The Arab American News
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Pope Francis on Charlie Hebdo: There are limits to free speech
Pope Francis waves to Filipino Catholics as his motorcade passes by in Manila on Jan. 15.MANILA — Pope Francis on Thursday condemned killing in God's name but warned religion could not be insulted, weighing into a global debate on free speech ahead of a rapturous welcome in the Philippines. The pontiff made the comments to reporters...Russia advises Syrian opposition leaders to attend Moscow talks
MOSCOW — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday Syrian opposition representatives would risk losing influence in peace efforts if they do not attend planned talks in Moscow. The refusal of prominent opposition figures to attend the Jan. 26-29 meeting, intended to bring together representatives of President Bashar...
Nasrallah threatens Israel over Syria Strikes
January 16th, 20150 Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah.BEIRUT — Lebanon's Hezbollah leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, said on Thursday that Israeli strikes inside Syria were also an aggression against Syria's regional allies, and they have the right to retaliate. "The frequent attacks on different sites in Syria is a major breach," Nasrallah told...How did Yemen become the perfect home to al-Qaeda training camps?
SANAA — Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris last week. Nasr al-Ansi, a top commander with the group, made the claim in a video on its Twitter account. According to Yemeni intelligence, both Cherif Kouachi and Said Kouachi, the two brothers who carried out the...
ICA distributes gifts to the needy in celebration of prophet Mohammed’s birthday
January 16th, 20150 DEARBORN — On Saturday, Jan. 10 hundreds gathered at the Islamic Center of America (ICA) in Dearborn in celebration of the prophet Mohammed’s birthday. To commemorate that event, attendees wrapped gifts for needy children. Charitable giving is one of the pillars of Islam and this event was one of several held around metro...
Third Detroit man to stand trial for killing French street artist
January 16th, 20150 DETROIT — A judge ruled on Tuesday that a third Detroit man accused in the killing of a 23-year-old French street artist will stand trial for his 2013 shooting death, prosecutors said. Following a hearing, Drequone Rich, 20, was bound over for trial in Wayne County Circuit Court. Last week, Judge Michael Wagner ruled that his...Teen dies one day after meeting Eminem
ROCHESTER HILLS — Gage Garmo, a 17-year-old Chaldean Rochester High School senior who battled cancer, died on Monday, just one day after meeting hip hop superstar Eminem. The Rochester Hills based charity The Rainbow Connection arranged the meeting between the terminally ill teen and the rapper. According to the charity, Eminem,...Judge: Michigan must recognize marriages of 300 same-sex couples
DETROIT — Michigan must recognize the legal marriages of about 300 same-sex couples who were wed in the state in a one-day period last year after a federal court struck down a ban on gay marriage and before the decision was put on hold by a U.S. appeals court, a judge ruled Thursday, Jan. 14. The same-sex couples who married in...Charges against ‘Santa Claus’ shooter will not be dropped
DETROIT — On Thursday, a judge said the criminal charges filed against Marcus Weldon, the 26-year-old “Santa Claus” shooter who injured two Arab American men at a Detroit gas station Dec. 21, will not be dropped and the case will go to trial. “We are happy with the judge’s decision and so relieved,” Yemeni American...U.S. police organizations criticize response to alleged brutality
WASHINGTON — U.S. police are being unfairly targeted in response to allegations of police brutality, leaders from three police organizations said at the first public meeting of President Obama's policing task force on Tuesday, January 13. In a tense back and forth, Fraternal Order of Police President Chuck Canterbury told the task...Community activist collects donations for Penrickton Center for Blind Children
TAYLOR—Community activist Khodr Farhat recently collected donations for the Taylor based Penrickton Center for Blind Children. The center offers free services to children who are blind. Farhat, who is in his twenties was born blind and moved to the United States from Lebanon in 2009. He has received several awards and...Local high school student accepted at Harvard
DEARBORN—Fordson High School student Mohammad Ziad Abdulghani was recently accepted at Harvard University. The Ivy League school is known as one of the most prestigious universities in the world and had a 5.9 acceptance rate as of 2014.Last year, The Arab American News reported that eight Arab Americans from Dearborn were accepted at...
