CAIR: Seattle Muslim targeted in bias attack
SEATTLE, WA – The Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA) today reported that a Seattle man who allegedly threatened a Muslim cashier in late December has been charged under that state's hate crime statute. CAIR-WA said the alleged assailant reportedly told a Muslim clerk at a Seattle grocery...Columbia University announces post-doctoral fellowship in Palestinian studies
Columbia University's Middle East Institute Center for Palestine Studies announced it will now offer a post doctoral fellowship in Palestinian Studies. Applicants for the 2011-2012 Ibrahim Abu-Lughod Award are now being accepted. The semester-long fellowship offers a $25,000 grant and the opportunity to conduct post-doctoral research....Deadline to apply for ISNA fellowship draws near
The last day to apply for the Islamic Society of North America's 2011 nonprofit management fellowship is Feb. 1. Muslim graduate students are encouraged to apply. The fellowship allows students to receive education and training in nonprofit management and philanthropy, and includes an internship with ISNA. Every year, 10 students are...ISNA diversity forum comes to Detroit
DETROIT — The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) is expected to hold its first annual diversity forum Jan. 14-16 at the Doubletree Hotel in Detroit. The workshop titled "Realizing the Dream: Finding Strength Through Diversity" is expected to educate attendees on the history, role, and importance of diversity in Islam, and suggest...String of burglaries in Dearborn causes concern, but crime rates down in 2010
DEARBORN – A total of five burglaries were committed on a single afternoon, Dec. 27, 2010 in Dearborn at homes near Telegraph Road between Ford and Cherry Hill, according to city police. Items including cash and jewelry were taken in each case. Police Chief Ron Haddad said that all five were likely committed by the same person, who...2010 Year In Review
• 9/11-themed class shirts at Edsel Ford disrupts students; deemed a mistake • Locals rally in solidarity with others in Cairo as Israeli siege of Gaza in 2009 remembered • Muslim Americans march in Detroit against terrorism after failed “underwear bombing” • Budget cuts deepen in Dearborn Public Schools system • ICE...Local church minister sees life in Palestine
A woman stands in line at Qalandiya, a major checkpoint between Ramallah and Jerusalem. The line is long, filled with people going to work and children going to school. There are upwards of 200 people waiting for the metal turnstiles to open. This woman waits, holding her daughter who needs to go to the hospital, hoping that...Obama’s indecisiveness defines his presidency
He may still possess the poise of a confident leader and an eloquent intellectual, but the presidency of Barack Obama is now suffering its most difficult phase to date. President Barack Obama gestures during his news conference in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House in Washington December 22, 2010....USCIS hosts naturalization information session in Detroit
DETROIT — A diverse group of about 30 people attended the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' information session at the USCIS offices at 11411 E. Jefferson Ave. in Detroit to address questions and concerns regarding the naturalization process. USCIS Immigration Service Officer Majdie Bazzi speaks to prospective citizens...
Hamtramck father, businessman granted permanent residency after outpouring of community support
December 28th, 20100 It was January of this year that Anees Sous had his bags all packed and ready to go back with him to Jordan in expectation of being deported. Anees Sous (third from left) poses with his wife and six children. Photo courtesy of Sous familyBut almost a year later, after an exhausting fight to stay in the United States with plenty of...
ACC names Detroit centers after founding members in ceremony
December 28th, 20100 DETROIT—Even after 31 years, the Arab American and Chaldean Council's founding members Salman Sesi, Dr. Haifa Fakhouri and Fr. John Badeen continue dedicating their lives to benefit the ACC, which provides more than half a million services annually to the needy ranging from job education and training, behavioral health to dental care...Popular Syrian singer Abu Ratib released after hearing, will self-deport
World-famous Syrian and Muslim singer Mohamed Mustapha Ali Masfaka, also known as Abu Rhatib, was released following a sentence hearing in federal court in Detroit on Dec. 14. Syrian singer Abu Ratib. Photo courtesy of Muslim Legal FundHe will now self-deport from the United States and relocate to the country of his choice per an...HFCC lets high schoolers get college credit
DEARBORN — High school juniors and seniors in technical programs can now earn college credit in one of 17 different degree and certificate programs from Henry Ford Community College. The program, which is entitled Career and Technical Education Secondary Partnerships, lets students earn three to 16 credits before graduation. "We...Mosques receiving hate mail
DETROIT — Metro Detroit mosques have been receiving hate mail from unknown senders in the past few weeks. The most recent mail was sent to a mosque in Detroit. The flyers were of hateful disturbing images, labeling Muslims as terrorists. Another local mosque received a package of a Qur'an smeared with feces. The Council on American...Local advocates keep hope alive for Dream Act
Millions of young illegal immigrants had their hopes dashed on Saturday, December 18th, when the Senate failed to give the 60 votes needed to pass legislation for the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act, which stands for Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors, was a bi-partisan legislation that would have allowed some illegal and......
