Wednesday News Conference With Syrian Refuge Family In Dallas Cancelled
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Due to intense pressure from the International Rescue Committee, IRC, Faez Al Sharaa has decided to cancel Wednesday's news conference with the new Syrian refugee family.
While he was in NY on Thursday and Friday, Faez and the family were told that concerns for their safety in Dallas was why they were prohibited from speaking with the media.
Anne Marie Weiss-Armush, who sent the news release about the cancelled news conference, says, "Faez used the word 'threatened' when he reported this to me and other friends. In particular, he feared that IRC might find a way to tie up the family's resettlement funding.
IRC had organized and facilitated a Nov 20 TIME magazine story on Faez and his family, and when I called our local IRC office on Sunday on his behalf, I was told that the family was totally free to speak to the media (the opposite of what Faez and his brother were reporting.) However, when I passed on Faez' request that IRC release to the media a photo of the family and a their brief statement, I did not receive a response."
Late Tuesday afternoon, Anne Marie Weiss-Armush said she received this text from Lucy Carrigan, IRC's national media director, who is currently in Dallas monitoring the situation.
"Anne Marie: to loop back on with you, I have been given the impression that you are planning a press event for the family tomorrow. Forgive me if I am misinformed. Under no circumstances can the media event go ahead. The family is not doing any media at the moment. This (sic) for the security and safety of family who remain in Syria. Please give me a ring to discuss. I am very happy to meet with you in person as (sic) am in Dallas at the moment so we can talk through. I am the media point for all IRC programs across the US). (sic)"
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