Altercations, intoxication and overcrowding common at Dearborn parties
January 9th, 20150 City officials have addressed concerns of overcrowding at local evening parties in Dearborn.DEARBORN — Most establishments in the city have aimed to implement a family-friendly cultural atmosphere, but every once in a while that image appears to be distorted when alcohol and egos cross paths. For example, local authorities swarmed...
State Sen. Knezek appoints local activist Zaineb Hussein to his staff
January 9th, 20150 Zeineb Hussein. DEARBORN HEIGHTS — This week, State Senator David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights) announced the hiring of Dearborn Heights resident Zaineb Hussein to serve in a full time position as the director of Constituent Services in his Lansing office. Hussein, 31, has emerged as an advocate and leader in the Dearborn and Dearborn...
Sayed Qazwini calls for reforms at the Islamic Center of America
January 9th, 20150 DEARBORN — Sayed Hassan Qazwini, the spiritual leader of the Islamic Center for America (ICA), called for reforms at the center and criticized limiting its potential, adding that its doors should be open to everybody. "Are there imperfections? Yes. Are there mistakes? Yes. Are there reforms that need to happen? Yes," Qazwini said of......
Yemeni activist outraged over ‘Santa Claus’ shooter being called a hero
January 9th, 20150 Marcus Weldon, 26, was dressed in a Santa Claus suit when he shot Saleh Rifai in the hand and Amar Aldani in the chest at a downtown Detroit gas station over a confrontation between the 29-year-old men that reportedly started over an argument about “Santa’s girlfriend, Mrs. Claus.” When one of the men ran to his car,...
PART THREE: Are industrial sources near schools jeopardizing students’ health?
January 9th, 20150 A fence separates Salina Elementary School in Dearborn's southend from industrial sources, including the former Severstal plant that is pictured here right across from the school DEARBORN — Southend resident Ranaa Saaidi often worried about her 10-year-old son breathing in toxins at school this summer. Saaidi's son, who......
Residents cautioned about Wayne County jury duty scam
WAYNE COUNTY — The Third Judicial Circuit Court of Wayne County has learned of a telephone scam regarding missed jury duty. The scam artist will call and advise the person that jury duty was missed and a fine of $500 has to be paid immediately or the person will be subject to arrest or an arrest warrant will be...
Muslim organizations donate $100,000 to help prevent water shut-offs for Detroiters
January 9th, 20150 DETROIT — The Muslim community of Michigan is stepping forward with a contribution to support Detroit residents who are facing hardship from water shut-offs. The Michigan Muslim Community Council (MMCC), in partnership with Islamic Relief USA (IR USA) –the largest Muslim charity organizations in the United States – is giving...Federal tax refunds delayed
WASHINGTON — The deadline to have your Federal taxes filed will remain April 15th, but under new directives issued to the IRS no refunds are to be issued before October 15, 2015. This means that early filers who normally receive their refunds around the beginning of February will have to wait an additional 7 months longer than normal...Homeland Security extends Temporary Protected Status for Syrian nationals
WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has formally announced that the Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, has approved a request made by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) to extend and redesignate Temporary Protective Status (TPS) for Syrian nationals currently in the United......
FBI says Sony hackers ‘got sloppy,’ posted from North Korea addresses
FBI Director James Comey.NEW YORK — FBI Director James Comey said this week that hackers behind the cyberattack on Sony Pictures Entertainment provided key clues to their identity by sometimes posting material from IP addresses used exclusively by the North Korean government. The hackers, who called themselves "Guardians of Peace",...Obama discusses auto bailout success during Detroit visit
DETROIT — President Obama, on a trip to unveil elements of his State of the Union address, took a victory lap in Michigan on Wednesday to tout his support of the auto industry. However concerns about trade policies hung in the background of his tour. "America's resurgence is real," Obama said at a Ford Motor Co plant near Detroit......
2014 year in review
January 9th, 20150 Here’s our 2014 year-in-review of the most important news and developments as reported by The Arab American News locally, nationally and internationally.Top local storiesDetroit water crisis makes international headlines The Detroit water crisis has received international attention since it first began in March when the city’s...The U.S. veto: A bad end to a bad year
The closing weeks of 2014 spelled disaster for U.S. leadership and the rule of law. During the last two weeks of December, the U.S. countered three different efforts designed to affirm Palestinian rights. It was unfortunate since in doing so the U.S. undercut its stated commitments to uphold the rule of law in international relations......