The Arab American News
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Mihtar wows fans with championship victory
DETROIT - Dearborn boxer Brian "The Lion" Mihtar stepped into the ring March 27 to face the man touted as his toughest opponent to date, former World Boxing Intercontinental Champion Robert Kamya at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Mihtar holds his North American Boxing Championship belt. But speaking in reflection...Arab American painter opens online gallery
J. F. Dagher, Lebanese born painter, has opened an online gallery selling original art and giclee reproductions. "Laundry Day" by J.F. Dagher. The paintings of Dagher reflect life and living in the Arab culture. "I really wanted to portray the Arab culture, to help preserve aspects of it, and to give others insight into...Jackson urges action at CAIR-MI banquet
DEARBORN - The Council on American-Islamic Relations-Michigan (CAIR-MI) celebrated its 10th anniversary at its annual banquet on Sunday, March 28, attracting about 1,000 people to the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Dearborn, including renowned civil and human rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson as keynote speaker. Civil and human...Tariq Ramadan to visit Detroit MuslimFest
DEARBORN - Tariq Ramadan will be the keynote speaker on April 11 in Detroit. He will address a Sound Vision benefit speaking on the topic of "Jihad within young hearts: Toward positive engagement." The event organizer, Sound Vision, says that young Muslims today face tremendous pressures. These pressures arise from a variety of sources:...Wayne Law to break ground on Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights
DETROIT - U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will speak at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights at Wayne State University Law School, 1:30 p.m. on Monday, May 17. Judge Damon Keith The ceremony comes on the heels of two generous gifts made to the Law School, including a combined gift...Students look to represent diversity at UM-Ann Arbor
With so much already on his plate at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, freshman and Dearborn Fordson graduate Jaber Saad could be excused for using his down time to relax. Jaber Saad But Saad, who came to Michigan with both a full tuition scholarship and his expected medical school tuition paid for, thanks to1947...Debate rages on over proposed alcohol ban in Bahrain
MANAMA (IPS) - Legislators say it would encourage more Islamic behavior and cure social ills, but critics say a complete ban by Bahrain on selling alcohol would mean big losses in tax revenues and lead to a black market in liquor. A campaign launched on the social networking site Facebook by Bahraini youth, though the creation...Rights groups condemn harassment of ex-prisoners in Tunisia
WASHINGTON (IPS) - The Tunisian government should stop the harassment of political prisoners after their release from jail, say rights groups in two new reports. Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali According to both Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International, the government of Tunisia often subjects...Barakat wears Palestine on his sleeves
At most every local gathering of advocates for Palestinian rights, one figure always stands out - a 74-year-old, Haifa-born firebrand always wearing colorful skull caps, wristbands and knee-high boots over baggy pants. Yusif Barakat with a group of young Gazans "I've been unique my whole life. I've always dressed different,...Cut off the cash and Israel might behave
Israelis are not renowned for their good manners, but their treatment of Vice-President Joe Biden during his recent visit to their country went beyond chutzpah. Biden is one of Israel's staunchest supporters in Washington, and the purpose of his visit was to prepare the ground for the resumption of peace talks between Israel and the...Cal-Berkeley students pass divestment, fight veto
While progress in bringing freedom and peace to Palestine has been painfully slow, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement continues to gain supporters both in the U.S. and abroad. Economic pressure from campuses and other organizations helped bring about the end of the former apartheid state in South Africa and many...Student group hosts Cynthia McKinney
DEARBORN – Former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney addressed a crowd of Arab American students and their families on March 19, relating stories about her career as an unrelenting, anti-war human rights activist and politician. Arab Student Union President Rashid Beyound, left, and Director of Recruitment Mahde Abdallah...Top honors student nets coveted scholarship
DEARBORN - In the city of Dearborn, few scholarship awards are more hotly contested than the Dearborn Rotary Club Harry A. Sisson Scholarship Award. Michael Makki With only the elite students from six Dearborn schools (Advanced Technology Academy, Dearborn, Divine Child, Edsel Ford, Fordson and Henry Ford Academy) all...Israeli intelligence, our constant companion
Another big week for Israeli spies - new and old. In the latest chapter of the Dubai assassination drama, Britain gave the boot Tuesday to an Israeli diplomat, asserting that Israel was involved in the forgery of U.K. passports used in the January killing of a senior Hamas operative. Meanwhile, declassified FBI documents from a...The Arab Jewish tradition and peace
The modern state of Israel is composed of Sephardic Jews, or Jews from Arab-Islamic lands, and Ashkenazic Jews, Jews who hail from Christian Europe. Occidental Jews have taken on many of the traits of Western culture, while the Oriental Jews, many of whom continued to speak Arabic and partake of a common Middle Eastern culture until......
