Voice of the Copts announces two events in Washington DC: a rally at Egypt Embassy on March 11, and Press Conference at the National Press Club on March 12

The Egyptian regime will be confronted by the Copts in Washington DC in the following events:
–  A peaceful rally against Egyptian regime will take place on Thursday, March 11th, 2010 (replacing the canceled one for wintry weather) at 1:00pm in front of Egyptian Embassy located In United States’ Capital,3522 International Court Northwest Washington, DC 20008-3022.  Our pacific protest will ended at 4:00pm. The purpose of our demonstration is indicated in our previous communication: http://voiceofthecopts.org/en/events/rally_in_support_of_egyptian_coptic.html

–  A press conference will take place on Friday, March 12th, 2010 at
1:00pm in Bloomberg Room, National Press Club – Washington DC,
529 14th Street, NW Washington DC, 20045.

Voice of the Copts, a human rights organization speaking up for more than 15 million Egyptian Coptic Christians living under persecution and oppression, will take this opportunity to detail the recent violent attacks against Coptic Christians in Egypt. Attacks occurred on Coptic Christmas Eve where eight people were massacred. In addition, we plan to give details regarding the application filed on January 22, 2010 with the United Nations Rapporteur for Human Rights presented on behalf of Mohamed Hegazy, a Muslim Egyptian converted to Christianity.

Dottore Architetto Ashraf Ramelah, Voice of the Copts’ president, will present an official request to the international bodies to generate an international investigation concerning:

– The Coptic Christmas Eve massacre, bringing to light the master plan and examining persecution and genocide practices under the Mubarak regime. Voice of the Copts has always considered Mubarak a silent partner to murder, torture, rape and other human rights violations against Copts. Furthermore, Voice of the Copts is seeking an indictment against Mubarak and his regime.

Panelist speakers will include:

–  Mr. Ashraf Edward, Attorney of  Record for Mr. Hegazy, on his legal action against the Egyptian regime in Mr. Hegazy’s case and his work in general in defending human rights in Egypt.

–  Dr. Grégor Puppinck, Director of the European Center for Law and Justice, who in cooperation with Mr. Edward and Dr. Ramelah, made the application for Mr. Hegazy and presented the application to the United Nations.

– Mr. Jeffrey Imm, Responsible for Equality and Liberty (R.E.A.L.),
on supremacism, freedom, human liberty and racial equality.

– Jordan Sekulow, American Center for Law and Justice, on the   service offered by the ACLJ and the work they do on human rights issues.

–  Mrs. Faith McDonnell, the Director of Religious Liberty Programs, on the oppression of women in the Arab World.

–  Dr. Nazir Bhatti, Pakistan Christian Congress, on Pakistan’s blasphemy law, threats, attacks, and killings of Christian religious minorities in Pakistan.

–  Shaheryar Gill, American Center for Law and Justice, on their cooperation with the Voice of the Copts application submitted to the United Nations Rapporteur for Human Rights.

For more information about Voice of the Copts and these issues, please visit our:

English web site: www.voiceofthecopts.org
Italian web site:   www.lavocedeicopti.org

Rally information:
http://voiceofthecopts.org/en/events/rally_in_support_of_egyptian_coptic.html

Press release on application:
http://voiceofthecopts.org/en/press_release/press_conference_regarding_muslim_converted_in_cairo.html

Application to United Nations Human Rights Rapporteur:
http://voiceofthecopts.org/en/press_release/application_into_un_special_rapporteur_on_human_rights.html

About Voice of the Copts
Voice of the Copts Website is an independent electronic news site which belongs to the Organization known under the same name.
Our goal is to report news of discrimination and oppression of religious minorities in every corner of our planet. A special attention will be given to those taking place in countries ruled by the Arabs, as well as providing an in-depth explanation of their mentality, behaviour and their way of living.
Since we are Copts, events of interest to the Copts concerning issues in their homeland, Egypt, will be covered, Our website would be an open window on the Coptic culture, as well as a comprehensive source of information on the Copts’ suffering in their own land.

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March 11 Logistics to Egypt Embassy:

— Date: Thursday, March 11
— Time: 1 PM to 4 PM
— Address: 3522 International Court N.W., Washington, DC 20008
— Nearby Washington DC metro stops: Van Ness-UDC metro stop
— Directions: R.E.A.L. recommends that rally attendees come by the Washington subway (“metro”) system to the Van Ness-UDC metro stop and walk over to the embassy.   The parking near the embassies specifically states that such parking is by permit only. However, there are public parking facilities on nearby Connecticut Avenue NW and Veazey Terrace NW a block north of the Van Ness-UDC metro stop as an alternative.  Details on the subway and parking options are provided in the following paragraphs.

Getting There by Subway

Take the DC subway red line (subway trip planner) to the Van Ness-UDC metro stop.   For context, the Van-Ness UDC metro stop is three stops north of Dupont Circle and two stops north of the Zoo.  So it is just a few minutes away from the center of the subway, Metro Center. Once arriving at the Van Ness-UDC metro stop, then following these walking directions:

Walking from VAN NESS-UDC METRO STATION to INTERNATIONAL COURT NW
— Exit station using WEST SIDE OF CONNETICUT AVE NW & VEAZY ST exit
— Walk approx. 1 block SE on Connecticut Ave NW.
— Turn right on Van Ness St NW.
— Walk approx. 3 blocks W on Van Ness St NW.
— Turn right on International Court NW.
— Walk approx. 1 block N on International Court NW.

Getting There by Car:

The embassy “courtyard” of International Court and International Drive can be reached by driving towards Connecticut Avenue NW, then turning onto Van Ness Street NW, and then from Van Ness Street NW you are able to turn onto either International Place or International Drive.  We have seen that the parking by the embassy is by permit only, although it is not clear how severely that is enforced.

Another alternative we have found is the Van Ness Center public parking lot.  We found that if go up Connecticut about half a block from the Van Ness-UDC metro stop (4201 Connecticut Avenue), that there is parking on the right of Connecticut Avenue going North when you turn right onto Veazey Terrace NW.   There is a public parking lot called the Van Ness Center parking lot that is next to a Giant food store.  The Van Ness Center lot is run by Landmark Parking, and it shows an address of 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, but my GPS said that it was 3046 Veazey Terrace NW.   (There is also another lot advertised on that block of Connecticut Avenue next to an “Embassy Cleaners.”)  Walking back down the Connecticut Avenue from the parking lot exit, you will see a Pizza Hut, Jerry’s Sub shop and Bank of America on the corner.  Then basically follow the walking directions from the Van Ness-UDC Metro stop above.

March 12 Logistics to National Press Club:
— Date: Friday, March 12
— Time: 1 PM to 3 PM
— National Press Club, 529 14th Street, NW 13th Floor, Washington, DC
— Bloomberg Room

Directions to Visitors via DC Subway

Exit via Metro Center Subway Station

Walking Directions from Metro Center Subway Station (Red/Blue/Orange Line) to National Press Club on 14th Street NW

METRO CENTER METRO STATION to 14TH ST NW:

1. Exit station through 13TH ST NW & G ST NW entrance.
2. Walk approx. 1 block S on 13th St NW.
3. Turn right on F St NW.
4. Walk approx. 1 block W on F St NW.
5. Turn left on 14th St NW.
6. Walk approx. 1 block S on 14th St NW.