Farid Younos to present Afghan plan for peace to U.S. House of Representatives

• July 19, 2010 4:00pm

Farid Younos, lecturer in such subjects as sociology and social services, and human development and women’s studies, as well as a television host and commentator, will present his plan for achieving Afghan peace and diplomatic conflict resolution to members of the U.S. House of Representatives July 28 in Washington, D.C. 

“A Roadmap for Peace in Afghanistan: Cross-Cultural Leadership and Conflict Resolution,” will feature a number of senior Afghan American and Muslim American leaders including Qasim Tarin, CEO of the Afghan Business Network, Daoud Nassimi, vice-chairman of the Coordinating Council of Muslim Americans in the DC Metropolitan Area, and Sayyid Syeed, former secretary general of the Islamic Society of North America.

The session will be headed by Dennis Kucinich, Ohio, with Pete Stark, California’s 13th District (Alameda, Union City, Hayward, Newark, San Leandro and Fremont, plus parts of Oakland and Pleasanton); Barbara Lee, California’s 16th District (Albany, Ashland, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Emeryville, Fairview, Oakland and Piedmont), Keith Ellison, Minnesota; and Andre Carson, Indiana.

Younos, who will be the first Afghan American leader to speak, will recommend demilitarization of Afghanistan, declaration of neutrality and nonalignment, and that a moderate Islamic political system would fit the Afghan culture.

“I did all this work. This is a great honor,” said Younos, who first submitted his proposal June 16.

Younos holds a Ph.D. in International and Multicultural Education from the University of San Francisco, and has become an authority on Asian issues and politics, particularly in the time following Sept. 11  and is an advocate for women’s rights.

He was on the committee that created the Cal State East Bay Global Knowledge Conference on Afghan and Iranian Diaspora Cultures and Communities in the Bay Area in October 2009.

DD