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Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) is a nonprofit organization that promotes democracy, the rule of law, and human rights for all of the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Qatar and Bahrain: Stop Crackdown on Free Expression During War
In response to a crackdown on freedom of expression by the governments of Qatar and Bahrain during the ongoing regional war, DAWN issues the following statement:
Iran: Grant International Criminal Court Jurisdiction Over Apparent Crimes
Iran should file a declaration granting the International Criminal Court jurisdiction over crimes committed on its territory since the war began on February 28, 2026, said DAWN today. Other impacted
U.S.: Investigate Israeli Settler Murder of American Citizen Nasrallah Abu Siyam
The U.S. government should investigate and ensure accountability for the murder of Nasrallah Abu Siyam, a 19-year-old American citizen from Philadelphia shot dead by Israeli settlers last week in the
Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) announced today the appointment of Omar Shakir as its new Executive Director, succeeding Sarah Leah Whitson, who has led the organization since 2020.
DAWN's Statement in Response to Trump's 'Board of Peace' Meeting on Gaza Reconstruction
(Washington, D.C., February 18, 2026) – In response to the meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump's “Board of Peace” in Washington to announce $5 billion in reconstruction pledges for Gaza
At DAWN, we’re always connecting the dots between the malign actors undermining our own democracy here at home and the brutal regimes, Israeli and Arab, they support in the region.
DAWN Statement on Netanyahu's Washington Visit, Israeli Attacks, Iran Talks, and the Obstruction of Peace
(Washington, D.C., Feb, 11, 2026) - In response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington for his seventh meeting with President Trump since January 2025, amid ongoing Israeli