The Arab American News
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Activists spread awareness on plight of Bahrainis during uprisings
February 28th, 20140 DEARBORN — On Tuesday, Feb. 18, Students for Islamic Awareness (SIA) at the University of Michigan-Dearborn (UMD) hosted a forum exposing the struggles of Bahrainis during the small island country's revolution. The event, titled “Bahrain: An Uprising in the Shadows,” was co-sponsored by the Arab Student Union of UMD and the...Saudis warned against arming rebels
Meanwhile, Russia warned last week Saudi Arabia against supplying Syrian rebels with shoulder-launched missile launchers, saying such a move would endanger security across the Middle East and beyond.The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement that it was "deeply concerned" by news reports that Saudi Arabia was planning to buy...MPAC: Court ruling in favor of NYPD surveillance threatens civil liberties
WASHINGTON D.C. — This week, the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) expressed its disappointment with a federal ruling that the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) surveillance of Muslims in New Jersey was “a lawful effort to prevent terrorism.” Eight plaintiffs brought the suit against New York City, claiming that the...175 rebels killed in ambush
Earlier, the Syrian army killed at least 175 militants, most of them foreigners, in an ambush in insurgent-held eastern outskirts of Damascus, state media said on Wednesday, Feb. 26.However, the Syrian National Coalition disputed the government report, saying the people killed were civilians trying to escape the siege imposed by...Ficano administration discusses deficit elimination plan
DETROIT — Members of Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano’s administration say the newly proposed deficit elimination plan would rid the County of its accumulated $175 million debt by Sep. 30, 2015. The state and Wayne County Commission would have to approve the plan before it is fully implemented. “There are a lot of...Washington state expected to enact college aid for undocumented immigrants
WASHINGTON — Washington is set to become the fifth state to offer college financial aid to students brought into the country illegally by their parents.Democratic Governor Jay Inslee is expected on Wednesday to sign legislation that provides grants to students whose families meet income and residency guidelines. California, Illinois,...
Islamic Center co-founder Khalil “Chuck” Alawan passes away
February 28th, 20140 DEARBORN — Khalil Alawan, one of the Islamic Center of America's (ICA) original founders passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 26. He was 83 and widely referred to as "Chuck." Family members tell The Arab American News he died of heart failure. His dedication to spreading awareness and breaking down misconceptions about Islam touched the...Law corner: Just because somebody shakes your hand does not mean the other hand isn’t holding a sword
I am continuously amazed by the number of people who get into serious business arrangements with others with nothing more than a handshake agreement. I have seen the closest friends and relatives get into business together without proper documentation with disastrous results. For instance, years ago, I knew of two brothers...Community activist to run for State House
DEARBORN HEIGHTS-Community activist Rashid Baydoun announced this week that he will be seeking the position of State Representative in the 11th Michigan House District, which includes the communities of Dearborn Heights and Inkster, as well as portions of Westland, Garden City and Livonia. Baydoun was previously the Executive...
Future Movement-Michigan commemorates the ninth anniversary of Hariri assassination
February 28th, 20140 DEARBORN — The Future Movement of Michigan commemorated the ninth anniversary of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri at Greenfield Manor in Dearborn on Sunday, Feb. 23. About 500 people, including religious and community leaders, attended the event. Keynote speaker, former Lebanese Member of Parliament...Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce to offer free informational events on health care reform and enrollment
DEARBORN — The Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce will be offering to the public free informational sessions on the new Health Care Reform law, including how to enroll into the right plan for individuals and their families on Friday, March 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Wednesday, March 12 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Dearborn Area...
CAIR-MI welcomes settlement of suit to modify religious dietary standards at county jail
February 28th, 20140 SOUTHFIELD — The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) recently welcomed the settlement of a lawsuit against the St. Clair County Sheriff to modify the religious dietary screening process at the county’s jail. The lawsuit challenged the constitutionality of the jail's religious dietary screening...New law allows college students to postpone jury duty
LANSING — Gov. Rick Snyder recently signed a bill that allows full-time college students to postpone jury duty until the end of the school year.“Serving on a jury is an important part of our civic responsibility,” Snyder said. “However, for college students, jury duty can be disruptive to their studies. This law gives them the...
