CSID Bulletin Header in JPGtop

 

 

The Middle East Institute (MEI) and the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID) are pleased to host Mouaz Al-Khatib (Founding President, Syrian National Council, and former Imam at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus) for a discussion of the latest conflict dynamics in Syria and his vision for the country's political future. Drawing upon his crucial experience in Syria's revolutionary movement and his efforts to bring about an inclusive political solution to the conflict, Sheikh Al-Khatib will discuss U.S. policy toward Syria, the global strategy to combat the Islamic State, and current diplomatic efforts to renew peace talks between the regime and the increasingly fragmented opposition.

Mouaz Al-Khatib was founding president of the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) and a renowned former imam of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus until the Assad regime banned him from preaching. As president of the SNC, Sheikh Khatib made active efforts to preserve the pluralistic character of the Syrian revolution by protecting Syria's Christian minority and developing a moderate Islamic legal code designed to blunt the strength of religious fundamentalists in Syria.

Khatib was arrested several times for his protest activities before fleeing Syria in June 2012. He was elected president of the SNC five months later, but resigned from the post in April 2013, citing regional attempts to co-opt opposition decision-making and lack of Western military support to the Free Syrian Army.

Speaker: 

 

Mouaz Al-Khatib
 

Founding President, Syrian National Council

Mohammed Ghanem
(Providing consecutive interpretation)  
Senior Political Adviser, Government Relations Director, and Strategist, Syrian American Council   

 

 

Robert Ford (Moderator)
 

Senior Fellow, The Middle East Institute 
Former U.S. Ambassador to Syria


 Click for details and registration.