Democracy for the Arab World Now

U.S.-based Middle East watchdog non-profit organization

Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN)Formation| 27 September 2020; 4 years ago (2020-09-27)

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Founder| Jamal Khashoggi
Type| 501(c)3 organization

Tax ID no.

| 82-4378001
Focus| Promoting democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in the Arab world
Headquarters| Washington D.C., United States

Key people

| Sarah Leah Whitson (Executive Director)
Website| dawnmena.org

Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) is an American non-profit organization launched in September 2020 that advocates for democracy and human rights in the Arab world.[1][2] DAWN was founded by Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi before his assassination.[1] [3]

## Leadership, aims and funding

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Director Sarah Leah Whitson said it was established based on the "belief that only democracy and freedom will bring lasting peace and security to the Middle East and North Africa."[1] Whitson said DAWN would be funded by private individuals and foundations and eschew any government financial assistance – in part, precisely because one aspect of its mission is "to hold Western states accountable" for enabling abuses by authoritarian governments.[1]

## Actions

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In October 2022, after conducting its own research,[4] DAWN submitted a request to the International Criminal Court investigation in Palestine to investigate Eyal Toledano, a former legal advisor to the Israeli Defense Forces, alleging that from 2016 to 2020, Toledano "planned approved, or oversaw acts and policies that constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and human rights violations, including ... maintaining a system of apartheid".[5][6]

In February 2025, DAWN submitted a request to the International Criminal Court to investigate former President of the United States Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for "aiding and abetting, as well as intentionally contributing to, Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza”.[7]

## See also

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* Democracy in the Middle East and North Africa

## References

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1. ^ a b c d Kareem Fahim (29 September 2020). "Khashoggi supporters launch group to advocate for democratic rights in the Arab world". The Washington Post.
2. ^ Ben Hubbard (28 September 2020). "Saudi Writer's Dream Comes to Life Two Years After His Killing". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2021-04-11.
3. ^ Neugeboren, Eric (2020-10-02). "Khashoggi's Plan for Rights Group Realized". Voice of America. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
4. ^ Israel: Col. Eyal Toledano – Former IDF West Bank Legal Advisor Authorized Collective Punishment, Illegal Home Demolitions, and Forcible Displacement of Thousands, Democracy for the Arab World Now, 31 October 2022, Wikidata Q125676907, archived from the original on 28 April 2024
5. ^ Omar H. Rahman (2023), Apartheid and the Palestine Liberation Movement: Opportunities and Challenges (PDF), Middle East Council on Global Affairs, Wikidata Q125676667, archived (PDF) from the original on 28 April 2024
6. ^ "Israel: senior army officer should face ICC investigation for war crimes, says NGO". Middle East Monitor. 1 November 2022. Wikidata Q125677080. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024.
7. ^ "ICC urged to investigate Biden for 'aiding and abetting' Gaza war crimes". The Guardian. 24 February 2025. Retrieved 26 February 2025.

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