Veteran Arab American activist Jalil Gerges Saad dies at 85
May 6th, 20230 LIVONIA — Veteran Arab American activist Jalil Gerges Saad, known in the Arab American community in the Detroit region as George Saad, passed away last Monday. He was 85. A funeral will be held for his comfort in St. Mary's Church in Livonia on Friday, before his burial services in the city on Saturday, May 6. Saad is considered one...
New Jersey designates January as Muslim Heritage Month
May 6th, 20230 New Jersey Muslim community and faith leaders have hailed the governor’s decision to designate January as “Muslim Heritage Month” after years of rallying for the decision. Gov. Phil Murphy signed a proclamation Saturday in a measure that will bring more awareness to the Muslim communities in the state, North Jersey...
F.L.I.P. Scholarships provide $100,000 to graduates of Dearborn and Crestwood high schools
May 6th, 20230 DEARBORN – The Arab American News is completing preparations for holding the second annual gala to distribute scholarships to high school graduates bound for college out of the Dearborn and Crestwood School Districts, as part of the Future Leaders in Progress (F.L.I.P.) scholarship program launched last year in partnership with...
Resilient Neighborhoods: New Southwest Detroit mixed use development prioritizes affordability
May 1st, 20230 By David Sands Claudia Enriquez says it's becoming increasingly difficult for younger people to find affordable housing in Southwest Detroit, where she lives. "Right now in Detroit, rent is so high. There's a lot of students that want to live here and they want to live by themselves," she said. To help remedy this situation,...
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud hosts first Eid al-Fitr breakfast in the city
May 1st, 20230 DEARBORN — Mayor Abdullah Hammoud hosted the first Eid al-Fitr breakfast for community members celebrating the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The breakfast took place at the Ford Performing and Community Arts Center in Dearborn on Saturday, April 22 and roughly 1,000 people attended. The brunch was free and all of the food...
U.S. Reps. Tlaib and Dingell lead Congressional effort on adding MENA category to Census
May 1st, 20230 WASHINGTON, D.C. – On April 27, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) led 20 of their colleagues in a joint congressional public comment letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to end the systemic erasure of the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) community. The...
Minneapolis authorities investigating two mosque fires on consecutive days
May 1st, 20230 Emergency crews responded to fires at two mosques in south Minneapolis over two consecutive days and authorities are asking for help identifying a man believed to be involved in one of the fires. According to the Minneapolis Fire Department, the first fire happened Sunday evening at the Masjid Omar Islamic Center inside the 24 Somali...
Nasser Beydoun announces candidacy for U.S. Senate
April 26th, 20230 DETROIT — Dearborn businessman and Civil Rights Advocate Nasser Beydoun has announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate to fill the seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow. Beydoun is the third Democrat to formally file for the race, following U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Lansing and attorney Zack Burns of Ann...
Family of 10-year-old boy sues after Camp Dearborn drowning last summer
April 22nd, 20230 DEARBORN — The family of 10-year-old Carson Dunn, who died after falling off of a water playscape at Camp Dearborn last summer, is suing. The lawsuit was filed by attorney Ven Johnson on behalf of Dunn’s family. On July 6, 2022, Dunn went to Camp Dearborn, which is owned by the city of Dearborn, and was on the Ripping the...
Annapolis High School Arab Student Union hosts Iftar dinner
April 22nd, 20230 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Just one year after its formation, the Annapolis High School Arab Student Union (ASU) hosted its first Iftar dinner. The dinner brought community members and students from the Dearborn Heights D7 School District together on April 18 and included dates, chicken, rice pilaf, salad, fruit and more. Annapolis...
Bill Saad elected to lead Michigan petroleum and convenience stores associations
April 21st, 20230 TRENTON – Bill Saad, founder and CEO of Michigan Fuels, has been elected chairman of the Board of Directors of the Michigan Petroleum Association/Michigan Association of Convenience Stores (MPA/MACS). Saad was elected by the MPA/MACS Board of Directors at their recent board meeting held during the MPA/MACS Annual Michigan Show, a...
Dearborn, Hamtramck are the first U.S. cities to make the Eid a paid holiday
April 21st, 20231 Dearborn is making history as Mayor Abdullah Hammoud has made the Islamic holiday of Eid a paid holiday for the city's employees. The Eid marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Muslims all over the world celebrate the Eid with their loved ones, commemorating the completion of their month of prayer, fasting and...
Suspect arrested in stabbing of imam while praying at mosque in New Jersey
April 20th, 20230 PATERSON, NJ — An imam at a mosque in Paterson, New Jersey was stabbed while leading prayers. Around 5:30 a.m. last Sunday, Imam Sayed Elnakib was stabbed several times while praying at the Omar Mosque, according to reports. The alleged attacker, Serif Zorba, was restrained by the other individuals praying in the mosque. The...
