George Naifeh, 82, Founded Arab Council
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George A. Naifeh, who served as a U.S. diplomat in the Foreign Service and founded the American-Arab Affairs Council, died Thursday at 82.
George Naifeh’s 30-year career in the Foreign Service took him to Iran, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Jordan, where he befriended state leaders and tried to help Arabs understand Americans by showing films, opening libraries with books about the United States, lecturing and speaking to the media.
He served in Nigeria during its civil war and helped free and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka from prison.
After retirement, Naifeh founded the American-Arab Affairs Council, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating Americans about the Arab world. He was president and chairman of the organization from 1981 to 1990.
His son, Steven Naifeh, said the Arab family faced discrimination.
“The Ku Klux Klan once burned a cross on their front lawn,” he said.
He joined the Army Air Forces and served as a staff sergeant during World War II.