Witnesses Speak Out At Columbia University:Ghaddafy’s Campaign Against Human Rights

New York City (April 24, 2006) – On Tuesday, April 25, Undergraduate Fellows of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies will host a panel at Columbia University featuring Libyan dissidents and victims of Muammar Ghaddafy's regime. 

The panel will provide a counterpoint to a recent conference sponsored by both Columbia University and Libya's regime that was used by Col. Ghaddafy to promote an image of Libya as a friend of democracy.  The panel will feature prominent Libyan-American dissidents who will speak about the regime's horrendous human rights record, its authoritarian rule, and its efforts to eliminate reformers.  A victim of Libya's terrorism will discuss her experiences and the regime's support for terror.  The panel will be followed by 30 minutes of Q&A.

Panelists:

Hussein Shafei – A Libyan refugee, he was an eyewitness to the Abu Sleem Prison massacre of political prisoners. He will discuss they way the regime uses summary imprisonment and torture against dissidents.

Mohamed Eljhami – A Libyan-American activist, he will discuss the status of human rights conditions in Libya, and the situation of his brother, prominent dissident Fathi Eljhami, a political prisoner and democracy reformer held incommunicado for the last three years.

Stephanie Bernstein – A relative of a Pan Am 103 victim, she will recount the attack and discuss efforts to seek justice.

Moderator:

Professor Lincoln Mitchell of Columbia University/SIPA

Details:

What:    Panel on Libya and Col. Ghaddafy's human rights abuses

Where:   Columbia University, Kent Hall, Room 413
When:     7:00pm April 25th