998
For immediate release
Washington, DC, Oct 3, 2008 -- The National Iranian American Council, working in partnership with a coalition of grassroots NGOs successfully defeated a Congressional resolution that would take a decisive step towards war with Iran.
"Stopping this dangerous resolution is a significant victory for the Iranian-American community," said Emily Blout, Legislative Director at the National Iranian American Council. "It is also a testament to the American people's opposition to another war in the Middle East."
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Written by NIAC Staff
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Thursday, 28 August 2008 |
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NIAC has issued a position statement on the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran. Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have reported a significant increase in human rights violations in Iran in the past few years. The statement expresses grave concern about the human rights situation in Iran and urges the government of Iran to respect the internationally recognized rights of its citizens. As the human rights situation in Iran deteriorated, NIAC consulted its membership for guidance. As the largest grass-roots organization representing Americans of Iranian descent, NIAC regularly seeks direction from its membership to determine its priorities. The NIAC membership voted in favor of raising the organization’s profile in speaking out against human rights violations in Iran. In 2006, NIAC's membership voted to have the organization oppose a US-Iran war and advocate a diplomatic solution to the nuclear stand-off. Read more... |
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Written by Shadee Malaklou
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Wednesday, 12 March 2008 |
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Washington
DC - Thousands of priceless artifacts from Persepolis that are on loan to the
University of Chicago risk being auctioned off to the highest bidder. In an
effort to defend the collective cultural heritage of Iranian Americans, the
National Iranian American Council (NIAC) has secured pro bono representation
from with Mayer Brown LLP with connection to the case, Rubin v. Islamic
Republic of Iran.
“The
Iranian-American community has felt helpless in face of this threat to their
historic heritage,” said Trita Parsi, NIAC President. “With Mayer Brown’s help,
we are creating an avenue for the community to have their concerns and
interests considered in this legal battle.”
Download Farsi version in PDF
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Written by Babak Talebi
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Friday, 14 September 2007 |
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Washington DC - NIAC’s funding has grown significantly over the last few years. The structure of NIAC’s financing reflectsthe organization's grass-roots nature and the strong support it enjoys in the Iranian-American community. NIAC is an organization for Iranian Americans because it’s funded by Iranian Americans. At the same time, we have been fortunate enough to receive support and grants from major US and Iranian-American foundations such
as Ploughshares Fund, Colombe Foundation, National Endowment for Democracy, Tides Foundation, Kenbe Foundation, Pluralism Fund, Open Society Institute, Connect US, Parsa Foundation, the Hand Foundation, Ahoora Foundation,
the Houtan Foundation and the Eurasia Foundation.
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Written by NIAC
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Friday, 20 April 2007 |
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Washington DC - The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) has been the target of several erroneous, maliciously defamatory opinion pieces by Kenneth Timmerman and Hassan Daioleslam in Frontpage Magazine. The articles are riddled with inaccuracies, misquotations, incorrect links and references to figures that played no role in NIAC's inception, operations, or its development over the years.
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