Malek Jandali v. ADC Round One...ding!

Malek Jandali (website--not particularly well-updated but has bio and sound clips--here) is a Syrian-German-American pianist and composer, most known for making me jealous of his glossy Steinways. As a result of his unique accomplishments, Jandali was invited to perform at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) convention last weekend in Washington, D.C. But according to reports (in English at Politico; in Arabic at al-Jazeera), his invitation was yanked after higher-ups objected to one song on his set list: "Watani Ana" (I am my homeland and my homeland is me) and Jandali refused to omit it. In this statement published on their website, the ADC vehemently denied allegations of "being against pro-democracy speech." The statement claims the ADC put the kibosh on the song to avoid "fomenting the divisiveness that inevitably emerges in the Arab American community where domestic Arab politics are concerned." Then, in one of the most dizzyingly obvious hypocrisies I've ever seen, the statement concludes, with reference to those domestic Arab politics, "ADC’s resolution not to promote any particular side of a dispute is misunderstood as a failure to uphold the underlying principles upon which ADC is based. ADC unequivocally supports civil rights and liberties for all people and condemns any action that undermines the freedom or dignity of any human being." Translation: "We're not taking sides, but that doesn't mean we're not taking sides."

With the ADC's statement only adding fuel to the fire, there were claims that the real reason the ACD sent Jandali packing was because of the close relationship between the Syrian ambassador to the US (Imad Moustafa) and the ADC, in particular its chairman, Safa Rifka.

Jandali, for his part, said he remains in the dark as to the reason the conference's organizers reacted in such a way to the song. He sees "Watani Ana" as a "humanitarian" song directed against oppression in every country, not as a "political" song specifically aimed at any one regime, adding that the song doesn't refer explicitly to Syria or even the Middle East.

Two days after its first statement was issued, the ADC published a second one, reversing its decision and announcing the playing of "Watani Ana" (without Jandali and without his permission) as the focal point of that evening's gala. The statement does not explain the reason for the reversal.

According to a second Politico article, the convention was largely overtaken by debate over this series of events. There were boycotts, impromptu discussion panels, and various acts of "disobedience" (such as a speaker defiantly reading the lyrics to the song as part of his talk).

The ADC came out of this with a huge black eye. They will face many difficult questions in the coming days about who they answer to (there are also claims of Gulf state patronage), and how they should be responding to the Arab Spring.

So what do you think?