In the News Quotes Archive

Seth Binder

Common Dreams,

March 5, 2024

“It is long past time for the United States to use its leverage and uphold U.S. law to end Israel’s indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza and have this war come to an end,” said Seth Binder, director of advocacy at the Middle East Democracy Center, a coalition member. “The humanitarian catastrophe that millions of Palestinians are suffering through and its seismic moral and strategic consequences should compel members of Congress to do everything in its power to secure a cessation of hostilities.”

Seth Binder

The New Arab,

February 25, 2024

“The Egyptian authorities should ensure the safety of his family in Egypt, and end their smear campaigns and the relentless, years-long crackdown on human rights groups and independent organizations.”

Abdullah Alaoudh

Exploring the Quran and the Bible,

February 23, 2024

“In a nutshell, [religious freedom in Saudi Arabia] is disastrous…the Saudi state is subjugating its people to the rulers no matter what…just in this conversation, I’m violating Saudi laws…The Saudi government has used laws, doctrines, everything in its power, to go after people for speaking up about anything. This is true for the shia minority, for the majority, anyone who has a different idea,” Abdullah Alaoudh told Professor Gabriel Said Reynolds on the Exploring the Quran and the Bible podcast.

Seth Binder

Al Jazeera,

February 7, 2024

“It’s unclear … where and how this specific provision may become law, if it ever is able to, but it is concerning nonetheless just given recent developments.”

Defense News,

February 6, 2024

“But a coalition of 17 arms control and human rights groups, led by the Center for Civilians in Conflict and the Middle East Democracy Center, sent a letter to lawmakers last week arguing the bill cedes congressional oversight authority by hindering lawmakers’ ability to place holds on sales over human rights concerns.”

Seth Binder

HuffPost,

February 5, 2024

“This provision is in line with Republican efforts in both the House and Senate for years. Not only did President [Donald] Trump suspend funding to UNRWA when he was in office, more recently Sen. [Jim] Risch [R-Idaho] and Rep. [Mike] McCaul [R-Texas] have put holds on that funding.”

Seth Binder

Reuters,

January 25, 2024

“Nearly four months in, the Biden administration should be doing so much more than simply discussing concerns, which they’ve raised publicly for months. It should be conditioning assistance and support on dramatic improvements and accountability for continued violations.”

Seth Binder

Wall Street Journal,

November 6, 2023

“The Biden administration has been urging the Israeli government to allow for humanitarian pauses, but this sale and other similar military assistance being rushed to Israel completely undermines that effort. . . . The administration may be asking for pauses but its actions say it is supporting the bombing campaign.”

Seth Binder

The Intercept,

October 24, 2023

“The U.S. supporting proxy forces in Lebanon is part of a decades-long, overly militarized policy towards the Middle East that has ignored the root causes of the region’s turmoil and struggles and not brought the peace or stability Americans have been promised.”

Abdullah Alaoudh

Deutsche Welle,

October 1, 2023

“We know we live in the real world and that governments must deal with Saudi Arabia, said Abdullah Alaoudh, Saudi director at the US-based Freedom Initiative. ‘But ignoring human rights, ignoring basic democratic values, when dealing with dictatorships and autocratic regimes doesn’t serve a country’s own strategic interests or bring about human rights,’ he argued.”

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