The Arab American News
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Egyptian terrorism bill a “deadly blow to human rights”
CAIRO — A draft law in Egypt that would make it a crime to contradict the official version of terrorist attacks should be scrapped, Amnesty International said on Wednesday, calling the bill a "strike at the very heart of basic freedoms." The law, which also sets up new courts for dealing with terrorism suspects, was proposed after a...
Dearborn Heights mayor holds annual iftar dinner
July 15th, 20150 DEARBORN HEIGHTS—On Thursday, July 9 Dearborn Heights Mayor Dan Paletko held an iftar dinner at Al Shallal Banquet Room. The city has a sizable Muslim population. Paletko holds an iftar dinner every Ramadan for the Muslim community. About 150 people attended the iftar including local community leaders and businessmen. Paletko...
Local lawmakers weigh in on the Iran deal
July 15th, 20150 DETROIT — Several members of Congress from Michigan said they are studying the nuclear agreement with Iran before making a definitive decision on it. While Democratic lawmakers appeared to be more welcoming of the deal, local U.S. representatives from both parties agreed that Iran should not be given a path to an atomic...
Dealership donates car to single mother
July 15th, 20150 Elashkar and his son at Ford Road Motor Sales' office in DearbornDEARBORN—After Mike Elashkar, general manager of Ford Road Motor Sales, learned a needy single mother’s car was stolen, he decided to help by donating a 2006 Malibu. Stefanie Irvine’s old Dodge Neon was stolen from Cass Avenue in Detroit while she was taking...
Henry Ford College fall 2015 registration is open
July 15th, 20150 DEARBORN—Students can now register for fall 2015 courses at Henry Ford College. The fall semester begins Thursday, Aug. 27. HFC offers courses and programs that respond to the changing needs of students, community and corporate partners. In addition, HFC continues to develop relationships...
Police investigating Bint Jebail Cultural Center vandalism
July 14th, 20150 DEARBORN — The police are seeking the public's assistance in finding out who is responsible for defacing the Bint Jebail Cultural Center last week. The center was vandalized with graffiti-sprayed statements, relating to Sayed Hassan Qazwini, who had been hosting Ramadan evenings at the banquet hall."The Qazwini and Iraq Club,"...
Historic Iran nuclear deal reached
July 14th, 20150 VIENNA — Iran and six major world powers reached a nuclear deal on Tuesday, capping more than a decade of negotiations with an agreement that could transform the Middle East.President Obama hailed a step toward a "more hopeful world" and Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said it proved that "constructive engagement works." But...
Barbecue to benefit Dearborn Animal Shelter
July 14th, 20150 DEARBORN—Dearborn Councilman Robert Abraham is opening his home to the public for a fundraising event that helps support the Dearborn Animal Shelter’s Hope’s Heroes program for special needs animals. All are welcome to attend the fifth annual Abraham’s Open House and Barbecue, which will be held on...
International Al-Quds Day rally held in Dearborn
July 13th, 20150 DEARBORN — Rallies in support of International Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day are held locally and throughout the Middle East each year on the last Friday of Ramadan. Demonstrators speak out against Israel’s control of Jerusalem and its occupation of Palestine. The rallies are held in solidarity with...Humanitarian truce in Yemen fails
A girl cries after her father was killed by a Saudi-led air strike in Sanaa, July 13United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is "very much disappointed" that a humanitarian pause in fighting in Yemen didn't take hold, his spokesman said on Monday, after Saudi Arabia did not recognize the truce and continued air strikes.A Saudi-led...Legendary actor Omar sharif dies
Actor Omar Sharif, best known for his portrayal of Doctor Zhivago in the hit 1966 film and for his work in "Lawrence of Arabia", died of a heart attack on Friday. He was 83.Sharif's agent Steve Kenis confirmed the death of one of the few Arab actors to make it big in Hollywood. "Omar Sharif died in Cairo of a heart attack sometime this...Warring sides in Yemen agree to a humanitarian truce
SANAA — Yemen's warring factions confirmed their agreement on Thursday to a temporary humanitarian ceasefire set to begin on Friday night, United Nations envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said. The pause in the fighting will last about a week until the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and aims to allow the delivery of assistance...Emir: Kuwait foiled bid to sow sectarianism after bombing
Imam Sadiq Mosque in Kuwait City, June 26, after a bomb killed 27 during Friday prayers.KUWAIT CITY — The emir of Kuwait said on Thursday his country had thwarted attempts to sow sectarian divisions after last month's suicide bombing but warned that the world needs to do more to confront the "satanic" behavior of Islamist extremist...
