The Arab American News
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ACLU’s Elmir continues the fight for civil liberties in Detroit
DETROIT — Rana Elmir began her career in the field of journalism with the hopes of telling the important stories that the media had ignored, particularly surrounding her own community. But after graduating from Wayne State University, her career took a different path than she had imagined. "I was reporting on things like...Obama’s handling of the Arab Spring and Israel leaves much to be desired
These are not the best of times for Americans, especially their leaders, including President Barack Obama, and Congress, considering the bad state of the economy (the federal debt) and foreign policy, particularly towards the Arab world.Many are pointing fingers at Obama, or as one headline pointed out, "The too-quiet president." An...Erdogan to break siege on Gaza?
ANKARA — Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Tuesday that he is considering visiting the Gaza Strip, a move that is parallel to the already strained bilateral ties."If the conditions allow, I'm thinking of visiting Gaza," Erdogan informed reporters, clarifying that his foreign ministry will be working on it. "I...Bitter divides persist below Bahrain’s relative calm
WASHINGTON (IPS) — When Bahraini ambassador Houda Ezra Nonoo arrived in Washington three years ago, she was greeted as the representative of a close U.S. ally with a reputation for more openness and tolerance than most Gulf nations.Nonoo was also a novelty as a woman representing an Arab country, and even more unusually, a Jew – one...Director uses art to educate about his culture
There is no doubt that the majority of the world is unaware of who the Assyrian people are or where they come from. But Detroit director Andre Anton has dedicated his career to educating the world about his culture and the fact that Assyrians are still very much alive and active. He created Lamassu Productions to help enlighten the world...
Snyder: It’s time to embrace immigrants
July 23rd, 20110 DETROIT — Speaking at the conference, Immigration and Michigan's Economic Future, Gov. Rick Snyder said in addition to cultural diversity, immigrants bring jobs to America. "Make no mistake about it, they are job creators, and we should be embracing that," he added. New Michigan Media members pose with Governor Rick Snyder...Israel suspends MP for opposing Gaza blockade
Haneen ZoabiJerusalem — The Israeli parliament has temporarily suspended an Israeli-Arab politician who participated in the Gaza-bound flotilla last year that was intercepted by Israel in a bungled assault that left nine pro-Palestinian activists dead.Civil rights groups condemned the controversial sanction against Haneen Zoabi, an MP...
Community mourns Hassan Zeidan
July 23rd, 20110 Community vows not to forget Zeidan, lessons learned as mourning continues DEARBORN – Just over a week since the shooting death of 23-year-old Hassan Zeidan rocked the local Arab American community, mourners have continued to cope in their own ways while support for Zeidan's family has continued to pour out from all...
Candidates beware: Islam-baiting doesn’t work
July 23rd, 20110 During the 2010 midterm election campaign, virtually every hard-charging candidate on the far right took a moment to trash a Muslim, a mosque, or Islamic pieties. In the wake of those elections, with 85 new Republican House members and a surging Tea Party movement, the political virtues of anti-Muslim rhetoric as a means of rousing...Iran claims U.S. drone shot down over nuclear site in Qom
TEHRAN — Iran has shot down an unmanned U.S. spy plane that flew over its Fordu nuclear site, a state-run website reported Wednesday, a day after it confirmed it was installing a new generation of advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges."An unmanned U.S. spy plane flying over the holy city of Qom near the uranium enrichment Fordu site...Poet jailed in protests claims she was beaten by Bahraini royal
MANAMA — A female member of the al-Khalifa royal family in Bahrain has been accused of repeatedly beating the 20-year-old student poet Ayat al-Gormezi when she was in prison, accused of reciting a poem at a pro-democracy protest rally criticizing the monarchy.In an interview with The Independent, Ms. Gormezi, who became a symbol of...
Jewish settlers terrorizing Palestinians, says Israeli general
July 23rd, 20110 Jerusalem — A senior Israeli army commander has warned that unchecked "Jewish terror" against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank threatens to plunge the territory into another conflict.In unusually outspoken comments, Major General Avi Mizrahi took aim at extremist Israeli settlers, and said the yeshiva, or religious seminary, in...Jewish activists launch campaign supporting divestment from Israel
DEARBORN — Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) held a protest on Tuesday evening in Dearborn outside of the Veolia Environmental Services plant on Schaefer Rd against TIAA-CREF, for investing in companies that profit from Israeli occupation in the West Bank. Jewish Voice for Peace protesting in Dearborn outside of the Veolia plant on Schaefer...
