Skip to main content

The Dissident: A conversation on human rights and accountability

Date:

Announcement

Co-hosted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee

Please join the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on Thursday April 8 at 5:00 PM EDT for a conversation with the filmmakers of the documentary “The Dissident” and a roundtable discussion with Members of Congress on U.S. – Saudi relations and accountability for human rights violations moderated by Alexander Marquardt, Senior National Security Correspondent at CNN.

“The Dissident” is a 2020 American documentary film by Oscar Award-winning Director Bryan Fogel and Producer Thor Halvorssen that examines the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and Saudi Arabia's efforts to control dissent abroad. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2020. (For more information on the film, see here.)

Members of Congress, including Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks and Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Co-Chair Rep. James P. McGovern, will join “The Dissident” filmmakers to discuss the documentary and the issues it raises for U.S. foreign policy.

The virtual event will be held on Thursday April 8  from 5:00 – 6:00 PM EDT by Zoom.  Please register here no later than 5:00 PM EDT on Tuesday, April 6 to attend the event and receive a link to screen “The Dissident.”

The roundtable discussion is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the interested public, and the media. This screening will be open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the interested public, and the media. For any questions, please contact Matthew McLaughlin (for Co-Chair McGovern) or Piero Tozzi (for Co-Chair Smith).

Hosted by:

James P. McGovern
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Gregory Meeks
Member of Congress
Chairman, HFAC
Christopher H. Smith
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC
Witnesses

Panelists

  • Omar Abdulaziz, Saudi political satirist and activist exiled in Canada
  • Bryan Fogel, Director, The Dissident
  • Thor Halvorssen, Producer, The Dissident, and President, Human Rights Foundation

Moderator

  • Alex Marquardt, Senior National Security Correspondent, CNN

Bios 

Meeting Documents

Video

Contact The Commission

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
4150 O'Neill House Office Building
200 C Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20515
United States of America

Phone: +1 (202) 225-3599
TLHRC@mail.house.gov

Accessibility

The Commission seeks to make its events, meetings and hearings accessible to persons with disabilities.

If you are in need of special accommodations, please call (202) 225-3599 at least four business days in advance.

Questions with regard to special accommodations in general (including availability of Commission materials in alternative formats and assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) may be directed to the Commission.

Get Commission E-Mail Updates

Please sign up to receive Commission updates, hearing schedules, and the latest news.