The Arab American News
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International Al-Quds Day rally raises awareness for Palestinian freedom
DEARBORN/DETROIT — Rallies in support of International Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day are held locally and throughout the Middle East and the world each year on the last Friday of Ramadan and have been since 1979, but this year's version in Dearborn on Friday, August 26 had a different twist. A first-ever auto rally featuring signs, banners,...U.S. blacklists two top Syrian officials
WASHINGTON — The United States slapped sanctions on Syria's foreign minister and two other top officials on Tuesday as it pressed President Bashar al-Assad's regime to stop its crackdown on protesters.The sanctions imposed by the Treasury Department are the third in a series of punitive U.S. measures placed on Assad and top government...Bahrain’s Wefaq demands military courts close
MANAMA — Bahrain's main Shi’a opposition party, Al-Wefaq, demanded on Tuesday last week the closure of military courts set up during a protest crackdown and condemned an attack on the home of its leader. Wefaq leader Sheikh Ali Salman: Main Shi’a opposition party demands release of all political prisoners, start of real political...Hizbullah urges ‘peaceful resolution’ in Syria
MAROUN AL-RAS — Lebanon's Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah last Friday called for a "peaceful resolution" in crisis-hit Syria, warning of regional fallout. Nasrallah: All those who claim they are friends of Syria must step up efforts to help calm the country’s situation."All those who claim they are friends of Syria ... must...Maliki: U.S.-Iraq pull-out to proceed as scheduled
BAGHDAD — Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has said U.S. forces will leave Iraq as scheduled by year's end, and that there will not be any permanent U.S. bases in the country, a statement from his office said on Tuesday."The agreement on the withdrawal of American forces will be implemented on schedule by the end of the year, and...ADC-Michigan’s 10th Annual Judges Night to be held Sept. 21
DEARBORN — The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of Michigan's Advisory Board will host the organization's 10th Annual Judges Night Reception at 6 p.m. on Sept. 21 at Byblos Banquet Center in the city. The event is by invitation only. Judges Night's purpose is to recognize and honor local judges whose work in upholding...Stockham ruled incompetent to stand trial for threat against Islamic Center
DETROIT — Wayne County Circuit Judge Bruce Morrow last week ordered Roger Stockham to remain in a psychiatric hospital until he is either committed or fit to stand trial. Stockham had been found with high-end explosive fireworks in his vehicle near the Islamic Center of America in January after telling witness Joe Nahhas that he...State lawmakers approve changes in health benefits
LANSING —A new bill requiring local governments to pay no more than 80 percent of their employee health care costs or limiting the payment to 15 thousand dollars a year per family has been approved.The bill would also lead to higher health care costs for some teachers and employees of local governments. Democrats have strongly opposed...Detroit murder rate up 21% in 2011 over last year
DETROIT — Over 230 homicides have been recorded in the city this year, a 21% increase over last year, and the vast majority of them have been shooting. Local leaders are pledging to fight gun violence in Detroit including Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, FBI Special Agent in Charge Andy Arena, Attorney General Bill Schuette and others, saying...Stricter welfare limit bill sent to Gov. Snyder
LANSING — Thousands of Michiganders involved in welfare cases could lose benefits under a new bill that has been sent to Gov. Rick Snyder to sign. The bill will impose a stricter, four-year lifetime limit on benefits which means that around 12,000 families could stop getting them as of October 1. The measure passed in the...Candidates file for two Dearborn School Board seats
DEARBORN/DEARBORN HEIGHTS – School board races have taken shape in the area as four people have filed for the Dearborn Public School Board race. The election happens on Nov. 8. Incumbents Mary Pelitchkoff and Joseph Guido filed for reelection in Dearborn with Roxanne McDonald and Stephen Dobkowski challenging them for the two...Islamic House of Wisdom interfaith iftar held in spirit of cooperation
DEARBORN HEIGHTS - Islamic House of Wisdom held a Unity and Interfaith iftar Saturday, August 20, that attracted more than 300 people and highlighted the spirit of cooperation between the different faiths in the community.The iftar included local imams, pastors and leaders of religious organizations, U.S. and State House...Probe sought on CIA role in Muslim ‘spying’
A US Muslim civil liberties group has called for a federal investigation and Senate hearings into a report alleging that the CIA helped the New York Police Department (NYPD) in spying on minority communities. The report said undercover police were sent in to monitor Muslim and other minority neighborhoods in New YorkThe Council on...Sample specialities at a variety of local restaurants at Taste of Dearborn East
DEARBORN – The East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority (EDDDA) has again teamed up with the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce to indulge participants with the unique cultural tastes of East Downtown Dearborn with a Taste of Dearborn East event on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011, from 6 to 10 p.m.This is a mouthwatering way to enjoy the...City of Dearborn: Changes in parking for Eid al-Fitr
Due to the volume of friends and families coming together to celebrate the Eid Festival on Tuesday, August 30, Public Service Day parking restrictions will be suspended this day in the area bordered by Greenfield, Tireman, Wyoming, Henn and Haggerty. To facilitate garbage and recycling pickup, residents are asked to please place......
