Mustafa Barghouti, prominent Palestinian democratic activist who finished second in the 2005 Palestinian Presidential elections (receiving approximately 20% of the vote) will speak about the Palestinian democratic process and his experiences fighting corruption. Although under occupation, Palestinian society stands as the most democratic Arab society today. Given the recent changes in the governing dynamics, with Hamas holding the majority of parliamentary seats, Barghouti will address the emerging challenges in the Palestinian governing authority.
Mustafa Barghouti, a medical doctor by training, is one of the founders of the Palestinian National Initiative — a reformist, democratic alternative to Fatah and Hamas. In 1979, Barghouti founded the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees, an NGO that provides health care and other related services in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which is considered one of the best-run NGOs in the Arab World. Barghouti was recently elected to the Palestinian parliament as the head of the Independent Palestine list, a coalition of independents and NGO members.
Co-sponsored by: Coalition for Justice in the Middle East (CJME) and the Organization of Arab Students in Stanford (OASIS)
Special thanks to: The Stanford Park Hotel and The Duck Club Restaurant