The Arab American News
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Muslim group demands “Islamic terrorists” be removed from 9/11 monument
NEW YORK - A group of Muslims in the New York town of Owego are upset by a new 9/11 memorial honoring those who died on Sept. 11, 2001. Members of the Islamic Organization of the Southern Tier took issue that the memorial refers to the attackers as “Islamic terrorists” — a phrase they believe encourages hatred toward...Obama nominates first ever Muslim to become a federal judge
Abid QureshiPresident Obama nominated the first ever Muslim to become a federal judge.Pakistani American immigrant Abid Qureshi is a partner at law firm Latham and Watkins LLP and works as global chair of the company’s pro bono committee, one of the largest in the world.The Senate must approve the nomination. “I am pleased to...
Top Saudi cleric says Iran leaders not Muslims
September 7th, 20160 Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-SheikhMECCA — Saudi Arabia's top religious authority said Iran's leaders are not Muslims, drawing a rebuke from Tehran in an unusually harsh exchange between the regional rivals over the running of the annual Haj pilgrimage.Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a message...
FBI urges vigilance as 9/11 anniversary coincides with Eid
September 6th, 20160 DETROIT — No. Contrary to Donald Trump's claim, Muslims on Jersey City did not celebrate the 9/11 terrorist attack. But this year, a major Muslim holiday coincides with the 15th anniversary of the tragic incident.If you see your Muslim friends and neighbors celebrating and exchanging joyous greetings next Monday, know that it has...Two men arrested for breaking into multiple vehicles
Seddiq Almontesar (L) and Mohammed Ahmed. DEARBORN – Two suspects were arrested for allegedly breaking into numerous vehicles on August 29, around 4:30 a.m.The suspects were identified as Mohammed Ahmed, a 21-year-old Dearborn resident, and Seddiq Almontesar, an 18-year-old Dearborn resident.Dearborn Police had received a call from an...Five Arab Americans join the Dearborn Police Department
Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. (far right) joined Police Chief Ronald Haddad (far left) on Aug. 24 in congratulating nine new Dearborn police officers (from left): Mohamad Farhat, Nickolas Hook, Lance Owens, Shonte White-Johnson, George Cipolla, Ali Kattan, Lauren Iavasile, Jacob Clause, and Mahmoud Khalil. They also...Poll shows Trump ahead of Clinton
WASHINGTON — After Hillary Clinton was leading by a significant margin over the past few weeks, a new poll showed the former secretary of state is two points behind her Republican opponent Donald Trump.The contest sparking sharp divisions along demographic lines, according to the new CNN/ORC Poll.Trump tops Clinton 45 percent to 43...Car bomb kills nine in central Baghdad
The aftermath of the Karrada bombing in JulyBAGHDAD — At least nine people were killed in Baghdad late on Monday in a car bomb attack claimed by ISIS near a hospital in a central district, police and hospital sources said.A suicide bomber had targeted a gathering in the Karrada district, according to a statement circulated online by...
Detroiters say no to Trump
September 3rd, 20160 Protesters gathered in front of a church in Detroit, where Donald Trump visitedDETROIT — Shouting and jeering pierced through streets around an African American church on Saturday morning as protesters rejected Donald Trump's visit in his attempt to court Black voters. Great Faith Ministries Church in Detroit received a wave of...ACCESS, LAHC to distribute 1,500 backpacks of school supplies
DEARBORN — Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities (formerly the Lebanese American Heritage Club) and ACCESS, in partnership with the Dearborn Police Department, FBI of Detroit and other law enforcement agencies, will distribute a total of 1,500 backpacks to students in need. By Sept. 15, LAHC volunteers will have passed out 1,200...Nadia Berry announces bid for Crestwood School Board
DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Local resident Nadia Berry has announced her bid for the Crestwood School board election, taking place on Tuesday, November 8. She is vying for one of two open six-year seats on the seven-member body. Berry told The AANews that she's been closely involved with the school district for many years, as her two...HFC teachers’ union president: Stop exploiting higher ed teachers, increase funding
John McDonald.DEARBORN — John McDonald, president of Henry Ford College's Federation of Teachers, was recently re-elected vice president of the American Federation of Teacher's Executive Board at a national convention in Minneapolis. He said he is honored to continue to represent higher education professors across the country and is...Trump will not speak at church service in Detroit
DETROIT— Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump will attempt to mend his rocky relationship with the African American community with a visit to a Black church here this Saturday. However, Trump will not be speaking to the congregation at Great Faith Ministries International, as initially believed. At...