Muslim Americans strive across the U.S. to make Eid Al Fitr a school holiday
April 14th, 20230 By Jihan Abdalla It all started last year, when Saamih Bashir’s eldest son, Kareem, a ninth grade pupil in the U.S. state of Michigan, started complaining about never having the day off from school during Eid Al Fitr. Instead of being able to enjoy the celebrations and time with his family, Kareem said he was stressed out. “He...
No-cost, bilingual diabetes PATH workshop coming to Dearborn
April 9th, 20230 DEARBORN — The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan (NKFM) is hosting a no-cost, bilingual Diabetes Personal Action Toward Health (DPATH) workshop. The six-week workshop will be presented in both Arabic and English and is offered at no-cost to all participants. The workshop will feature a facilitator working with a small group......
President Biden issues a proclamation declaring April 2023 Arab American Heritage Month
April 8th, 20230 WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday, March 31, President Biden issued the following proclamation declaring April 2023 as the Arab American Heritage month: "The Arab American story is the American story — one of diverse backgrounds and faiths, vibrant tradition, bold innovation, hard work, commitment to community and stalwart patriotism,...
Tlaib and Dingell introduce resolution recognizing Arab American Heritage Month
April 8th, 20231 DETROIT — U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) introduced a resolution honoring Arab American Heritage Month, a month-long celebration held in April to recognize the incredible contributions Arab Americans have made in the United States. “It is always an honor to introduce a resolution......
Gov. Whitmer signs proclamations marking April 2023 as Arab American Heritage and Chaldean American Month
April 8th, 20231 LANSING – On Saturday, April 1, Governor Whitmer signed proclamations marking April 2023 as Arab American Heritage and Chaldean American Month to celebrate the culture, heritage and contributions of Arab Americans and Chaldean Americans to the state. "Arab and Chaldean Americans are a part of Michigan’s proud, diverse history...
Chicago-based organization launches campaign to educate the community about Ramadan
April 8th, 20230 CHICAGO — GainPeace, in partnership with the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) and the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA) proudly announces the launch of a four-week joint campaign aimed at educating the broader community about the significance of Ramadan and promoting humanitarian...
Georgetown opens first-of-its-kind mosque on a U.S. college campus
March 31st, 20230 Every day, Tabshir Forkan walks to Georgetown’s masjid, or mosque, on campus for its daily prayer services. He steps into the sunlit, open worship space to pray. Afterward, he often finds himself in the masjid’s community space, attending spiritual discussions and dinners, studying, meeting with friends. “It’s a space I...
Local Muslim physician sues Corewell Health for alleged religious discrimination
March 31st, 20230 Dr. Samer Ilayan, a former Corewell Health physician, is suing the healthcare group for alleged religious-based discrimination. The bombshell lawsuit was filed this week and it claims that one of Corewell Health's clinics in Taylor violated the former employee's civil rights among other serious allegations. Ilayan started his......
Wayne County commissioners recognize the holy month of Ramadan
March 25th, 20230 DETROIT – On March 16, Wayne County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution by Commissioners Sam Baydoun (D-Dearborn) and Al Haidous (D-Wayne) recognizing Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, which this year begins March 23 and lasts to April 20. “I wish for my brothers and sisters during this holy time to be safe and for...
Prosecutor: No charges against officer in fatal shooting of Ali Naji at the Dearborn police station
March 24th, 20233 DEARBORN – The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office announced that no charges will be issued in the fatal shooting of Ali Naji at the Dearborn police station in December. A statement issued by the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said the facts and evidence from the incident show that the officer acted in self-defense. In addition to no......
Newest and largest Papaya Fruit Market location opens in Canton
March 24th, 20230 CANTON — Khalil Saad, owner of the Papaya supermarkets, has opened a fifth location in Canton. Saad immigrated to the United States from Lebanon in 1998. He told The Arab American News the first Papaya store he opened on Warren Ave. on the Dearborn/Detroit border was originally a small shop. He shared the story of how he was...
Dearborn Heights Councilman Mo Baydoun hosts second annual Iftar dinner with the Dearborn Heights Fire Department
March 21st, 20230 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Dearborn Heights Councilman Mo Baydoun is hosting the second annual Iftar dinner with the Dearborn Heights Fire Department on the first day of Ramadan this Thursday, March 23. The Dearborn Heights Fire Department is planning to fast from all food and liquids on the first day of Ramadan to stand with and embrace......
