Although to the best of my knowledge, only Khartoum’s Foreign Minister Ali Karti will be attending the National Prayer Breakfast of Thursday, 5 February 2015 (not senior political official Ibrahim Ghandour), the press release here by Congressmen Jim McGovern and Joseph Pitts–bipartisan co-chairs of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission—sends a clear message about Congressional sponsorship of a Breakfast in which a key member of a genocidal regime is in attendance: “Not in our names!” — Eric Reeves
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Michael Mershon (Congressman McGovern) (202) 225-6101
February 4, 2015
JOINT STATEMENT BY LANTOS COMMISSION CO-CHAIRS MCGOVERN AND PITTS ON SUDANESE OFFICIALS ATTENDING THE PRAYER BREAKFAST ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH
“We are deeply alarmed by reports that two alleged perpetrators of genocide in Sudan, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Karti and Dr. Ibrahim Ghandur of the ruling National Congress Party, have been invited to the National Prayer Breakfast. Quite simply, these officials should not have been invited to attend an event held in the name of the U.S. Congress, which has passed legislation denouncing the Sudanese government for acts of genocide and crimes against humanity. This breakfast, an occasion where the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will be recognized, should be a moment to ensure that the words ‘Never Again!’ have genuine meaning. We call upon all participants at the National Prayer Breakfast, including the President of the United States, to publicly and forcefully denounce the continuing human rights crimes being carried out in Sudan by the government of Omar al-Bashir, especially the atrocities taking place on a near daily basis in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan.”
Michael Mershon
Senior Advisor / Press Secretary
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02)