FDD Welcomes New Fellows Specializing in Egypt and Lebanon/Syria

Washington, D.C. (March 30, 2006) – The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) has added two new fellows in support of its growing Democracy Programs: Khairi Abaza, an Egyptian specialist and former Wafd Party official, and Tony Badran, a writer and researcher focused on reform movements in Lebanon and Syria.

“Khairi and Tony are experts in their regions, have great insight into the opportunity for reform in the Middle East, and understand the challenges that must be overcome for liberal democracy to advance,” said FDD Senior Vice President Eleana Gordon.  “They will play key roles in FDD's growing efforts to support democratic movements and reformers throughout the greater Middle East.”

Khairi Abaza joins FDD as a senior fellow focusing on democratic reform in the Arab world, the spread of terrorism, and the influence of the media on politics.  Before joining FDD, Mr. Abaza was a visiting fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, focusing on Egyptian politics and democratic reform. Earlier, he served as a member of the Foreign Affairs and Cultural Committees of the Egyptian Wafd Party.  He is most recently the author of “Political Islam and Regime Survival in Egypt,” published in February, 2006 by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Tony Badran is a research fellow focusing on political developments and the democratic movement in Lebanon and Syria. Mr. Badran is the co-editor and chief translator of the Middle East Democracy Digest, an FDD publication highlighting liberal voices in the Middle East.  He is most recently the author of “Saudi-Syrian Relations after Hariri,” published by the Mideast Monitor.

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies is a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy institute focused exclusively on promoting pluralism, defending democratic values, and fighting the ideologies that drive terrorism.   Formed just weeks after the September 11 terrorist attacks, FDD uniquely combines strategic communications, policy research, democracy training and investigative journalism in support of these goals.  For more information, please visit www.defenddemocracy.org.  

For more on FDD's Democracy Programs, please click here.

Khairi Abaza's bio is here.  Tony Badran's is here.

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