The Arab American News
Author's Posts
Guilty until proven innocent
A federal judge acknowledged on Monday, March 31, that Mohammad Hamdan, who was allegedly planning to leave the country to join Hizbullah's fight in Syria, had no intention to harm America or Americans. The judge described the suspect as a "confused young man" yet denied him bond on the premise that he might flee.However, a question must...
Community leaders stand in solidarity with local Christians following media frenzy over Easter egg hunt
April 6th, 20140 DEARBORN - Muslim community leaders stood in solidarity with local Christians outside of the Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church on Sunday morning following a wave of publicity that began with a misleading article published by the Detroit Free Press on Friday.The free press published an article written by Niraj Warikoo that claimed Muslim...Free Press article misleads public; smears Dearborn Muslims
A recent Detroit Free Press article, titled "Muslim parents upset over flyer promoting church's Easter egg hunt," was published on Thursday, April 3. After reading the story, however, one discovers that the “worry” expressed comes from only one Muslim father, Dearborn resident Majed Moughni.Niraj Warikoo, the article’s author,...Palestinians asked to spy in exchange for medical treatment
GAZA CITY - “If you want to live and receive medical treatment, you have my number, so you can call me and agree to my request. You will then get medical help, and survive.” The request, the patient said, was from an Israeli intelligence officer looking to recruit him in exchange for treatment. The 28-year-old...Lebanon passes domestic violence law, activists consider it inadequate
BEIRUT — Hundreds of protesters rallied outside Parliament in downtown Beirut Tuesday, April 1, as the Parliament voted to approve a domestic violence law that activists criticized for falling short of providing women full protection from abuse.Women's rights group Kafa denounced legislators for not considering a list of amendments...Bombs kill two at Cairo University
CAIRO — A series of explosions outside Cairo University killed two people on Wednesday, April 2, including a police brigadier-general, in what appeared to be a militant attack targeting security forces.There was no immediate claim of responsibility but Islamist militants have carried out many similar operations against police and...President Obama misses opportunity in Saudi Arabia
Last week, President Obama made an overnight trip to Saudi Arabia, wrapping up a weeklong trip to Europe and the Gulf state.He visited with Saudi leader King Abdullah in an effort to alleviate any concerns the Saudi leadership might have with America’s current foreign and economic policies. Things are changing quickly, both in...Iraqi man goes on trial in California for wife’s murder
SAN DIEGO — The trial of an Iraqi-American man accused of killing his wife in a crime that was first investigated as a hate crime opened on Tuesday with testimony from a paramedic who described finding the woman bloodied and dying in her San Diego area home.Shaima Alawadi, a 32-year-old stay-at-home mother of five, was...GM avoided defective switch redesign in 2005 to save a dollar each
DETROIT — General Motors Co in 2005 decided not to change an ignition switch eventually linked to the deaths of at least 13 people because it would have added about a dollar to the cost of each car, according to an internal GM document provided to U.S. congressional investigators.The U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce...Shooting at Fort Hood army base kills four, shooter’s motives not clear
Ivan Lovez in full combat gear.FORT HOOD, Texas - The soldier suspected of shooting dead three people before killing himself at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas was under psychiatric care but showed no signs of violence or suicidal tendencies, a U.S. official said on Thursday.No motive was given for the rampage, which also left 16...
City Hall shines blue to spread autism awareness
April 4th, 20140 DEARBORN - Dozens of parents and children gathered on Wednesday, April 2, to recognize National Autism Awareness Day with a ceremony that ended by shining a blue light on City Hall. The event was organized by Blue Hands United of Dearborn, a group of local parents who are aiming to spread awareness on autism, a disability...
