Ebtissam Khanafer
Author's Posts
Hundreds gather for grand opening of the Imam Al-Hasanain mosque and Islamic Institute of America’s new campus in Dearborn Heights
June 12th, 20263 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Hundreds of community members, religious leaders, elected officials and dignitaries gathered in Dearborn Heights earlier this month to celebrate the grand opening of the new headquarters of the Islamic Institute of America (IIOA) and the inauguration of the Imam Al-Hasanain Mosque, a $16 million project that...
Dearborn, Dearborn Heights question Census estimates after reported loss of more Than 6,700 residents
June 5th, 20260 DEARBORN / DEARBORN HEIGHTS — If official figures are accurate, Dearborn and Dearborn Heights have collectively lost more than 6,700 residents over the past five years. But for officials in the neighboring cities — home to the largest concentration of Arab Americans in the country — those numbers appear far removed from...
From Lebanon to Team USA: Michigan coach Bilal Hussein qualifies for FootGolf World Cup
May 22nd, 20260 Lebanese American athlete Bilal Hussein to represent Team USA in FootGolf World Cup ANN ARBOR — On a quiet summer morning at a public park, Bilal Hussein was simply looking for a way to clear his mind after years of pressure and emotional exhaustion in the world of soccer coaching. He never imagined that one casual kick of a soccer...
Palestinian American families face threats after cultural night incident at Beverly Elementary School
May 8th, 20260 BIRMINGHAM — Two Arab American families in Oakland County say they have faced ongoing harassment and threats after officials from the school district attended by their children publicly described their conduct as “discriminatory” and “anti-Semitic” following their participation in a school cultural event. The families, both of...
From Dearborn roots to national impact: ACCESS celebrates 55 years
May 1st, 20260 DETROIT – Under the theme “From the Neighborhood to the Nation”, ACCESS celebrated the 55th anniversary of its founding on the evening of April 24 with a large gala dinner at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. The event drew more than 1,500 guests, including high-ranking government officials, local leaders and...
Destruction of southern Lebanon’s villages breaks hearts of Dearborn expatriates: “We will return and rebuild with stone and memory”
April 24th, 20260 The Lebanese community in the Dearborn area — particularly those from southern Lebanon, who make up one of the largest segments of the diaspora in Michigan — is living in a constant state of anxiety and anticipation over the fate of their hometowns and villages amid long-standing Israeli ambitions they have witnessed for decades. As...
The Al-Hasnain Mosque opens in Dearborn Heights as part of major Islamic Institute of America expansion
April 10th, 20260 DEARBORN HEIGHTS – During the recent Eid al-Fitr holiday, the Islamic Institute of America celebrated the opening of the Imamain Al-Hasnain Mosque within its new headquarters on Beech Daly Road in Dearborn Heights, marking a new phase in serving the local community through a comprehensive vision that builds on the achievements of the...
East Dearborn welcomes Mosque of the Prophet as community need grows
April 4th, 20260 The story behind the construction of Mosque of the Prophet, affiliated with the Islamic Institute of Knowledge, is not merely another success story about building a beautiful and distinctive architectural landmark in Dearborn. Rather, it reflects a layered experience that mirrors how institutions are formed in the diaspora — how a...
Prominent attorney Shereef Akeel seeks seat on Wayne State University Board of Governors
February 27th, 20260 Arab American attorney Shereef Akeel does not hide his enthusiasm for adding a new chapter to his distinguished career defending civil rights, the law and the Constitution — this time by running for a seat on the Board of Governors at Wayne State University in Detroit. Akeel is competing for the Democratic Party nomination at its...
A family legacy rises in Canton: Saj Bakery opens new flagship location
February 13th, 20260 CANTON — Over the past several years, hundreds of Arab American families have relocated to Canton Township, bringing with them a growing number of Arab-owned businesses that have followed the community’s expansion westward — from Dearborn to Dearborn Heights and now to the thriving township at the western edge of Wayne...
Mallak Baydoun takes helm as Dearborn Heights chief of staff amid financial and operational challenges
February 13th, 20260 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Mallak Baydoun has been appointed chief of staff to Mayor Mo Baydoun, stepping into a key leadership role as the administration works to stabilize city finances and improve internal operations. Baydoun assumed the position following a leadership reorganization that moved former Chief of Staff Hussein Saad, an...
Dearborn Schools Interim Superintendent Lamis Srour explains why she will not seek permanent post
February 6th, 20260 DEARBORN — Interim superintendent Lamis Srour said she will not apply to keep her position on a permanent basis as the Dearborn Public Schools opens its search for a successor to former superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko. Maleyko left his position to become the state superintendent. He was hired in late December to replace longtime...
Mayor Mo Baydoun completes Dearborn Heights executive team, filling key city posts with local and diverse talents
January 17th, 20260 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The outlines of Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun’s new administration have taken full shape after all executive positions in city government were filled with local professionals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, in a vision aimed at improving institutional performance and enhancing the quality of services provided...
Dearborn Board of Education elects new leadership, prepares for a busy year of major decisions
January 16th, 20260 The Dearborn Board of Education opened its meeting on Monday, January 12, by holding its annual elections, which resulted in the election of Jamal Aljahmi as board president, Nasri Sobh as vice president, Amer Zahr as secretary and Ali K. Bazzi as treasurer. The election and reorganization session took place before the board’s regular...
Dearborn plans new East-end neighborhood with 300 homes, expanding affordable homeownership
January 16th, 20260 DEARBORN — As part of Mayor Abdullah Hammoud’s broader agenda for community and economic development, the city is planning a new residential neighborhood on the east side, featuring approximately 300 homes and apartments near the intersection of Greenfield Road and Paul Street. City officials said the project — still in its......
Dearborn Public Schools move toward new bond proposal to fix aging buildings
January 9th, 20260 DEARBORN — Nearly seven years after voters rejected a bond proposal to fund Dearborn Public Schools, the district began discussions this week on possible options to secure hundreds of millions of dollars needed to repair, rebuild and modernize its aging and deteriorating infrastructure, amid signs that the school board is leaning...
When laughter becomes a crime: Amer Zahr speaks about his detention by the Israeli police after comedy show in Nazareth
January 9th, 20260 DETROIT / NAZARETH — Amer Zahr did not expect to be questioned about laughter. It never crossed his mind that a joke — one he had delivered on the same stages for years — would be treated that night as if it were a document requiring interpretation, or a position warranting investigation. He arrived in Nazareth carrying what he......
