FBI on wrongful arrest: Hammoud is a “respected community leader”
November 15th, 20110 DEARBORN – The FBI's Detroit field office issued a statement today reiterating the innocence of Ali Hammoud, President of Bint Jebail Cultural Center President Ali Hammoud, calling him a "respected community leader" and stating once again that he was not the person sought by the federal...Video: Nobel Peace Prize winner Tawakkul Karman speaks in Dearborn
DEARBORN- Tawakkul Karman, the first Arab and second Muslim to win the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize spoke in Dearborn on Sunday, Nov. 13 about the uprisings in the Middle East. Karman is the co-recipient of the prize and earned it for her efforts in fighting for human rights primarily during the Arab Spring. She first gained...
Lion’s share of ‘hate’ in US directed against Muslim Americans
November 14th, 20110 ‘Hate crimes’ against Muslims rise nearly 50 percent in US as racial, religious violence against other communities goes down. WASHINGTON - So-called "hate crimes" against Muslims rose nearly 50 percent in the United States in 2010, according to FBI statistics released Monday.The figures, part of a report on hate crimes, showed...Anti-bullying bill missing religious, moral conviction clauses, rights group says
SOUTHFIELD — The Michigan State House has yet to vote on a proposed anti-bullying bill, but the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Michigan is telling residents to ask their state reps to oppose the bill because it allows bullying of children based on religious beliefs and moral convictions. The Michigan State Senate recently...Auction from Wayne County Treasurer Wojtowicz raises $22 million
DETROIT — The October 2011 auction of tax foreclosed properties has been completed and Wayne County Treasurer Raymond J. Wojtowicz has reported sales generated over $22 million. The revenue will support ongoing essential government services. "The last thing I want to do is sell someone's property. However if a taxpayer cannot or...Food stamp rules to be changed Jan. 1
LANSING — According to State Dept. of Human Services Director Maura Corrigan, food stamp applicants will be able to keep two cars to get to work, school, and job interviews as of Jan. 1The agency had been previously telling applicants who owned vehicles with market values of more than $15,000 that they'd no longer be eligible for...
Family searching for second kidney donor after success of first operation
November 11th, 20110 Mohammed Haidar, 19, hopes to follow older brother's path to health DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Brothers Rami and Mohammed Haidar each grew up facing the same struggle against the rare Alport Syndrome kidney disease, but each got a new lease on life when they received new kidneys just a month apart in the summer of 2009.But things...
Hajj after breakfast
November 11th, 20110 DEARBORN — On this Sunday afternoon, the outside of Osama Bazzi's house looks like a typical Muslim family celebrating the Eid. Children and adults sitting outside greeting and hugging each other, Food, sweets and gifts are also visible to the eye. Upon entering her house however, it might surprise you to see a four sided four foot...
MA Engineering has dynamic future, plans D.C. expansion
November 11th, 20110 Salim Sessine has come a long way since 1979, the year he emigrated to the United States from Lebanon where he was born and raised. He was only 20 then, arriving fresh out of high school and eager to pursue a college career. SessineToday he’s married with children and the president of a consulting engineering firm that generates...
New report shows racial profiling at New York-Canada border
November 11th, 20110 Echoes problems identified all across northern borderNEW YORK CITY/DETROIT — A report released on Nov. 9 by the New York University School of Law Immigrant Rights Clinic (NYU), the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) and Families for Freedom (FFF) systematically confirms reports of northern border patrol agents engaged in...Judeh elected to Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame
EAST LANSING — Jumana Judeh was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame last Thursday night at the Kellogg Center for her work with the Arab American Women's Business Council, which she founded. The council promotes and supports Arab American businesswomen. Judeh was also recognized for her work with Vista Maria in...