New cell phone payment option offered in west Dearborn
Parking meters and booths have become a part of daily life in many downtown areas, including the west part of Dearborn, but many patrons have complained about the difficulties that come along with them. The Parkmobile system aims to solve many of those problems in Dearborn and is partnering with the city to offer its services to...
Dearborn’s Paramount Accounting & Tax Services gearing up for busy season
December 27th, 20100 With April deadlines rapidly approaching and more and more people looking for help, tax preparation services are seemingly popping up on every corner and in every classified ad in the newspaper. Paramount founder Eric Alzaroui is a federally-licensed tax practitioner who moved to Dearborn in 1998 to share his expertise with local......
Family rallies to raise funds to save young man’s life
A local family is desperately seeking the help of the community in saving the life of Ali Hafeez Habhab, a 22 year old from Kfarhouna, Lebanon, who was diagnosed with liver cancer two months ago. When they learned that an immediate liver transplant would save his life, Ali’s family began a frantic search for a matching donor. His...Cancer-causing chemical found in tap water of Ann Arbor, 30 other U.S. cities
An analysis of 35 U.S. cities' tap water has found that 31 one of these water sources (including Ann Arbor) contain exceedingly high levels of hexavalent chromium, a known carcinogen.The study is the first of its kind ever to be released to the public and comes, fortuitously, as the EPA is deciding whether to set safe drinking standards...State’s population declining
Michigan, the eight largest state, was the only state in the country to lose population this decade according to the 2010 census. Michigan's population dropped from 9,938,444 to 9,883,640, a o.6% decline. As a result, Michigan will lose a seat in Congress, bringing the state's representatives down to 14. According to the results that...ADC-Michigan hosts annual gala, continues to push forward despite financial difficulties
With several hundred guests attending the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of Michigan's (ADC-MI) annual benefit gala on Friday, Dec. 10 at the exquisite Hyatt Regency Hotel in Dearborn, it was easy for many to mistakenly think that the organization is in the middle of a time of abundance. But according to ADC-MI Regional......
Midwest Medical Center holds grand opening in Dearborn
DEARBORN - For many decades, the corner of Schaefer Road and Michigan Avenue in Dearborn was a thriving commercial area and the site of various stores including a Montgomery Ward department store. Now, the corner has been re-imagined as the new Dearborn Town Center, an $80-million dollar project. The centerpiece of the project is the...Arab Americans still fighting to reinstate Helen Thomas award at Wayne State
DETROIT — Wayne State University (WSU) has announced it won't place journalistic icon Helen Thomas' name back on its annual Spirit of Diversity Award, despite the concerns Arab Americans and others have expressed over the matter. On Dec. 10 WSU's Arab American Student Union (ASU) protested on the university's campus in front of the......
Amer Act signed into law
December 18th, 20100 Family turns tragedy into benefit for others As of Tuesday, December 14, relatives in Michigan will be given special consideration when children are placed into foster care by the Department of Human Services. It was on that day that Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm signed House Bill 4118 into law. HB4118 is also known as the "Amer...UM’s dream season ends in College Cup
Michigan soccer coach Steve Burns (in background pointing) instructs players during Dec. 10's 2-1 loss to Akron. Photo courtesy of MGoBlue.comNear the midway point of Friday night's game against Akron, Dearborn's Soony Saad received a pass from his brother Hamoody, setting him up for a good look at what would have been the go-ahead......
