DETROIT — Wayne State University Law School hosted a conference put together by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of Michigan and other groups
April 7 featuring diverse panels as part of the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review.

Dearborn Judge Mark Somers (left) moderates a panel discussion on law enforcement.                         PHOTOS: Nafeh AbuNab, American Elite Studios

The four-part Civil Society Consultation event, which was sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and Department of Justice  and attended by members of each group, focused on discussing the concerns of various groups that face discrimination on a daily basis while comparing and contrasting their issues of diversity, inclusion, and discrimination. Topic titles for the discussion included Structural Racism: The Legacies of Discrimination Beyond Intent; Travel and Immigration: Problems in Getting from Here to There; Law Enforcement: The People and the State; and Social Exclusion: Barriers to an Inclusive Community.The invitation-only event allowed esteemed audience members to have their concerns and viewpoints heard by like-minded people.Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion Vice Chair Victor Begg used the forum to air his concerns about the way Muslims are treated in America, bringing up nagging concerns about Islamic charities being targeted.”I asked a member of the Treasury Department about giving to Muslim charities during Ramadan and why they can’t classify our charities as being safe but they told me, ‘We have thousands of charities, how can we do that?’ “Begg said.

Hamtramck Mayor Karen Majewski (left) discusses a diversity issue at a panel moderated by Arab American News Publisher Osama Siblani at Wayne State University.

Begg said he told the person that the number of Muslim charities is actually a very small percentage of that number, but still didn’t receive a concrete answer.”So that’s an example of double standards and it doesn’t help the community; we’re upset that we can’t do our charity work,” he said.ADC advisory board member Ihsan Alkhatib served on the panel for the discussion and agreed with Begg, saying that the lack of transparency is damaging to the American Muslim community and that the explanation of not having enough time to examine the charities was questionable in his eyes. The societal changes faced by people with disabilities and also the gay, lesbian, and transgendered communities were discussed during the event.Lisa Franklin of the Warriors on Wheels disabled veterans organization talked about issues her group’s members face.”I learned a long time ago never to judge a book by its cover,” she said.”Our assumptions about the capabilities of people with disabilities stem from their outer appearances, but some of the most talented and intellectual people I know have disabilities.”Triangle Foundation Director of Policy Bernadette Brown said that her community understands the pain of ethnic and religious minorities while Dan Levy of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights added that it is still legal for people to be kicked out of their housing complexes or be fired because of their sexual orientation in Michigan, something that isn’t allowed to happen under the law based on race or ethnicity. Levy also touched on issues involving voters’ rights as some areas are singled out and forced to endure conditions such as long lines and excessive heat that he believes are designed to throw up barriers to them exercising their democratic rights.Publisher of The Arab American News Osama Siblani agreed, wondering aloud why the United States votes on Tuesdays while more people are working as opposed to Iraqis voting on Sunday during the Iraqi elections.He said the panel was a positive step in terms of bringing more issues to the table and fostering unity.”Inclusion is a huge term in America; we have not really scratched the surface in this country of how to include everybody around the table,” he said.