Local charities scramble for donations as U.S. accepts 10,000 Syrian refugees
September 2nd, 20160 Syrian refugee children at an outing - Courtesy photos of Syrian American Rescue Network.DETROIT - 10,000 Syrian refugees were accepted into the country, as guaranteed by the White House earlier this year. A month ahead of schedule, the 10,000th refugee arrived Monday afternoon. Since the civil war began in 2012, more than 12,000...
Reckless riding: Arab Americans weigh in on bikers, motorcycles
September 2nd, 20160 Nader Faraj, a Dearborn resident, on his motorcycle with his wife.DEARBORN — The recent death of a 19-year-old man in a motorcycle crash has propelled discussions about safety concerns for the popular cruising activity in the local community. Family and friends continue to mourn the loss of Mohamad Hazimi following his death on......
Fordson teacher aims to break stereotypes through radio talk show
Fordson teacher Zinab Zriek. DEARBORN — A Fordson High School teacher is hoping to shed light on important community issues and dispel growing misconceptions about Muslims and Arabs through an Internet radio talk show that will be kicking off on September 12. English teacher Zinab Zriek recently landed a six-month contract with...Bill aims to block public funds for governor’s legal fees
LANSING — A State lawmaker is trying to block Gov. Snyder from using public funds for legal fees related to the Flint water crisis. State Sen. Minority Leader Jim Ananich would bar the governor (and a few other top officials) from using public money to pay for private attorneys in any legal matter that's......
Michigan may soon allow driverless cars
LANSING - A state Senate committee approved a package of four bills that loosen existing rules for autonomous vehicles. The state created rules for driverless cars just a few years ago. But evolving technology has apparently made those rules obsolete.“The laws we put on the books before are now antiquated,” says Sen. Mike Kowall,...
Instagram filters linked to depression
September 2nd, 20160 Instagram may be best known for users' selfies and pictures of food, fashionable outfits and inspirational quotes. But if your friend is posting frequently on Instagram in darker colors, they may be exhibiting signs of depression, according to a new paper. Researchers Andrew Reece of Harvard University and Chris Danforth of the...
More than 300 million at risk of life-threatening diseases from dirty water
September 2nd, 20160 More than 300 million people in Asia, Africa and Latin America are at risk of life-threatening diseases like cholera and typhoid due to the increasing pollution of water in rivers and lakes, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) said. Between 1990 and 2010, pollution caused by viruses, bacteria and other micro-organisms, and...
Syrian refugees are not subjects for a social media gallery
September 2nd, 20160 The Italian "activist" was keen on that photo, as if her social media activism career was dependent on it. As if the misery of the poor Syrian child was not palpable enough in his dejected face and his rash-infested skin, she wanted to define a point of absolute misery for a perfect Instagram photo. So she handed him a bucket filled......
Social media’s challenge to democracy
I've been involved in politics for the better part of a lifetime, and have spoken at a lot of public meetings over the years. There's one question, I think, that I've heard more than any other: "If I want to be an informed citizen, which sources of information should I consult?" For many years, I had a set answer for this. Read one or...Has Turkey overplayed its hand in Syria?
Turkey is back in the game in Syria. Turkish tanks and special forces last week joined anti-Assad rebels to capture the border town of Jarabulus from ISIS. It was the first significant Turkish ground operation in Syria since the beginning of the war in 2011. The immediate target was ISIS, but a more important Turkish objective is to......
Amnesty urges Bahrain to end ‘heightened crackdown’ on opposition
LONDON — Amnesty International urged Bahraini authorities Thursday to end a "heightened crackdown" on its opposition, after some 60 Shi'a clerics were summoned or arrested for participating in a protest. The clerics were among scores of other demonstrators detained after taking part in a sit-in protesting the stripping of top Shi'a...U.S. troops in Iraq increasingly active as Mosul battle nears
Defense Secretary Ash Carter talks to troops at the Baghdad International Airport, July 23.BAGHDAD — Kurdish Peshmerga forces retook a swath of northern Iraq late last month from ISIS and days later American forces appeared in the area, the latest sign of increasing U.S. military activity in the country. The U.S. troops, numbering......