Though the fighting is far from Chicago, for people from the Syrian diaspora, there are pressing questions regarding the future of Syria and the current conditions and state of the conflict. Join with the Arab American Institute for a panel discussion on the conflict.
The Syrian uprising has gone through many phases since the first mass protests in March 2011. It has evolved – though some might say devolved – from a popular movement similar to those in Egypt and Tunisia, into a full-scale armed insurrection more reminiscent of the situation in Libya.
In the past few weeks alone, Syrian security forces have laid siege to the city of Aleppo, mortar shells have fallen on the Al-Yarmouk refugee camp, a bomb exploded inside a TV station in Damascus, and several high level Syrian officials, including Prime Minister Riad Hijab, have defected to the opposition. As the nature of the conflict changes on the ground, how should the Arab American community respond and react? What is the role of the diaspora community in helping Syria through this time of crisis? What lies ahead for the Syrian state itself, and will the chaos engulfing Syria lead to wider regional instability?
Join in at the Town Hall Meeting at Jerusalem Restaurant in Bridgeview this Saturday, August 11th, at 11:00 a.m. to discuss these questions and more.
Panelists include:
Leila Hilal: Director, Middle East Task Force – New America Foundation
Dr. Zaher Sahloul: Founder, Syrian American Medical Society
Dr. Ghada Talhami: D. K. Pearsons Professor of Politics, Emerita – Lake Forest College
Jerusalem Restaurant is located at 8310 S. Harlem Ave., Bridgeview, Illinois 60455. This event is free and open to the public, please RSVP here. If you have any questions about the event please contact me at saraabi@aaiusa.org. I look forward to seeing you there.
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