Ethnic and minority newspapers explore Detroit bankruptcy, recovery
April 4th, 20140 Five ethnic and minority publications that are deeply tied to Detroit are joining forces for the first time to explore the city’s financial crisis in a series that will run over the next several months.The Michigan Citizen, The Jewish News, The Michigan Korean Weekly, The Arab American News and Latino Press aim to delve beyond...Debbie Dingell holds fundraiser in Dearborn, vows to promote diversity
Dingell.DEARBORN - Over the years, Debbie Dingell, a candidate in the race for Michigan’s 12th Congressional District, has strengthened relationships between different ethnic groups. Dingell, a longtime advocate for Arab American issues, says as congresswoman she would continue working to bring people of various backgrounds...Julie Plawecki runs for state representative in Michigan’s 11th House District
Julie Plawecki.DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Julie Plawecki, a longtime teaching professional and 20-year resident of Dearborn Heights, has announced her candidacy for the 11th House District. Plawecki, 52, was approached by community leaders late last year to fill the seat, which consists of portions of Dearborn Heights, Livonia, Westland...Tony Guerriero announces candidacy for Dearborn 19th District Court Judge
DEARBORN — Tony Guerriero. will be a candidate for the position of Dearborn 19th District Court Judge this fall. He was raised in Dearborn’s south end on Salina Street. Guerriero is a first generation Italian American. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the School of Management at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. He......
ACCESS new COO reaffirms commitment to serving Arab community
April 4th, 20140 Lina Harajli.DEARBORN - ACCESS’ newly appointed Chief Operating Officer said the organization continues to be committed to serving the Arab community and is looking for ways to improve its programs and receive feedback from clients.Lina Harajli, who was appointed as COO last month, said she will be focused on taking a more detailed...
Judge denies Hamdan bond, but says he’s not a threat to nation
April 4th, 20140 DETROIT - On Monday, March 31, Executive Magistrate Judge R. Steven Wahlen of the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Michigan denied 22-year-old Mohammad Hassan Hamdan bond two weeks after he was detained by the FBI for allegedly planning to fly to Lebanon to fight with Hizbullah.Stating that it was one of the most......
Dreamy Children’s Center offers educational environment
April 4th, 20140 DEARBORN - Dreamy Children’s Center located at 27335 West Warren Street, Dearborn Heights, MI 48127 has been open for two years. The Center is an addition to the company’s day care that was started more than a decade ago in Dearborn. Dreamy Group DayCare is located at 7453 Hartwell Street, Dearborn, MI 48126. The...
Chaldean students feel strong sense of belonging at local high school
April 4th, 20140 HAZEL PARK—There is a strong sense of community belonging at INVEST Roosevelt High School in Hazel Park, where more than 90 percent of the students identify as Iraqi Catholic Chaldeans. According to INVEST RHS Principal, Asaad Kalasho, 50 percent of the Chaldean students were born in the United States, and the other half were...Detroit residents charged with breaking and entering in Dearborn
Lamarion Travis.DEARBORN — At approximately 5:50 a.m. on Saturday Mar. 29, Dearborn officers responded to the area of Kentucky and Diversey on a report of three suspicious males in the area. The caller told dispatch that he observed three males walking on Kentucky carrying a duffle bag. The caller stated one of the males was...Funeral of murdered store owner held Wednesday in Southfield
Basim Sulaka.CLINTON TOWNSHIP — The funeral for Basim Sulaka, 51, who was gunned down and killed Mar. 28 at the Clinton Township store he owned and operated for 18 years, was held Wednesday at Mother of God Chaldean Catholic Church in Southfield. Township police are still looking for the three suspects responsible for robbing the......
Local Palestinians commemorate Land Day
April 4th, 20140 DEARBORN - The Palestinian community in Michigan is paying tribute to Land Day in two different events. Some members of the community commemorated the occasion on Sunday, March 30 at St. Mary’s Cultural Center in Livonia, and another celebration will take place at the Civic Center in Dearborn on Sunday, April 6. Land Day,...
Syria accuses rebels of planning gas attack near Damascus
April 4th, 20140 DAMASCUS - Syria is charging in a letter to the United Nations that opposition groups are planning a toxic gas attack in a rebel-held area near Damascus, so they can then blame it on government security forces.In a letter dated March 25 and circulated by the U.N. this week, Syria's U.N. envoy, Bashar Ja'afari, said his government had......
Suicide: The warning signs
Suicide has been recently described as an "epidemic." But what goes on in the mind of a person in the time leading up to his suicide attempt often sounds similar to this: "If you don't matter, what does matter? Nothing matters. What are you waking up for? It's so agonizing to wake up in the morning, why bother doing it? End it. Just...Washington mudslide kills 29 people, dozens still missing
WASHINGTON — Efforts to recover bodies following a Washington state mudslide that killed at least 29 people could be hampered in the coming weeks if melting snow runs into a clogged river at the disaster site, officials said.Over the past few days, workers at the mud pile in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, northeast of Seattle,......