Yemeni Nobel Prize winner Karman coming to Michigan
November 11th, 20110 ANN ARBOR/DEARBORN – The University of Michigan and the Yemeni American community of Dearborn have both invited 2011 Nobel Peace Prize winner Tawakkul Karman of Yemen to speak about the role of women in the Arab Spring movements. Karman is known as the "mother of revolution" in Yemen after leading protests against President Ali...Former CEO appointed as board member of Airport Authority following severance scandal
DETROIT - Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano appointed the former Chairman and CEO of the Michigan Consolidated Gas Co. Alfred Glancy, III as a new member of the county’s Airport Authority. The announcement comes after former board member Renee Axt put in her resignation this week. "We look forward to working closely and...Detroit judge lifts three-year mosque ban on extremist pastor Jones
DETROIT - A Detroit judge on Thursday overturned the three-year ban that prohibits Florida Pastor Terry Jones from protesting at the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn. The judge said that restricting the protest was legal but the ban was not. Jones had appealed his prosecution for attempting to “breach the...CAIR concerned about mosque security ahead of Christian group’s prayer vigil
DETROIT — The Council on American-Islamic Relations-Michigan has said it is concerned about the security of metro Detroit mosques during a Nov. 11 and 12 vigil at Detroit's Ford Field stadium.A group known as Transformation Michigan and right-wing activist Lou Engle organized the event which is expected to draw thousands of Christians......
Video: Students stage silent walkout of Israeli army spokesman at Wayne State
Here is footage taken from Tuesday's march of about 100 demonstrators around WSU's campus, along with a rally outside of where a silent walkout of Israeli army spokesman Gil Hoffman's speech occurred earlier, leaving him with only about 10-15 audience members: ...ACLU says documents obtained from FBI show unconstitutional racial profiling
NEW YORK — Documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union and its affiliates show that the FBI has been targeting communities in America for investigation based on race, ethnicity, national origin and religion, and Dearborn's Arab American and Muslim communities are among those targeted. The documents show that the FBI......
PA ambassador Areikat talks politics, Palestinian statehood in Livonia
LIVONIA — Palestinian Authority Ambassador to the United States Ma'en Areikat visited the Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary Cultural Center on Wednesday, October 26, fielding questions and updating guests on the status of Palestine's dramatic pursuit of statehood at the UN. Ambassador Ma’en Areikat (above, left) said...ISPU 2011 Banquet continues mission to educate on American Muslims, foreign policy
DEARBORN – While Americans have access to more information than ever before thanks to the Internet and other sources, persistent myths about American Muslims and the country's foreign policy have continued to halt progress. But for more than 10 years, the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding has a leader in the quest to dispel...
University of Michigan students walk out in protest of Israeli diplomat
October 31st, 20110 ANN ARBOR — Last year, the a coalition of University of Michigan student organizations set off a national college trend with their walk-out on a pair of Israeli soldiers at a speaking tour on campus that many deemed a PR campaign to "whitewash" UN war crimes accusations. Students from various University of Michigan-Ann Arbor...
Ethnic, mainstream media to change narrative on Detroit area
October 31st, 20110 DETROIT — New Michigan Media (NMM) has announced a partnership with WXYZ-TV where the two Detroit area media companies will collaborate and share resources through WXYZ's new project titled "Detroit 2020." New Michigan Media board members posing in front of WXYZ station in Southfield after an interview with Chuck Stokes on Spot Light......
Mysterious accident claims life of Lebanese American in Beirut
October 30th, 20110 The totalled Aston Martin automobile in Beirut belonging to Tlais is shown following an accident that occurred after he was shot while driving. BEIRUT - On Friday at 3 p.m. in his home village of Brital Baalbeck, funeral services were held and condolences were offered for Hawlo Tlais, the vice chairman of General Organization for...Free Police town hall meeting to be held Nov. 2
DEARBORN — A third and final Dearborn Police town hall meeting will be held at the Dearborn Public Schools Admin. Building at 18700 Audette on Wed., Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. Residents can meet Police Chief Ronald Haddad, learn about crime patterns in their neighborhood, see police vehicles on display, get free child identification kits,......
Haddad named among Public Officials of the Year
WASHINGTON — GOVERNING has announced the top state and local government officials being honored for leadership and excellence. The 2011 Public Officials of the Year are leaders from state, city and county government and are being recognized for outstanding accomplishment in their positions and communities. The annual awards program is...
Community protests Arab Chamber dinner over Gilmour speech
October 30th, 20110 American Arab Chamber honors Napoleon, interfaith business leader as economic bridge builders Protesters lined the street outside of The Henry Hotel in Dearborn to protest the American Arab Chamber of Commerce’s decision to invite Wayne State President Allan Gilmour as its keynote speaker. Gilmour removed Helen Thomas’......