The Rumi Forum gave its traditional awards of the RUMI Peace and Dialogue at the dinner held at Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill. At the ceremony, extraordinary individuals and organizations who have greatly contributed their time, energy, leadership and dedication to the cause of dialogue, peace, community service and understanding were awarded.

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Tuesday, 27th October 2009

at 6:30 p.m.

Cannon Caucus Room
Cannon House Office Building
On Capitol Hill, Washington, DC

v Congressional Service Award:

Hon. Gerry E. Connoly, Congressman, 11^th District of Virginia

v International Peace Award:

H.E. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC)

v Commitment to Interfaith Dialogue Award:

Dr. John Borelli, Special Assistant to the President for Interreligious Initiatives, Georgetown University

v RUMI Peace Award:

Fr. Sidney H. Griffith, Chairman of the Department of Semitic and Egyptian Languages at The Catholic University of America

v Media Excellence Award:

Ms. Maureen Fiedler, Host of Interfaith Voices Radio Show

v Media Excellence Award:

Ebru TV, Emmy-winning multicultural cable television

In past years, the RUMI Peace and Dialogue Awards ceremony has honored the following extraordinary individuals:

His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey;

His Excellency Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain;

The Honorable Rush Holt, 12^th Congressional District of New Jersey;

The Honorable Gregory W. Meeks, 6^th Congressional District of New York;

The Honorable Wayne T. Gilchrest, 1^st Congressional District of Maryland (retired);

Dr. John J. DeGioia, President, Georgetown University;

Dr. John Esposito, Director, Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University;

Dr. David Smock, Vice President, Center for Mediation and Conflict Resolution, United States Institute of Peace;

Dr. Marc Gopin, James H. Laue Professor of World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution, Director, George Mason University; Dr. Akbar Ahmed, American University;

Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Islamic Studies, George Washington University;

Rev. Dr. Clark Lobenstine, Executive Director, Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington;

Dr. Sulayman Nyang, Howard University;

Patricia Smith Melton, Founder and Board Chair, Peace X Peace

On Faith’s Sally Quinn & Jon Meacham;

Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippett, American Public Media;