Dear friend of Aswat;

We are two weeks away from our special and great day for Aswat. "Five Years for
Aswat Conference", to be held the 28^th of March 2007 in Haifa, is a celebration
of Five years to Aswat existence and contribution to the Palestinian community.

In this celebration we launch the first book to be published in Arabic about
LGBTIQ issues, titled "Home and Exile in Queer Experience: collection of
articles about lesbians and homosexual identity". This event enables you as a
supporter and guest to meet your allies at Aswat. For Aswat this is a chance to
raise the LGBTIQ issue and to put it on the Palestinian and the International
social agenda.

After announcing the conference program and its aims to the local public inside
Israel we received different responses, some of which are supportive while
others are objecting as a result of the sensitivity surrounding the issue of
lesbianism and homosexuality within the Arab society.

On the 4^th of March 2007, the Islamic Movement made a public announcement
signed
by its leaders asking Aswat to cancel the conference; besides; they are
accessing many Media sources (journals, radios, the web.), to disrupt the
carrying out of the conference and the existence of Aswat as well.

The Islamic leaders wrote to the journals that they "were shocked to hear about
the existence of the conference“and that”Aswat is a group that encourages
deviation from the norms and devotes all its work for deviation." They
described Aswat as a “Fatal cancer” that should be forbidden from spreading out
within the Arab society and from eliminating the Arab culture". Moreover they
referred to all participating organizations; to cancel their participation and
assist in stopping the conference.

The media, especially the Arab media, is making a big fuss over this matter and
they are trying to make the issue more complicated.

Aswat group and supporting friends will keep holding the conference, we believe
in our existence and in the importance of having our work carried out within
the Arab community that suppressed the LGBTQI issues for years.

With your support Aswat hopes to overcome the obstacles and challenges that
some
groups within the Arab society try to put on our way with the aim of stopping
our activities towards equal rights and free will.

Hence, all women in Aswat urge you, our friend/s, to take an act of solidarity
in supporting our fight and struggle in a way that you consider is appropriate
by referring to your media; the organizations that you support; circulating the
invitation in your mailing list or/and sending representatives on your behalf
to
support us in this crucial day.

Be sure that your support is highly appreciated and important to Aswat.

Sincerely Yours,

Rauda Morcos, General Coordinator

&

Alhan Jeries, Resource Development Coordinator

ASWAT- Palestinian Gay Women

118 Arlozorov St. Haifa 33276

Tel: +972 4 8662357

Fax: +972 4 8641072

Website: www.aswatgroup.org

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Aswat - Palestinian Gay Women are Happy to Invite You to:

“Home and Exile in Queer Identity”

Conference

On the 28^th of March 2007

On this day Aswat celebrates five fruitful years of engaging in social change
and raising awareness in the Palestinian Community

Aswat also proudly launches the publication of our first book in Arabic:

Home and Exile in Queer Identity: Collection of Articles about Lesbian and Homosexual Identity

Program:

10:00 - 10:30: Participants Registration

10:30 - 11:00: Opening of the event with presentations by:

Rula Deeb - Kayan Director

Shahira Shalabi - Shatil Center

Aswat Board Coordinator

11:00 - 12:00: First panel: "Homosexuality and Lesbianism in the Arab
community"

Participants: Aida Touma-Solaiman, Yousef Abu-Wardy, Ruti Gur, and Rauda Morcos

12:30 - 13:00: Musical Interval: The Palestinian Women Rappers Band “Arapiat”
and a slide show by Aswat

13:00 - 14:00: Lunch break

14:00 - 14:30: In Solidarity: Terry Greenblatt - Feminist activist, Leslie
Fienberg - Peace and Freedom of Speech activist, Brenda Funches - Astraea
Lesbian Foundation for Justice, Hanneke Kamphuis and Naima el Moussati - Mama
Cash representatives, Global Fund for Women representative

And Open Society Institute representative

14:30 - 16:00: Second panel: “Home and Exile in Queer Identity”

Participants: Raafat Hattab, Nabila Espanioli, Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian and
Haya Shalom

16:00 - 16:30: Musical Interval: “Arapiat” Returns

16:30 - 17:00: Conclusions and Closing Remarks

There will be simultaneous translation to three languages; Arabic, Hebrew and
English

Cameras and Photographing are not permitted

Note: Registration Fees are 25 NIS. Entrance for pre-registered participants
only

For More information please write to: ipcoordinator aswatgroup.org

Call: +97248662357, or Fax +97248641072

You can also visit http://www.aswatgroup.org

Sponsored by: Fatoush, Douzan, Open Society Institute and Soros Foundation
Network (FOSI) and Private Donors