WASHINGTON — Executives of the Arab American Institute (AAI), American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), and the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), met with Attorney General Eric Holder on Monday to discuss issues of concern to the Arab American and Muslim communities.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder speaks to a Detroit crowd in this TAAN file photo from November 2009.

Leaders spoke with Attorney General Holder about several controversial policies developed under the 2003 Department of Justice Guidance on Profiling, which include several loopholes allowing for widespread profiling based on race, ethnicity, religion and national origin, according to civil rights groups. Among the topics discussed were the 2008 Investigative Operational Guidelines (DIOGs), disclosures in the 2010 Inspector General Report on FBI data collection of identified “communities of interest,” the use of informants in terrorism cases, and the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), and PATRIOT Act reauthorization.

The groups stressed the importance of continued dialogue and additional efforts to promote partnerships between local communities and law enforcement, they said in a press release.

“It is the national security loophole in the 2003 Attorney General guidelines on profiling that has provided the legal cover for many of the policies put in place during the previous administration,” said AAI President James Zogby, “including the round ups of thousands of Arab and Muslim immigrants targeted for ‘special registration’ and the 2008 Mukasey guidelines for the FBI. As has been repeatedly demonstrated, profiling is ineffective, wastes precious law enforcement resources, and alienates American communities eager to assist in keeping our country safe and secure.”

ADC President Mary Rose Oakar said: “We urged the attorney general to repeal the 2008 Department of Justice FBI Guidelines that were put into effect in the last month of the Bush administration and asked him to assist in repealing the NSEERS program, which targets young men from Arab and Muslim countries.”

Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of MPAC, said: “Problematic polices over the past eight years have led to a chilling effect in our community. We encourage the DOJ to address some of these very pertinent issues to ensure respect for the rule of law and security policies that work.”

New DHS civil rights officer named

WASHINGTON — Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced on Monday the appointment of Margo Schlanger as DHS’ new Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

Margo Schlanger

The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties reviews policy issues, investigates complaints against the department’s actions and builds relationships with affected communities.

Schlanger was a law professor at the University of Michigan, where her research and teaching focused on civil rights, tort, prisons, and equal employment litigation. She also ran the Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse.

“Schlanger brings to the Department expertise in constitutional law and civil rights,” DHS said in the statement.

Man arrested for HLF work

DEARBORN — A local Syrian-born singer has been arrested and charged with lying to federal officials over his employment with the Holy Land Foundation, a charity convicted in 2008 of providing funds to Hamas.

Local singer Mohamad Mustapha Ali Masfaka, known as Abu Ratib, arrested in Detroit last week for allegedly lying to federal officials about connections to the Holy Land Foundation.

Mohamad Mustapha Ali Masfaka, 47, known commonly as Abu Ratib, didn’t declare having worked with HLF on a 2002 naturalization application, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. He later allegedly lied to FBI agents, saying he sang at charity fundraisers but never took compensation from the group. Investigators believe he ran the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation’s Detroit operations in 1997 and 1998.

Masfaka was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection while re-entering the U.S. following a trip to Canada. He faces up to 23 years imprisonment and $750,000 in fines on charges of attempted naturalization fraud, false statements and perjury.

LAHC accepting scholarship applications

DEARBORN — The Lebanese American Heritage Club has announced that the Arab American Scholarship Foundation application is online and available for all students to submit their information for review.

The 22nd annual AASF/LAHC Gala will is scheduled for Friday, May 7 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Dearborn, where the organizations will honor over 60 Arab American students of high academic distinction.

Walmart COO Bill Simon is to deliver the keynote address at the gala.

AASF scholarships are worth $1000 each and are offered to high school seniors, undergraduate and graduate students. All application information must be submitted online through www.lahc.org. The deadline to apply is April 6.

DHS Hamtramck ribbon cutting ceremony

LATHRUP VILLAGE — The Arab American and Chaldean Council is to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for the group’s Department of Human Services location in Hamtramck on Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 11 a.m.

Previously located at 2400 Denton Street, the DHS Hamtramck district office and ACC-DHS program is now located in the Woody Plaza at 12140 Joseph Campau, 48212.

To contact ACC in the DHS Hamtramck office, call 313.873.1955.

ACC helps reunite father with daughters

LATHRUP VILLAGE— The Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC) was to host a family unification celebration on Friday, 2 p.m. at the group’s Youth Recreation and Leadership Center in Detroit.

ACC helped a refugee regain custody of his two young daughters, taken away from him in 2003 “as a result of the mothers actions,” according to statement released by the social service organization.

ACC said in a statement that Imad Jasim was unaware of his rights and how to navigate the system until the organization provided him with resources.

Jasim regained custody of his two daughters, ages 8 and 10, on Dec. 17.

Contact case manager Labiba Radwan at 313.893.6172 for more information.

Family-owned beer distributor pays for its employees to eat in downtown Detroit

DETROIT – Great Lakes Beverage, a family -owned Anheuser-Busch beer distributor, is pitching in with a program to help Detroit restaurants during the recession: It’s encouraging its employees to eat out in downtown Detroit — and it’s picking up the tab.

Inaugurated last year, the “Dining in the D” program was such a hit with its employees the last time around that Great Lakes Beverage is bringing it back for 2010.

“We know the economy will continue to be tough for many Detroit bars and restaurants,” GLB President Howard Wolpin said. “We know Detroit is one of the best restaurant towns in the nation and we want to keep supporting our hometown and the hardworking folks who make Detroit one of the best places to get a meal.”

All through January, Wolpin is paying for an entrée every time one of his employees eats in any restaurant in Detroit under the “Dining in the D” program. The company employs about 90 people.