The Arab American News
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Salt Lake City residents in uproar after police shoot unarmed 17-year-old
Protesters threw rocks at police in Salt Lake City after officers shot a black teenager who was attacking a man late on Saturday, authorities said.Relatives of the teenager identified him as Abdi Mohamed, 17, and told the local Fox 13 television news channel he was in a coma at a hospital after being shot three times. Police said he...
Why Muslim Americans should vote for Bernie Sanders
February 29th, 20160 Bernie Sanders addresses supporters during a campaign rally in Rochester, Minnesota, Feb. 27. Photo: ReutersIn the 2016 presidential campaign, Islamophobia is both a campaign strategy and a wedge issue, making this a critical moment for Muslim American voters. A recent study indicates that 76 percent of Muslim Americans intend to...
Three Muslims shot dead ‘execution style’ in Indiana
February 27th, 20160 POLICE: Three Muslim males found in E. Lewis Street home shot dead execution styleFORT WAYNE, Ind.— The three victims whose bodies were found in a Fort Wayne home this week all died of gunshot wounds, the Allen County Coroner’s Office said early Friday. The bodies of Mohamedtaha Omar, 23, Adam K. Mekki, 20, and Muhannad...FBI double-standard in dealing with threats is alarming
Sarah Beebe's threat to DearbornSarah Beebe explicitly threatened Dearborn for having a large Muslim population, but she has not been charged with ethnic intimidation or terrorism, yet. She apologized and the authorities called it a day.Other threats against the community have gone unaddressed, despite being brought to the authorities'...
Transparency in Dearborn shouldn’t be so difficult
February 26th, 20160 This week, Dearborn Mayor Jack O'Reilly announced that he cancelled his annual State of the City address, ahead of the snowstorm that impacted the city on Wednesday. It was yet another move that has contributed to what many feel is lack of transparency in Dearborn over the last several months. What many disgruntled residents don't...Animal Shelter drops Dearborn like a bad habit
As a dog owner and fellow supporter, I was pleased to learn last year that the Dearborn Animal Shelter is constructing a brand new facility capable of helping many more animals. Anyone who has visited the old shelter can easily see the benefits of a new one. Not only is this new project good for the animals and the workers, it also...
Presidential candidates stance on Islamophobia
February 26th, 20160 Sanders brings a Muslim student to the stage at a rally in Virginia.With an alarming increase in anti-Islamic sentiments in the U.S. over the last year, Muslim residents are looking at the potential presidential candidates based on which have spoken up for the community. Many Muslim residents would agree it is a trying time for the...
City officials still hesitant on ‘Welcoming refugees’ resolution
February 26th, 20160 An SJL member addresses City Council members last December.DEARBORN — Despite persistent efforts led by students from the Social Justice League (SJL) at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, city officials are still hesitant to pass a resolution that welcomes Syrian refugees. Members of the student organization originally spoke...Channel 7 hires new reporter
Chowdry.DETROIT — Channel 7 Action news announced the addition of a new reporter this week. Syma Chowdhry is joining as a reporter for "The Now," the daily news and information program airing weekdays at 4 p.m. on WXYZ-TV. "Syma's experience makes her an ideal fit for "The Now," said Dave Manney, news director for WXYZ and WMYD in...Crestwood Schools to increase parental, community involvement
Crestwood advisory team members.DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The Crestwood School District is increasing parental involvement with teachers about students' educational needs and activities, in conjunction with Tuesday's 40th anniversary of Title I. As discussed at the Crestwood Advisory Team (CAT) meeting, the federal Title I program provides...Duggan optimistic about future in state of the city address
DETROIT — Speaking both of progress and remaining challenges, Mayor Mike Duggan struck an optimistic tone Tuesday night in his third State of the City Address, sharing his own 'five-point' plan to grow the city's economic comeback. During the speech, which was interrupted three times by hecklers, Duggan touted the positive attention...
