WRITER: MANSI BHATIA
CONTACT: LOIS GRAY
International Programs
Iowa City IA 52242
(319) 335-2026
e-mail: lois-gray@uiowa.edu

Release: Jan. 22, 2003

Aziz to discuss the current situation in Iraq Jan. 28

Middle East correspondent Barbara Nimri Aziz will discuss "Iraq: the Current Situation" with the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council (ICFRC) on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at noon in the Rockwood Fellowship Hall, Congregational Church, 30 North Clinton Street.

Aziz, an anthropologist and journalist, has been to Iraq numerous times. She has written extensively on the country, and her articles have been published in Christian Science Monitor, National Catholic Reporter, and the Manchester Guardian, among others. She has just completed a book, "Between Two Rivers: the Iraqis."

Aziz is the host and executive producer of Tahrir: Voices of the Arab World, a weekly magazine program at WBAI Pacifica Radio NY that covers Middle East issues and the American Arab/Muslim communities.

She earned her doctorate in social anthropology from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and has conducted research in China and Tibet, India, and Nepal in addition to serving as a visiting professor in Japan.

Lunch will be catered. Reservations can be made until noon Friday, Jan. 24 by sending checks of $7 for members and $8.50 for guests and non-members to ICFRC, 38 International Center, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1802. For those unable to meet the deadline, last minute adjustments may be made by calling (319) 335-0351.

Those unable to attend the program can listen to the broadcast by WSUI-AM (910) on Wednesday, Jan. 29, following the noon news. This program is presented in part with the support of University of Iowa International Programs and Iowa State Bank & Trust Co.

ICFRC is a non-profit association of community and university people interested in learning more about U.S. foreign policy, world affairs and current global issues impacting world societies. The group provides members with the opportunity to hear more than 35 experts per year who visit the UI campus and the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area.

ICFRC is part of International Programs, which consists of a number of offices, centers, degree programs, academic programs, research projects and services. Organized under the associate provost for academic programs and dean for International Programs, these units serve to further internationalize the campus and community and promote global scholarship, research and teaching.