FBI chief: encryption emboldens would-be ISIS attackers
July 10th, 20150 James CorneyWASHINGTON — Barring law enforcement authorities' access to encrypted communications would make it easier for ISIS sympathizers to attack the United States, FBI Chief James Comey told Senate lawmakers on Wednesday. Comey testified during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on "Going Dark: Encryption, Technology, and the...Relatives of Charleston victims urge Congress to vote on gun law
WASHINGTON — Relatives and friends of the victims of last month's shooting in a Charleston, South Carolina church traveled to Washington on Wednesday to demand that lawmakers vote on legislation to expand background checks on gun sales. But their chances of success are at best considered slim. Similar legislation failed a Senate......
Arabs and baseball; an interesting relationship
Justin Verlander, Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays. Most of these names that belong to baseball legends are unfamiliar to many Arab Americans— because many Arabs just don’t like baseball. The reasons why many Arabs have no connection to the game once called “America’s pastime” are often due to their upbringing...Activism through art brought to light at community forum
DEARBORN — Spoken word artists with roots in metro Detroit participated in a panel on the role of art in community activism on Wednesday at the Arab American National Museum. The estimated 185 diverse attendees reflected the solidarity that the panelists discussed, as people of all races, ages and religions joined the......
Spousal support can pressure men to grant religious divorce
July 10th, 20150 DETROIT — Many Muslim women feel their rights are being violated because they can’t get an Islamic divorce, often from men who were extremely physically abusive. Not all Muslim women experience trouble getting an Islamic divorce and religious divorce is also an issue outside the Muslim community. To many women, an Islamic...
House of Wisdom hosts interfaith iftar
July 10th, 20150 Spiritual leaders and government officials in a group photo at the dinner, July 1DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The Islamic House of Wisdom held its annual iftar dinner, on Wednesday, July 1. Government officials, community activists and Muslim, Christian and Jewish clergy attended the event.Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi, the spiritual leader of the...Trump: A joker in the GOP presidential deck
"Some people," as Barry Switzer famously declared (rather oddly for a football coach), "are born on third base and go through life thinking they hit a triple." And then there's Donald Trump.Inheriting a $250 million fortune built by his father on government loans and housing contracts, Trump fell close to the family's corporate...Israeli blockade makes Gaza recovery “impossible”
Destruction in the Gaza Strip after the 2014 warGAZA — Israel's blockade of building materials for Gaza has created one of the highest levels of unemployment in the world and made it impossible for the small coastal enclave to recover from the war a year ago, aid agencies said on Wednesday.Less than one percent of the materials needed......
Aoun’s party rallies against prime minister in Lebanon
Supporters of the Free Patriotic Movement during a protest in Beirut, July 9BEIRUT — Hundreds of supporters of a Lebanese Christian politician protested in Beirut on Thursday against the prime minister they say is marginalising Christian influence, stirring tensions in a country already in crisis over war in neighbouring...Netanyahu: Two Israelis are held by Hamas
Tel AVIV — Two Israeli citizens are being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday, a situation that could lead to demands for a prisoner exchange between Israel and the militant group.Hamas declined to confirm or deny it had the captives."We are working for the return of the two Israelis......
The Dearborn Heights hijab settlement: Positive change is possible
July 10th, 20150 The Dearborn Heights Police Department will no longer require women who wear the hijab to remove their headscarves during the booking process when they are arrested. Although this policy change is overdue— given the growing Muslim population in the city— it is a positive step that ensures that the police do not violate...
HFC president discusses new name, finances and diversity
July 9th, 20150 DEARBORN — When Dr. Stan Jensen started his tenure as the president of Henry Ford College two years ago, the school had enough cash to cover operational costs for a few months only. But the new president helped lead the school through the bleak economic times and raise its educational and administrative standards. Jensen's......
