Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly (left) poses with Abed Hammoud at Byblos Banquets.

DEARBORN – Almost a month after he was sworn in by Chief
Federal Judge Gerald Rosen in Detroit, as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the
Eastern District of Michigan, Attorney Abed Hammoud was back among friends and
family again on Tuesday Jun 14th for a private reception held in his honor by
the Congress of Arab American Organizations (CAAO) at Byblos Banquet Hall in
Dearborn.

Osama Siblani, Publisher of the Arab American News, welcomed
the attendees on behalf of CAAO. 
He stated that “tonight’s celebration is not only about the
accomplishments of Abed Hammoud, but also about the accomplishments of everyone
in attendance and about the progress our community has made in the last few
years.” Siblani said the Arab American and Muslim community is full of talented
and qualified people who are eager to serve this great country in many fields
but that they need the opportunity to be available to them: “Everyone here
who has achieved has had someone stretching their  hands out and giving them the opportunity to succeed,”
he said. “For that help, we are very, very thankful and proud. We have
many more people who want to achieve, who want to contribute and are loyal and
ready, who want to help build and protect this great country which gave us a
lot, and we need help to do it.” Siblani specifically pointed out the evening’s
guest speakers Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy and United States Attorney
Barbara McQuade as the kind of officials who have extended their hands to our
community by hiring qualified individuals to serve in their offices.

Barbara McQuade speaking at the reception.

Siblani introduced Worthy as a tough woman who always does
the right thing as a prosecutor regardless of pressure or political
consequences. He mentioned in particular her successful prosecution of former
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Prosecutor Worthy spoke about her experience
with Abed Hammoud. She stated that she was disappointed when Hammoud told her
he was leaving her office but that after he explained his reasons, she
understood and she was confident that he would do well in his new assignment.
“Abed is one of my most treasured confidants,” she continued. “I
know no one else like him, … he took over the Mortgage Fraud Task Force we
started in 2005 and turned it into a nationally recognized program.  I cannot tell you how in awe I am of
him and it’s a great loss for our office but I’m so glad he’ll be able to
continue his work with Barbara,” Worthy added.

Barbara McQuade was introduced by Siblani as a true friend
to the community who has spent a great deal of time with its members and
understood their concerns as well as abilities. He described McQuade as a tough
but fair federal prosecutor. McQuade spoke about the importance of diversity in
an office like the U.S. Attorney’s Office:  “It’s very important to have all perspectives around
the table so we can make better decisions as we serve the public.” McQuade
also praised Hammoud’s work ethic and said his success can be example for
others to follow, because, as she pointed out, it is easier to aspire for a
high position when we see someone “looking like us” in that position.

Other officials in attendance presented Hammoud with awards
and proclamations. Dearborn Heights Mayor Dan Paletko presented him with a
proclamation extending his congratulations on Hammoud’s past accomplishments
and his new appointment. He spoke in detail about Hammoud’s well rounded
experience and education.  Dearborn
Mayor Jack O’Reilly presented Hammoud with a Citation from the City of Dearborn
congratulating him on his new appointment and saluting his prior work “Your new
position reflects your commitment to the prosecution of crimes that harm
individuals as well as the economic health of the greater Dearborn region, such
as your efforts to fight mortgage fraud while assigned to the Wayne County
Prosecutor’s Office,” it read.

Hammoud (right) receives an award from Dearborn Heights Mayor Daniel Paletko. To Paletko’s left is Councilman Tom Berry.

State Representative Rashida Tlaib presented Hammoud with a
Special Tribute from the Michigan House. She spoke about having known Hammoud
for years, “I have known Abed for many years where we worked on political and
community issues together, and I also got to know him even more when he worked
with us on new laws to fight mortgage fraud.” She said that Hammoud is now
known around the House of Representatives as the expert in this area of
prosecution.

Deputy Wayne County Executive Azzam Elder, along with Wayne
County Commission Chair Gary Woronchak, presented Hammoud with a Certificate of
Recognition from Wayne County’s CEO Robert Ficano.  “As a nation, it’s important to have everyone at the
table, and to get all perspectives,” Elder said, “We are all proud of
Abed  and we know that he will
continue to do a good job.”

Attorney Isaac Robinson from Congressman’s John Conyers’
office presented Hammoud with a Certificate of Special Congressional
Recognition from the Congressman “in recognition of outstanding and invaluable
service to the community.”

Congressman John Dingell also sent a congratulatory letter
on his behalf and on behalf of his wife Debbie Dingell.  In the letter he called Hammoud a
“bridge builder” and said “I am pleased that the U.S. government has acknowledged
your expertise in a time when strong leadership is needed.”

Deputy Wayne County Executive Azzam Elder presents an award to Hammoud.

At the conclusion of the event, Siblani introduced Hammoud
to speak, calling him a “brother” with whom he started a “partnership” in 1998
to serve this community. He briefly spoke about the founding of the Arab
American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) and the role Hammoud played in
ensuring all the rules and regulations were followed and all filings done on
time for this highly regulated organization. Siblani also spoke about the
decision for Hammoud to run for Dearborn Mayor in 2001, which was made even
though “we knew we couldn’t win, but we had to make a statement, a statement
that Arab Americans can be good candidates, run organized campaigns and be
effective public servants.”  Siblani
pointed to the many Arab Americans who ran for office after that campaign.

Hammoud thanked the attendees:  “I am overwhelmed and humbled by the support and
encouragement I received since this appointment.  Many thanks to the Congress of Arab American Organizations,
elected officials and all who helped pull this event together”.  Hammoud also specifically thanked his
family for their support as well as his mentors and co-workers, including Wayne
County  Prosecutor Kym Worthy and
U.S. Attorney Michigan Barbara McQuade, who gave him the chance to serve.  He called Worthy a “true friend and a
role model” who has had a great impact in his professional life. Addressing
McQuade, Hammoud said “thank you for being a fair, just, and open minded US
Attorney….The people of the Eastern District of Michigan should really sleep
better at night not just because how well you enforce the law, but also of how
well you guard our constitution and civil rights.” He went on to thank McQuade
for “giving me the chance to continue serving this great country as a federal
prosecutor.”

Recent State Rep. candidate Isaac Robinson presents an award from U.S. Rep. John Conyers’ office. PHOTOS: TAAN

Hammoud spoke about the significance of being an Assistant
U.S. Attorney of Arab descent and Muslim faith. He said that while his
responsibilities and duties are no different from other Assistant U.S.
Attorneys, he still hopes to bring positive things to the table from his
previous experience as a prosecutor and his background and faith. “I grew up in
South Lebanon among simple and humble people of strong values, most important
of which are: loyalty, courage and determination, and that will always reside
inside me as I discharge my duties.” He also spoke about the teaching of Islam
when it comes to  justice and doing
the right thing. He quoted from the Qur’an Chapter 4, Verse 135: ““Be the
supporters of Justice, ever steadfast in upholding equity, bearing witness to
the truth for the sake of God, even against  yourselves, parents, and relatives. Whether it be against
the rich or poor… …….Do not, then, follow your own desires, lest you swerve
from justice: for if you distort the truth, behold, God is indeed aware of all
that you do!”

Hammoud was also presented with the Outstanding Leadership
Award from CAAO at the conclusion of the event.

He ended his remarks by quoting the U.S. Supreme Court about
the duties of the U.S. Attorney “The United States Attorney is the
representative not of an ordinary party to a controversy, but of a sovereignty
whose obligation to govern impartially is as compelling as its obligation to
govern at all, and whose interest, therefore, in a criminal prosecution is not
that it shall win a case, but that justice shall be done.”