Hijabi Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad seeks to inspire
February 26th, 20160 Ibtihaj Muhammad "I told her to bring home the gold," President Obama told the crowd during his first visit to a mosque in Baltimore last month. He was talking about hijabi fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, who will represent the United States in Rio De Janeiro this summer, becoming the first American Muslim to compete in the...Greektown Casino will soon be called “Jack”
DETROIT — Greektown Casino will be changing its name to "Jack" by late 2016. Following Dan Gilbert's acquirement of the casino, the $40 million rebranding project aims to unite the business mogul's three other casinos under one theme. The official name, Jack Detroit Casino Hotel Greektown, suggested by one of Gilbert's...Gunman kills up to four in Kansas shooting spree
Cedric FordKANSAS — A man killed up to four people and wounded as many as 20 others on Thursday in a shooting spree in central Kansas that began on roadways and ended at his work site, where authorities shot and killed him, the local sheriff told reporters.The gunman appears to have driven around in a car, opening fire at three...Kurdish special forces rescue Swedish girl from ISIS
ERBIL — A teenage Swedish girl being held by ISIS militants in Iraq was rescued in a raid by Kurdish special forces last week, the autonomous region's security council said in a statement on Tuesday. The 16-year-old traveled from Sweden to Syria last year and later crossed into Iraq, where she was rescued near the ISIS stronghold of......
Sisi ends up on eBay after saying he would sell himself
CAIRO — President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has come under withering criticism from Egyptians on social media after delivering a long televised speech on Wednesday. Signs are growing that the former army chief, who seized power in 2013, is losing popularity, though there are no clear indications his rule is under threat. Egyptian media,...Partition could be part of ‘plan B’ if Syria peace talks fail
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State John Kerry said he will move towards a plan B that could involve a partition of Syria if a planned ceasefire due to start in the next few days does not materialize, or if a genuine shift to a transitional government does not take place in the coming months."It may be too late to keep it as a whole......
Bloomberg Businessweek highlights contributions of refugees in Detroit
Renan Sadak, who was featured in the article. Photo: Ali Lapetina for Bloomberg BusinessweekDETROIT — A Bloomberg.com article highlighted the economic contributions of Arab refugees to the local economy.The story published on Feb. 18 was titled, "Detroit’s Comeback Has an Arabic Accent." It conveyed the personal stories of Iraqi...CBS names Najah Bazzy among inspirational women impacting Detroit
Najah BazzyDETROIT — CBS named Arab American humanitarian Najah Bazzy as one of five "inspirational women" impacting Metro Detroit in a special dubbed "Eye On The Future: The Power Of Women." GM Chairwoman and CEO Mary Barra heads up the line up of the CBS show, which will air on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. on CBS...N.Y. Magazine taps Rashida Tlaib, 9 others, to be “next Obama”
Rashida TlaibDETROIT — New York Magazine named former State Rep. Rashida Tlaib as one of 10 Democrats who could be a "next Obama" in the Democratic Party.In an article published Thursday, the magazine argued that the Democratic leadership is getting old and named up-and-coming activists who represent the future of the party.Marin...Lebanese band Mashou’ Leila to perform in Detroit
DETROIT — Lebanese band Mashrou' Leila will perform on Saturday, June 4. The acclaimed five-member alternative rock band has a large following of young listeners in the Middle East, despite its unconventional music that does not follow the trends of Arabic pop songs. The band was formed in February 2008 at the American......
Internet sensation Noel Kharman back with another Fairuz mashup
Noel KharmanWhen Palestinian artist Noel Kharman made her own cover of Adele's song "Hello" in November 2015, she became an instant Internet sensation. And it's no wonder that the teenage Palestinian's mashup of the British singer's hits with one of Lebanese diva Fairouz's songs titled "Keefak Eta" (How are You?) went viral...Nancy Ajram breaks Arabic YouTube record with 40 million views
BEIRUT — Nancy Ajram's music video for her hit single "Ma Tegi Hena" (Why Don't You Come Over Here) has broken the record for the most-watched Arabic music video on YouTube. With more than a whopping 40 million views, Nancy proved that her music is still relevant and she's on top of her game after more than a decade in the......
Oscar nominees urged to skip Israel trip
LOS ANGELES — On Wednesday Oscar-nominated celebrities were urged to skip a $55,000 trip to Israel offered as part of an awards gift bag. Two U.S.-based groups campaigning for an end to Israel's occupation of the Palestinian Territories made the plea in a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times that appeared five days before the...Local candidate for State Rep. receives hate mail
DEARBORN – Abdullah Hammoud, a Democratic candidate in the 15th District State Representative race, said he received an unlabeled envelope over Valentine’s Day weekend containing his campaign mailer, ripped and defaced with the words “No More Arabs” and “Go Back To Lebanon.”His campaign mailer was sent to thousands of......
