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Non-profit

Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN)

Website:

dawnmena.org/
Location:

Brooklyn, NY
Tax ID:

82-4378001
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $1,424,995
Expenses: $1,522,938
Assets: $119,566
Type:

Advocacy Reform Group
Formation:

2018
Executive Director:

Sarah Leah Whitson
Budget (2022):

Revenue: $2,112,834

Expenses: $1,596,791

Assets: $455,613 1

References

  1. “Democracy for the Arab World Now Form 990.” ProPublica. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/824378001.

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) is a nonprofit organization founded by Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi Arabian journalist and former columnist for the Washington Post who was killed within the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. DAWN advocates for democracy, human rights, and political reform in the Arab world, aiming to promote transparency, accountability, and democratic governance across the region.

In the American context, DAWN advocates for left-of-center foreign policies and criticizes American involvement in the Middle East for allegedly propping up repressive regimes such as those in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. DAWN is also highly critical of Israel and its 2023-2024 military campaign against Hamas-controlled Gaza.

History

Democracy for the Arab World Now was founded by Jamal Khashoggi in February 2018. Khashoggi was a prominent Saudi Arabian journalist and commentator known for his work as a columnist for the Washington Post. Khashoggi covered a wide range of political and social issues in the Middle East, including the Arab Spring, Saudi government policies, and the Yemeni civil war. Khashoggi’s critical stance towards the Saudi regime and his calls for political reform made him a target of harassment and censorship by the Saudi authorities. In October 2018, Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. 1 2

Khashoggi established DAWN shortly before his death to encourage the development of democracy and human rights in the Middle East, particularly in light of reactionary policies in response to the Arab Spring in the early 2010s. The group was dormant for years after Khashoggi’s murder but was relaunched by his supporters in September 2020. 3 4

Advocacy

Arab World

Democracy for the Arab World Now advocates against American support for Middle Eastern governments that perpetrate “anti-democratic practices and human rights violations,” particularly the governments of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and “Israel-Palestine.”  DAWN estimates that U.S. funding of these countries reached $23 billion in 2022. That year, DAWN’s online publication, Democracy in Exile, focused 27% of its coverage on Palestine, followed by 14% on the United States, 11% on Saudi Arabia, 10% on Egypt, 9% on Yemen, and 7% on Iran. 5 6 7

DAWN claims to expose lobbyists in the United States who advocate for policies that support these governments; DAWN maintains a “Lobbyist Hall of Shame.” 8

DAWN advocates against most forms of foreign aid from the U.S. to Middle Eastern governments, including arms sales to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. DAWN has claimed credit for influencing the Biden administration to cut its annual $1.3 billion Egyptian aid package by $130 million. 9

DAWN claims that “aid conditionality” tends to be ineffective or even counterproductive in reforming Middle Eastern governments. Allegedly, these efforts fail because the American government purposefully ignores aid conditions to avoid undermining regimes that are beneficial to its foreign policy goals regardless of their human rights record. It claims that “the United States… is not actually committed to any reform agenda that is nominally attached to its aid flows. In the Middle East, the U.S. goes to great lengths to overlook routine, endemic violations of the conditions attached to aid by U.S. law.” 10

DAWN is not officially affiliated with any political parties in the United States or the Middle East. 11

DAWN claims not to advocate for regime change in the Middle East. 12

DAWN opposes American military interventions in Yemen to protect shipping lanes. 13

China

DAWN opposes China’s treatment of the Uyghurs, an Islamic ethnic minority that has been subject to cultural repression. DAWN has condemned Middle Eastern governments for passivity and complicity with China’s policies. 14

Israel

In January 2022, DAWN launched the Israel and Palestine Program for Democracy and Equal Rights. The program’s objectives are “to reform U.S. policies that have enabled Israeli abuses of Palestinians by providing military and political support to Israel, expose Israeli culprits and American lobbyists who contribute to Israeli abuses, and formulate a new blueprint for democracy, equality, justice, and freedom for all peoples subject to Israeli sovereignty.” 15

DAWN opposes Israel’s military operations in Gaza after the terrorist attack of October 7, 2023, and advocates for a “ceasefire and accountability for Israeli and U.S. officials responsible for war crimes in Gaza.” 16

The Israeli group NGO Monitor has called DAWN “a primary leader of lawfare (legal warfare) campaigns based on demonizing propaganda targeting Israel.” 17

Activity

Democracy for the Arab World Now operates Democracy in Exile, an online publication that collects commentary and stories from a network of individuals who have fled or been exiled from Middle Eastern countries due to advocating for political reform. 18

DAWN documents instances of abuse perpetrated by agents of Middle Eastern governments. The worst perpetrators are featured in DAWN’s “Culprits Gallery.” 19

DAWN has pursued legal action and sanctions against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (known as MBS) for his role in the murder of DAWN founder Jamal Khashoggi. DAWN supported a lawsuit by Khashoggi’s widow against MBS that was thrown out by a U.S. federal judge after the Biden administration recommended granting immunity to MBS. However, DAWN successfully campaign to rename the street outside the Saudi Arabian embassy in Washington, D.C. to Jamal Khashoggi Way and helped codify the Khashoggi Ban, a pronouncement by the U.S. Department of State placing visa restrictions on agents of foreign governments responsible for extraterritorial illicit activity. 20 21

In 2022, DAWN leveraged the Khashoggi Ban and the similar Magnitsky Act and Leahy Law to file six sanction requests against agents of the states of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Israel. 22

Also in 2022, DAWN supported two legal cases in the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli officials. 23

DAWN has taken credit for the release of four democratic reformers in Egypt after publishing “extensive documentation” on their abuse at the hands of Egyptian authorities. 24

