The Arab American News
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Israel’s in-your-face appointment
Israel announced this week that its ambassador to the United States beginning in September will be Ron Dermer, a 42-year-old neoconservative political operative. Dermer grew up in the United States, once worked for Newt Gingrich, renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2005, and now works for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a...There’s a Palestinian in the NFL!
Palestinian Americans are split on a fundamental American issue: Football. Many of those from my father's generation of immigrants are simply confused by the whole concept. They came from a land and time where "football" meant kicking a ball with your foot into a goal. Trying to divorce them from this word association...Civil rights organizations denounce verdict in Trayvon Martin case
The Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus issued a statement this week noting that it is deeply saddened, outraged and disappointed by the verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman, who the group says stalked, shot and killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old African American boy last year.On Saturday, July 13, 2013, a...Reconciliation is crucial for Egypt’s future
Has the recent coup in Egypt served the cause of democracy? Time will tell.In removing President Morsi from power, the military has swiftly responded to a second round of a popular uprising and to a rapidly worsening economy. In one year, Morsi managed to accelerate the deterioration of an already dysfunctional socio-economic...Dearborn mayoral candidates share motives for running
DEARBORN — The municipality race in Dearborn has drawn plenty of attention and interest from the Arab American community, due to a handful of city council candidates who have launched impressive and vibrant campaigns. However, most residents may not be aware of the fact that three Arab American candidates are vying for an even more...
AAPAC announces endorsements for August 6 primary election
July 19th, 20130 This week, the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) announced its endorsements for the August 6 primary elections. The group endorsed seven candidates for Dearborn City Council and three candidates, who are running for mayor in the cities of Detroit, Hamtramck and Dearborn Heights. Dearborn will elect seven city...
Boating tragedy claims lives of two children, devastates community
July 19th, 20130 SYLVAN LAKE — This week several vigils were held at Chaldean churches across metro Detroit, where members of the close knit community gathered to pray for the victims of the horrific boating accident that took place on Sunday and left two siblings, ages 11 and six, dead and another, 10, in critical condition, who’s fighting for...
EEOC: Crestwood School District discriminates against Arab Americans
July 19th, 20130 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Evidence gathered throughout the course of an investigation by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission into the Crestwood School District shows Arab Americans were discriminated against. The EEOC has determined that the District violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, by discriminating...Government should not decide who is a journalist
On Wednesday, July 19, the Dearborn Police Department held a press conference to address the murder and abduction that was committed on July 15 at the Family Dollar store in downtown west Dearborn. Unfortunately, The Arab American News was not allowed to attend, because this reporter did not have any "press credentials.""My tape recorder...Dearborn Police seek public’s help to solve dollar store homicides
DEARBORN — A 20-year-old man was shot dead at the Family Dollar store, located at 22631 Michigan Ave., on the evening of Monday, July 15. Brenna Machus, the store's assistant manager was abducted in the incident and was found dead in a wooded area near the Southfield Freeway and Michigan Avenue, on Thursday July 18.Employees who opened...Banks’ discriminatory account closures are pervasive and widespread
Last week, my firm, Jaafar & Mahdi Law Group, along with the firms of Nabih H Ayad & Associates and Barry A. Seifman, filed a class action lawsuit against Huntington Bank for closing large numbers of bank accounts in a discriminatory manner. Huntington targeted members of the Arab, Middle Eastern and Muslim communities for...Trustees vote to include HFCC millage proposal on November ballot
DEARBORN — During the last Dearborn School Board of Trustees meeting, a millage renewal was approved, in a 5-1 vote, to include on the November ballot. The decision will allow voters to decide on whether, or not, to approve a 3-mills renewal, along with a 1-mill increase, over the span of 10 years for Henry Ford Community College...Dearborn Public Library receives grant for reading series on Islam
DEARBORN – Henry Ford Centennial Library recently received a $3,500 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the American Library Association (ALA) to host a five-part reading and discussion series about the Muslim faith, culture, history and people.The project, which seeks to familiarize the public with Islam in...Gas station attendant receives up to 17-year prison sentence for killing customer
Saleh.A local gas station attendant, who fatally shot a customer after a dispute last year, was sentenced to 4 years, 5 months to 17 years in jail by a Wayne County Circuit Court judge on July 11.The shooting occurred on March 10, 2011 at a BP gas station in Detroit, after Michael Haynes, a 24-year-old customer, argued with the...Happy’s Pizza owner, four others indicted for tax fraud
Happy Askar, the owner of the popular pizza chain, Happy’s Pizza and four others, who work for him, were indicted by a grand jury with tax fraud and obstruction, along with other charges in U.S. District Court on Tuesday. The names of the other four are Maher Bashi, Tom Yaldo, Arkan Summa and Tagrid Summa Bashi. Bashi and......