Palestinian youth in Gaza skeptical about PA’s UN bid
Along with several other bloggers and activists in the Gaza Strip, I was recently invited to take part in a short video about young Palestinians' reaction to the Palestinian Authority's (PA) bid to have the United Nations admit a Palestinian "state" as a full member of the international body this September. A Palestinian man reacts at a...Obama administration’s immigration announcement not an amnesty program
Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it would put guidelines in place across all immigration agencies to ensure that its enforcement priorities are focused on removing persons who are most dangerous to the country. In a letter to Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and other senators who had requested that DHS......
Libya’s Iran embassy declares “solidarity” with rebels
TEHRAN- The Libyan Embassy in Tehran has declared its "solidarity" with rebel fighters and taken down the flag of strongman Muammar Gaddafi's regime, the Quds newspaper reported on Thursday."Libya's diplomatic mission in Tehran announces its complete solidarity with February 17," the date when fighters began an insurgency against...
Spying on Muslim Americans
August 27th, 20110 With CIA help, NYPD moves covertly in Muslim areasNEW YORK — In New Brunswick, N.J., a building superintendent opened the door to apartment No. 1076 one balmy Tuesday and discovered an alarming scene: terrorist literature strewn about the table and computer and surveillance equipment set up in the next room. With CIA help, NYPD built...
FBI ramps up number of informants monitoring Muslim communities
August 27th, 20110 Nearly a decade after the tragic events on 9/11 the number of registered FBI informants has increased drastically with about three times as many informants as the agency had 25 years ago. A study completed by Florida Center for Investigative Reporting Associate Director Trevor Aaronson concludes there are currently 15,000 registered FBI...
‘Covering Islam in the Bible Belt:’ Journalists unite for understanding
August 27th, 20110 NASHVILLE — As those who followed the 2010 Murfreesboro, Tennessee mosque opposition story know, American Muslims in the Bible Belt, defined mostly as the southeast part of the United States, have had it particularly rough in recent years for simply attempting to practice their religion. But journalists covering issues involving......
‘March Without Fear’ rallies 1,000 against ICE, Border Patrol abuses
August 27th, 20110 DETROIT — A massive coalition of organizations joined about a thousand protesters on Saturday, August 20 at Clark Park on the city's southwest side for a "March Without Fear" to Detroit's old train station, spotlighting what many are calling a shocking pattern of abusive behavior by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement...
Washington’s battle over Syria
August 27th, 20110 Two distinct camps are forming to battle over Syria policy in Washington. The first is made up of the neoconservatives, who are busy fitting the Arab Spring into U.S. strategic interests as they see them. John Bolton, Michael Doran and Elliott Abrams have been leading the charge in articulating this argument.The second group are the......
Rebel leader: Libya civil war cost more than 20,000 lives
August 27th, 20110 BENGHAZI, Libya – Libyan rebels continued hunting this week for Muammar Gaddafi and battled the remnants of his forces after overrunning his Tripoli compound, as the strongman urged residents to cleanse the capital "of rats." Rebels trample on a Gaddafi statue in Bab al-Aziziya. Two powerful blasts thought to be caused by an air attack...Dearborn Community Center hosts second annual iftar event
DEARBORN - The Dearborn Community Center hosted its second annual iftar at Dearborn Masjid Al-Salam on Wednesday, located at 3900 Schaefer Road. Among those in attendance were U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-Detroit), Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon, judges Mark Somers and Richard Wygonik, Police Chief Ron Haddad and member of the board......