Leadership

Sarah Leah Whitson is the executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now. She previously worked as executive director of the Middle East and North Africa Division of Human Rights Watch and in various roles at Goldman Sachs. 25

Adam Shapiro is the director of advocacy for Israel-Palestine at DAWN. Shapiro is a co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement, “a Palestinian-led movement committed to resisting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land using nonviolent, direct-action methods and principles.” 26

Nihad Awad is a member of DAWN’s board. Awad is a co-founder and the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). After the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, Awad said that he “was happy to see people breaking the siege” and considered the attack an act of “self-defense” against Israel. 27

Mongi Dhaouadi is also a member of DAWN’s board. Dhaouadi is the executive director of the Libyan American Alliance, and a former executive director of CAIR Connecticut. On Facebook, Dhaouadi has referred to the Israel Defense Forces as “terrorists.” 28

Funding

In 2022, Democracy for the Arab World Now earned $2,112,834 in revenue. 29 Many of DAWN’s donors maintain anonymity due to security risks given the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi. 30 DAWN does not accept funding from Middle Eastern governments. 31

In 2022, DAWN received funding from the Open Society Foundations, the Ford Foundation, the Arca Foundation, the Tawakkol Karman Foundation, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. 32

References

  1. “Jamal Khashoggi: All you need to know about Saudi journalist’s death.” BBC. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45812399.
  2. Wood, Graeme. “Absolute Power.” The Atlantic. March 3, 2022. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/04/mohammed-bin-salman-saudi-arabia-palace-interview/622822/.
  3. “Our Mission.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/about/our-mission/.
  4. Fahim, Kareem. “Khashoggi supporters launch group to advocate for democratic rights in the Arab world.” The Washington Post. September 29, 2020. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/khashoggi-dawn-arab-democracy/2020/09/29/70de57a2-025e-11eb-b92e-029676f9ebec_story.html
  5. “What We Do.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/about/what-we-do/.
  6. “Frequently Asked Questions.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/about/frequently-asked-questions/.
  7. “Democracy for the Arab World Now Annual Report 2022.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DAWN-Annual-Report-Final-2022.pdf.
  8. “Democracy for the Arab World Now Annual Report 2022.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DAWN-Annual-Report-Final-2022.pdf.
  9. “Democracy for the Arab World Now Annual Report 2022.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DAWN-Annual-Report-Final-2022.pdf.
  10. [1] Cambanis, Thanassis. “No Strings Attached: Why Aid Conditionality Just Doesn’t Work.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. August 17, 2021. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/no-strings-attached-why-aid-conditionality-just-doesnt-work/.
  11. “What We Do.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/about/what-we-do/.
  12. “What We Do.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/about/what-we-do/.
  13. “U.S.: End Unlawful Attacks on Yemen, Reverse Terrorist Designation.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. January 18, 2024. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/u-s-end-unlawful-attacks-on-yemen-reverse-terrorist-designation/.
  14. “About this Project.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/complicit-middle-east-autocrats-and-chinas-uyghur-repression/.
  15. “DAWN Launches Israel and Palestine Program for Democracy and Equal Rights.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. January 31, 2022. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/dawn-launches-israel-and-palestine-program-for-democracy-and-equal-rights/.
  16. “What We Do.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/about/what-we-do/.
  17. “Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) and Expanding US Lawfare.” NGO Monitor. March 3, 2024. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://www.ngo-monitor.org/reports/dawn-lawfare/.
  18. “What We Do.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/about/what-we-do/.
  19. “DAWN’s CULPRITS GALLERY.” Democracy for the Arab World Now.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/countries/dawns-culprits-gallery/.
  20. “Democracy for the Arab World Now Annual Report 2022.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DAWN-Annual-Report-Final-2022.pdf.
  21. Marquardt, Alex; Sneed, Tierney. “Lawsuit against Saudi crown prince dismissed Biden administration recommended he is given immunity.” CNN. December 6, 2022. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/06/politics/saudi-crown-prince-lawsuit-dismissed/index.html.
  22.  “Democracy for the Arab World Now Annual Report 2022.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DAWN-Annual-Report-Final-2022.pdf.
  23.  “Democracy for the Arab World Now Annual Report 2022.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DAWN-Annual-Report-Final-2022.pdf.
  24. “Democracy for the Arab World Now Annual Report 2022.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DAWN-Annual-Report-Final-2022.pdf.
  25. “Sarah Leah Whitson.” LinkedIn. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-leah-whitson-931388/.
  26. “Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) and Expanding US Lawfare.” NGO Monitor. March 3, 2024. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://www.ngo-monitor.org/reports/dawn-lawfare/.
  27. “Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) and Expanding US Lawfare.” NGO Monitor. March 3, 2024. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://www.ngo-monitor.org/reports/dawn-lawfare/.
  28. “Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) and Expanding US Lawfare.” NGO Monitor. March 3, 2024. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://www.ngo-monitor.org/reports/dawn-lawfare/.
  29. “Democracy for the Arab World Now Form 990.” ProPublica. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/824378001.
  30. “Frequently Asked Questions.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/about/frequently-asked-questions/.
  31. “Democracy for the Arab World Now Annual Report 2022.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DAWN-Annual-Report-Final-2022.pdf.
  32. “Democracy for the Arab World Now Annual Report 2022.” Democracy for the Arab World Now. Accessed March 6, 2024. https://dawnmena.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DAWN-Annual-Report-Final-2022.pdf.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: January 1, 2022

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2021 Dec Form 990 $1,424,995 $1,522,938 $119,566 $191,581 N $1,424,995 $0 $0 $1,105,737
    2020 Dec Form 990 $650,873 $625,387 $25,486 $0 N $650,873 $0 $0 $377,295

    Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN)

    491 PACIFIC ST
    Brooklyn, NY 11217-1811