Hizbullah says it will overcome STL conspiracy
July 23rd, 20110 BEIRUT — Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah said on Tuesday that Hizbullah would overcome the conspiracy of the Special Tribunal on Lebanon (STL) and emerge stronger than before. Nasrallah also declared his support for the dialogue initiative launched by President Michel Sleiman, and denied claims that Hizbullah was not...Hundreds of Palestinian minors jailed for throwing stones
JERUSALEM — One out of more than 800 Palestinian children charged with throwing stones in the West Bank over a six-year period was acquitted, according to the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem.Ninety-three percent of the 834 under-18s who were convicted were given prison sentences by the Israeli military courts, including 19 children......
Israeli and Palestinian activists march in step for peace
OCCUPIED EAST JERUSALEM (IPS) — For the first time in over 20 years, thousands of Israeli and Palestinian peace activists marched peacefully together on Friday to support the Palestinian drive for statehood expected to be endorsed at the UN General Assembly in September."Only a declaration of Palestinian statehood can prevent...Damascus warns U.S., French envoys, apologizes to Qatar
DAMASCUS — Syria launched a diplomatic offensive Wednesday, warning French and U.S. ambassadors they risked expulsion if they breached a travel ban on leaving Damascus, while issuing an apology to Qatar for an attack by demonstrators on its embassy that prompted it to suspend work in the country.Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem......
Dearborn kicks off “master plan” initiative, seeks resident ideas
DEARBORN – Residents have the chance to play city planner this summer as part of a new "master plan" initiative designed to create a vision for the city's future.On Tuesday, July 19, the kick-off meeting for all residents was held at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center during which about 40 residents took surveys, held...
Boycott the state, not just the settlements
July 23rd, 20110 Recent legislation passed in the Israeli Knesset, which many people call the "Anti-BDS" bill, has raised a number of questions about a rising tide of "fascism" in Israel. This language is not only used by Palestinian critics, who have long borne the brunt of Israel's undemocratic policies. Now, many Israeli and American Jewish writers...Awaited One Foundation event brings 2000 to Hemlock Park
DEARBORN — Last Sunday, July 17, members of the community came together at Hemlock Park in Dearborn, Michigan to celebrate the birthday of Imam Mahdi, who Shi'a Muslims consider to be the Awaited Savior along with Jesus.The event was attended by 2000 people according to its organizers and included a diverse range of people from...
Dearborn’s Saad makes the leap to Major League Soccer
July 23rd, 20110 KANSAS CITY – Soony Saad, the 18-year-old former University of Michigan forward from Dearborn who led the NCAA in scoring last fall with 19 goals, was acquired by Sporting Kansas City of the professional Major League Soccer organization early this month after the team won a lottery for the rights to sign him. Saad had......
Dearborn Heights man receives murder charge over 2004 killing
DETROIT – Oussama Talal Othman, age 35, was arraigned on Tuesday of last week on a charge of first-degree murder over the killing of a 43-year-old woman in the city in 2004. Othman faces life in prison without parole if convicted. He is accused of killing Margaret Sheppard Webb of Dearborn according to Wayne County prosecutors....EnvisionTEC machines improve lives on a global level
EnvisionTEC CEO Al Siblani (right) is seen speaking to a associate at the company's location in Ferndale, Michigan while holding a product produced by a EnvisionTEC printer, similar to the machine both are standing in front of. The company has 13 different types of machines.A product created by a EnvisionTEC printer is pictured here.......
New state senator Kowall to run for Congress
WHITE LAKE — Mike Kowall (R-White Lake), who was elected to the state Senate last November, will run for Congress in 2012 in a bid to replace U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter of Livonia.McCotter is giving up his seat in the 11th Congressional District, which was recently re-drawn, in a bid to seek the Republican nomination for U.S....Muslim woman sues Abercrombie & Fitch over headscarf
Hani Khan took her case to the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, who then determined that the company had discriminately fired her. CALIFORNIA — Hani Khan, 20, from the San Francisco Bay Area, has filed a lawsuit against Abercrombie & Fitch after the company had fired her for refusing to remove her head scarf......