Conference Schedule

9:15-9:30 a.m. | Welcome | Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, President, Villanova University
     | Introduction | Rev. Kail C. Ellis, OSA, PhD, Assistant to the President, Conference Director, Villanova University

9:30-10:00 a.m. | U.S. and International Efforts to Address the Situation of Religious Minorities in the Middle East

•  Knox Thames, Special Advisor for Religious Minorities in the Near East and South/Central Asia,
  U.S. Department of State
  Read: Keynote Address: Knox Thames, Special Advisor for Religious Minorities in the Near East and South/Central Asia, U.S. Department of State.pdf
  Watch: U.S. and International Efforts to Address the Situation of Religious Minorities in the Middle East
   

Session I: Christian Cultural and Intellectual Life in the Islamic Middle East:  The Shared History of Pluralistic and Cosmopolitan Spaces 

Moderator: Hibba Abugideiri, Associate Professor of History, Director, Center for Arab and Islamic Studies, Villanova University

10:00-10:30 a.m. | Christianity’s Historic Roots in the Middle East

• Sidney Griffith, Ordinary Professor Emeritus, Department of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literatures, The Catholic University of America
  Watch: Christianity's Historic Roots in the Middle East

10:30-11:00 a.m. | Christian Contributions to Art, Culture and Literature in the Arab-Islamic World

•  Bernard Sabella, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, representing Jerusalem
  Watch: Christian Contributions to Art, Culture and Literature in the Arab-Islamic World

11:00-11:30 a.m. | Christian Contributions to Education and Social Advancement 

• Sami El-Yousef, Regional Director for Palestine and Israel, CNEWA – Pontifical Mission, Jerusalem
  Watch: Christian Contributions to Education and Social Advancement

11:30-12:00 p.m. | Open Discussion/Q&A

• Watch: Session I Discussion
  
  

12:00-1:00 p.m. | Lunch

Session II: Christian Contributions to Arab Politics and Religious Freedom

Moderator: Nabeel Haidar, Provost, American University of Science and Technology, Beirut, Lebanon

1:00-1:30 p.m. | The Role of Christian Intellectuals in Arab Politics and the Movement for Secular Nationalism and Religious Freedom

• Tarek Mitri, Director, Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy & International Affairs, American University of Beirut, Lebanon
  Watch: The Role of Christian Intellectuals in Arab Politics and the Movement for Secular Nationalism and Religious Freedom

1:30-2:00 p.m. |The Human Rights of Minorities under the Laws of Republics and Monarchies

• Fateh Azzam, Former Founding Director, Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship, American University of Beirut    Watch: The Human Rights of Minorities under the Laws of Repbulics and Monarchies

2:00-2:30 p.m. | Open Discussion and Q&A

Watch: Session II Discussion
 

Session III:  Strategies to Combat Persecution of Minority and Religious Communities

Moderator:  Catherine Warrick, Associate Professor, Political Science, Villanova University

2:30-3:00 p.m. | Political Strategies to Combat Persecution of Minority and Religious Communities and Safeguard their Ability to Remain in their Home Countries

• Alon Ben-Meir, Professor and Senior Fellow, New York University Center for Global Affairs; Senior Fellow, World Policy Institute
  Watch: Political Strategies to Combat Persecution of Minority and Religious Communities and safeguard their Ability to Remain in their Home Countries

3:00-3:30 p.m. | The “Responsibility to Protect” and the Dangers of Military Intervention in Fragile States to Combat Jihadism

• Gen. Anthony Charles Zinni, USMC (Ret.), Former Commander-in-Chief of the United States Central Command; Special Envoy for the United States to Israel and the Palestinian Authority
  Watch: The "Responsibility to Protect" and the Dangers of Military Intervention in Fragile States to Combat Jihadism

3:30-4:00 p.m. | Open Discussion with Panelists/Q&A

Watch: Session III Discussion
 

4:00-6:00 p.m. | Mary Queen of Peace: Liturgical Objects from the Middle East 

Villanova University Art Gallery

Session IV: The Shia-Sunni Conflict and its Effect on the Region and International Relations
Moderator: Samer Abboud, Historical and Political Studies, Arcadia University

9:30-10:00 a.m. | The Arab Uprisings, Erosion of Nationalist Movements and the Expansion of Terrorism and Political Violence

• Rami Khouri, Senior Public Policy Fellow, Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs, American University of Beirut
  Watch: The Arab Uprisings, Erosion of Nationalist Movements and the Expansion of Terrorism and Political Violence 

10:00-10:30 a.m. | The Impact of the Shia-Sunni Political Struggle and Future Strategies for Christians and other Minorities in the Middle East

• Brian Katulis, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress, Washington, D.C.
  Watch: The Impact of the Shia-Sunni Political Struggle and Future Strategies for Christians and other Minoirities in the Middle East

10:30-11:00 a.m. | Geopolitical Tensions: Russia, the United States and Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran and their effect on Christian and other Minority Communities

• Elizabeth H. Prodromou, Visiting Associate Professor of Conflict Resolution, The Fletcher School for Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University
  Watch: Geopoltical Tensions: Russia, the United States and turkey, saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran and Their Effect on Christians and Other Minority Communities

11:00–11:30 p.m. | Open Discussion with Panelists

Watch: Session IV Discussion

11:30-12:30 p.m. | Lunch

Session V   

12:30-1:00 p.m. | “Is it possible to elevate a secular awareness of religious diversity in the Middle East and to think of “minorities” not as marginalized but as people who share concerns that are common to the inhabitants of the region in the context of war and interventionism?”

• Ussama Makdisi, Professor of History, Arab-American Educational Chair of Arab Studies, Rice University 
  Watch: "Is it possible to elevate a secular awareness of religious diversity in the Middle East and to think of “minorities” not as marginalized but as people who share concerns that are common to the inhabitants of the region in the context of war and interventionism?"
   

1:00-2:30 p.m. | Open Discussion with Panelists and Q&A

Moderator:  Rev. Kail C. Ellis, OSA, PhD, Villanova University
Each panelist will present a 5-7 minute statement that will address ideas to address the challenges facing Christian and other minority communities of the Middle East.

Watch: Open Discussion with Panelists and Q&A