Christian group asks local Muslims to donate books to women’s library in Yemen
NORTH CAROLINA — A Christian volunteer group is reaching out to southeast Michigan's Muslim community, during the holy month of Ramadan, in an effort to upstart a women's library in Yemen. Impact International has volunteered at the Arab International Festival in Dearborn for 14 years and returned this year, despite its...Tawheed Center holds annual food drive
FARMINGTON HILLS — Volunteers for the Tawheed Center Annual Food Drive are needed. Over six trucks of food will be delivered to at-need families across Michigan. You can donate to this effort online, or you can help pack the thousands of boxes and load the trucks on Saturday, Aug. 3 at Sam’s Club, 32625 Northwestern Hwy, Farmington......
TSA says not to be alarmed by Muslims practicing rituals in Ramadan
WASHINGTON - The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a statement at the beginning of Ramadan, urging security agents and travelers not to be alarmed by Muslims practicing religious rituals at airports and on airplanes."TSA has reminded its security workforce that traveling passengers may be observed at various areas in...MMCC starts Ramadan with fight against hunger campaign
MICHIGAN — The Michigan Muslim Community Council (MMCC) began Ramadan with a successful start to its “Ramadan Fight Against Hunger” Campaign. A team of energetic, hard working volunteers came together and helped to package food on the first day of the holy month at Forgotten Harvest. A number of other volunteer opportunities...Elahi meets with Congressman Dingell, discusses U.S.-Iran relations
DEARBORN HEIGHTS - Last week, Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi and Congressman John Dingell met to discuss U.S.- Iranian relations. The discussion centered on the election of the new moderate Iranian president and the opening of a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries. Imam Elahi (right) pictured with Congressman...Why teaching kids about the environment matters
Learning about saving energy and the environment will do more than just help kids save money as adults -- it can help them develop math and science skills, and foster a sense of responsibility.From which appliance to buy to save the most energy, to what temperature to set the thermostat, we are faced with choices that can impact us......
Tips to reduce paper waste
Want to go green? One great area to focus on this year is reducing, reusing and recycling the paper waste you generate.In America alone, we use about 71 million tons of paper a year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.But with a few tweaks to your daily routine, you can reduce your contributions to this problem. Here are...BCBSM website educates consumers on impact of health care reform
DETROIT — Beginning this October, Michigan residents may be affected by the federal health reform law. What health insurance covers, where people can buy it and whether people qualify for government financial assistance are questions many people in the State will be asking. To help people in Michigan understand the new law and its......
Man found dead inside Family Dollar Store in Dearborn, woman missing
July 16th, 20130 DEARBORN-- A 20-year-old man was shot dead in a robbery at the Family Dollar store, located at 22631 Michigan Ave., on the evening of Monday, July 15. According to police, Brenna Kathleen Machus, 20, of Romulus, who was working at the store on the same evening, is believed to be abducted and may be "in danger." Employees who opened...
Russia: Syrian rebels likely behind Aleppo chemical attack
July 12th, 20130 Russian scientific analysis indicated a deadly projectile that hit a suburb of the Syrian city of Aleppo on March 19 contained the nerve agent sarin and was most likely fired by rebels. The incident at Khan al-Assal in the northern province of Aleppo killed more than two dozen people. Both the government and rebels have blamed each......