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan discusses immigration in Dearborn
February 28th, 20140 DEARBORN — On Tuesday, Feb. 25 community members hosted a fundraiser for Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan at Byblos Banquet Hall in Dearborn. About 80 people attended the event. Speaking to the crowd, Duggan addressed the city’s ongoing efforts to help demolish and revitalize abandoned buildings and houses. “We’re going to...
UM-Dearborn journalism student interning at The Arab American News
February 28th, 20140 DEARBORN — Fatima Fakhreddine, a senior at the University of Michigan Dearborn, began interning at The Arab American News (TAAN) in January. The 22-year-old, who resides here in Dearborn, is majoring in journalism and minoring in political science. She expects to graduate in April and will complete her internship with TAAN at......
Identity thief arrested
DEARBORN — On Feb. 15, a Dearborn police officer stopped a vehicle on Town Center Drive for a traffic violation. The driver, who could not produce an operator’s license, identified herself verbally to the officer. Simpson.The officer searched the name provided in the Law Enforcement Information Network and located a...Phone scammers posing as police officers
DEARBORN — The Dearborn Police Department has become aware of a scam involving suspects contacting victims by telephone claiming to be law enforcement or IRS agents collecting debts.The scammer will try to intimidate the victim by threatening to put the victim in jail if the money is not paid. The scammer will ask the victim to......
UNSC resolution backs Yemen political transition
NEW YORK - The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday, Feb. 26, authorized sanctions against anyone in Yemen who obstructs the country's political transition or commits human rights violations but stopped short of blacklisting any specific individuals.The British-drafted resolution was adopted unanimously. It leaves the imposition of asset...Katy Perry’s Egyptian themed music video angers Muslims, responds by removing ‘Allah’ symbol
One of the men who appears in the video is wearing a pendant with the word "Allah." Pop singer Katy Perry has come under fire from Muslims worldwide for a "blasphemous" act in her latest music video, "Dark Horse," reports Al Bawaba. Perry plays an overly stereotypical Egyptian queen who rejects suitors by zapping them with...“Karama Has No Walls” offers powerful and touching glimpse into Yemen’s Friday of Dignity
Karama Has No Walls recounts the gruesome attacks that unfolded on Mar. 18, 2011, now referred to as the Friday of Dignity, when pro-government forces killed more than 50 peaceful anti-government civilians and injured hundreds more using snipers on Change Square in Yemen's capital of Sana'a. To many, the event redefined the Yemeni...Suspected terror financer arrested by the Lebanese Army
BEIRUT - The Syrian national detained by Army Intelligence for allegedly financing terrorist groups in Lebanon has been identified as Omar Juenieh, an Army source told Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star Thursday.The source said that Juenieh, better known as Omar al-Homsi, was arrested Wednesday, Feb. 26, outside General Security......
“The Square”: The revolution’s idealism attacked with bullets and politics
From Jan. 25, 2011 until Hosni Mubarak's ouster 18 days later, Tahrir Square in Cairo became an international symbol of freedom, democracy and change. But as the head of the Egyptian regime fell, the army and the Muslim Brotherhood emerged as the potential successors. Jehane Noujaim's Oscar-nominated documentary “The Square” tells...“Omar” depicts a harsh, but accurate reality of Palestine
Nominated for Best Foreign Film at this year's Oscars, 'Omar' follows a young Palestinian man who struggles to balance his love life with his disastrous political surroundings. Shot in the West Bank, the opening scene of ‘Omar’ sets the tone for the entire film. The title character, played by Adam Bakri, is seen climbing over......
Al-Qaeda-linked group applies special tax on Christians in Raqqa
DAMASCUS - The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has demanded that Christians in the city of Raqqa pay a levy in gold and curb displays of their faith in return for protection, according to a statement posted online Wednesday, Feb. 26.ISIS said it would ensure Christians’ safety in exchange for the levy and their adherence to...U.S. hate groups in decline as radical ideas go mainstream
The Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center released its annual Year in Hate and Extremism report, which tallied 939 active hate groups and 1,096 patriot groups in 2013, for a total of 2,035, which the organization said remained a relatively high number historically. It represented a 14 percent decline over the 2,367 groups counted in......