Will hookah lounges survive state smoking ban?
With dozens of area hookah lounges facing major transformation when the state’s smoking ban takes effect on May 1, business leaders are to meet with officials on March 30 to hash out details of the law. The Arab American Chamber of Commerce organized the 5:30 p.m. meeting at the Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn with representatives from...AAPAC endorses Benson, donates to Dillon and Bouchard
The Arab American Political Action Committee on Wednesday voted to contribute to several state election campaigns and endorse one candidate for Democratic nomination. Jocelyn Benson The group will give $1,000 each to Michigan gubernatorial candidates Andy Dillon, a Democrat, and Michael Bouchard, a Republican, and to......
Intense performance by Arab American actor in ‘The Green Zone’
One of the most intense performances in the latest major Iraq War film, "The Green Zone" starring Matt Damon, comes from Arab American actor Said Faraj. Actor Said Faraj in "The Green Zone"Faraj plays Seyyed Hamza, a Ba'athist underling of a top general from the toppled Saddam Hussein regime. He brings an anxiety, anger, pride...Goodbye, Khalil!
AlHajal on assignment in Washington in 2009 The Arab American News reporter/editor Khalil AlHajal has accepted a position at The Flint Journal covering Flint schools and will begin work at his new job next week. AlHajal began his career at The Arab American News in December 2006 and is a graduate of the University of...Iraq election increases women in parliament regardless of vote count
BAGHDAD (McClatchy) — Maysoun al Damlouji has just one word for the male politicians who are sure to be upset when they find out their newly won parliamentary seats will be handed to female candidates under a quota to increase the role of women in the Iraqi government. An Iraqi woman votes at a polling station in Basra,...
How will Health Care Reform affect the economy?
March 27th, 20100 (CSM) – President Obama's victory on the new health care bill could provide a modest boost to the U.S. job market starting this year. President Barack Obama signs the healthcare legislation during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House alongside 11 year-old Marcelas Owens in Washington, March 23, 2010. Owens lost his......
Lengthy talks fail to resolve U.S.-Israeli tensions
WASHINGTON (AP) — A last-ditch effort to heal the deep dispute between two longtime allies failed when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the United States' main Mideast envoy were unable to resolve a rift over new Israeli housing in east Jerusalem. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) is greeted by Lee...
Top ten reasons Jerusalem does not belong only to Jewish-Israelis
March 27th, 20100 Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told the American Israel Public Affairs Council on Monday that "Jerusalem is not a settlement." He continued that the historical connection between the Jewish people and the land of Israel cannot be denied. He added that neither could the historical connection between the Jewish people and......
Census to count Arabs as white, despite write-in campaign
March 27th, 20100 The Census Bureau says it doesn't matter if Arab Americans write their race in on their Census questionnaire. Even if they check the "other" box and write in "Arab," as many community groups advocate, the Census will still count them as racially white. "Anyone from Europe, North Africa or the Middle East as white," said Roberto...Hyatt’s Giulio & Sons delights travelers and locals alike
With its impressive facade and prime location, the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Dearborn has become one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. But hidden inside on the second floor also lies what many consider one of the area's true culinary gems in Giulio & Sons Restaurant, which has become a favorite of both travelers and locals......