FDPOC believes that the only path to a prosperous and modern Middle East is democracy. This goes hand in hand with a respect for individual liberties, freedom of expression, equality, and pluralism. Yet regional totalitarianism, poverty, underdevelopment and backward educational systems are all conspiring to incubate political, radical Islam which, in itself, was originally encouraged and given life to by the developed countries. A legacy which has come back to haunt not only them but the Middle East and the world in general. Now, more than ever, it is necessary to start working to solve the root causes of that problem.


But do not be deceived by the predictable voices that would have us believe that the values of democracy, pluralism, and human rights culture are alien to us in the Middle East. To believe that would be to willfully ignore a long tradition of Arab and Muslim intellectuals, writers, human and women’s rights activists, regime opponents, and journalists who have spoken with urgency of the need for real change in our countries. These, indeed, are the true seeds of democratization and modernization, seeds the regimes do not want to ever see flourish.

These voices speak to us most loudly in the shape of cold statistics: for the vast majority of those who have struggled and continue struggling for peaceful, democratic change are in the jails of today’s regimes.

It is the prime objective of the Foundation for the Defense of Prisoners of Conscience (FDPOC) to defend those very individuals and their values. To give a voice to those whose own governments have deliberately silenced by taking their demands to the corridors of the international community: to the research centers and universities; and to everywhere where politics is made. FDPOC’s lobbying engages at all levels in an effort to more effectively carry out our mission in the United Nations, the European Union, the USA, and with International Civil Society. (More)