Arab Detroit hosts 7th Annual Workshop
DEARBORN — The Dearborn-based Web site Arab Detroit will host its 7th annual educational workshop entitled "Images and Perceptions of Arab Americans: Arab America: Bridging the Gap" on Thursday, December 3, 2009. Byblos Banquet Hall at 7258 Chase Road in Dearborn will be the site of the event, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m....HFH president to keynote woman’s breakfast
DEARBORN — The Arab American Women's Business Council will hold its 3rd Annual Breakfast on Friday, December 4, giving local businesswomen a chance to network and learn from the best. The breakfast was held at Byblos Banquet Hall in Dearborn. AAWBC founder Jumana Judeh The event, which runs from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and is...Dr. Adnan Hammad receives award from the American Cancer Society
Dr. Adnan Hammad received a prestigious award from the American Cancer Society in Los Angeles Nov.18 for his volunteerism, humanitarianism and distinguished service. Adnan Hammad The American Cancer Society, the nation's largest voluntary health organization, honors individuals who are helping to realize the...Attacks on Iran are attacks on Obama
In the last few weeks, there has been a flurry of unsubstantiated accusations against Iran. These accusations may seem to be aimed at Iran but, in fact, a pattern is emerging, which suggests that the attacks are really directed at destroying the Obama administration by discrediting its goodwill gesture toward Iran, which is a sharp...Iraqi refugees move to Michigan despite poor economy
The U.S. government resettled Mazen Alsaqa in Massachusetts in February. Within a month, the Iraqi refugee moved to Michigan. Iraqi refugee Rawaa Bahoo helps her daughter Maryam, 5, with her hair as Marvin, 8, left, and Maryana, 4, watch TV in Farmington Hills, Mich. Bahoo, 29, came to Michigan in July 2008 just a few days after...Budget cuts hit education hard
Dearborn Public Schools students and parents demonstrated against expected teacher layoffs outside the district’s administrative center on Nov. 23. PHOTO: Khalil AlHajal/TAAN DEARBORN — In the district hit hardest by severe state cuts in education funding, school board members bore the brunt of students' parents' and...Arab American veterans reflect on Fort Hood attack
Maj. Nidal Hasan's face continues to haunt Muslim and Arab Americans, his image floating around news media endlessly as investigations go on, details emerge and commentators associate his alleged crimes with his religion and ethnicity. For many Arab and Muslim veterans of the U.S. military, hearing about the victims of the Fort Hood...Retailer stands by diversity message
One of the world's biggest electronics retailers this week stood by a decision to include a small "Happy Eid al-Adha" greeting in its circular advertising Thanksgiving Day sales. Right-wing internet bloggers and forum users attacked Best Buy for printing the greeting after coming under fire in past years from groups like the American...A struggle for the soul of Saudi Arabia
"Robert Lacey, Inside the Kingdom: Kings, Clerics, Modernists, Terrorists, and the Struggle for the Soul of Saudi Arabia" (Viking, 2009) Robert Lacey is one of the most distinguished writers of our time. The author of twenty books, Lacey is noted for his astute biographies of Queen Elizabeth II, Henry Ford and Princess Grace of...IN BRIEF: Online group creates ‘Hug an Arab Day’
As world events and ultra-conservative commentators continue to wear down on the public image of Arab identity, some Facebook users hope to give Arabs a boost, one hug at a time. Hug an Arab Day, listed as an event on the popular social networking website, as of Thursday evening had 20,299 confirmed "guests." The day was to be...CIA premieres ads directed toward ethnic groups
CIA officials premiered new television recruitment ads aimed at Middle Easterners on Wednesday in Dearborn at the Lebanese American Heritage Club. Arab Americans watch one of two CIA ads geared toward recruiting Americans of Middle Eastern descent at a special screening in Dearborn on Wednesday. One ad is to premier in the...Groups call for DOJ investigation of FBI raid
Several major rights advocacy organizations sent a letter to the U.S. Justice Department on Monday calling for an investigation into potential civil rights violations commiteed during the Oct. 28 FBI raid conducted in Dearborn in which a religious leader was killed. Demonstrators protest the Oct. 28 FBI killing of Imam Luqman...Wahabism is the greatest challenge of the 21st century
September 11, 2001, forced us to look into the dark and mysterious world of Islamic militants. It seems that they emerged from the deserts of Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan, fully grown, already angry, and holding a Kalashnikov. Recently, Major Nidal Malik Hasan went on a shooting spree, which left 12 soldiers and one civilian dead and...Dinner supports upcoming Gaza Freedom March
Despite the outpouring of support for Gaza from the international community after the Israeli attacks in January, there is still an overwhelming amount of work to be done as winter approaches and conditions remain in a desperate state, activists say. But hope is finally on the horizon as the Gaza Freedom March is expected to take...Affirmative action having its day in court
DETROIT – A group of civil rights organizations asked a panel of appeals court judges this week to reverse a lower court's decision and strike down Proposal 2, the 2006 ballot initiative banning affirmative action in Michigan. The groups argued that the ban unconstitutionally discriminates against students of color by removing race......
Locals celebrate Lebanon’s independence
As Lebanon forged ahead with its new unity government, celebrations of the nation's 66th Independence Day took place across metro Detroit and beyond, including on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at the Westin Hotel in Southfield. A traditional dance troupe performs during a Lebanese Independence Day celebration in Southfield on Tuesday....
U.S. AG keynotes Detroit community-law enforcement banquet
November 21st, 20090 From right: Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, NAACP Detroit Executive Director Heaster Wheeler, ALPACT co-chair Nabih Ayad, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Detroit FBI Special Agent in Charge Andrew Arena, Fox 2 News Anchor Huel Perkins, ACLU Michigan Executive Director Kary Moss, and Detroit Deputy Mayor Saul Green stand for a flag......
Arab American seeks Miss USA crown after capturing Miss Michigan title
November 21st, 20090 As a relative newcomer in a field of contestants who had been intensely schooled on the intricacies of the pageant circuit from youth, it was only natural for Rima Fakih to feel a bit nervous at the Miss Michigan USA pageant in Port Huron. Fakih was crowned Miss Michigan in September and will be part of the Miss USA pagent in...Islamic House of Wisdom seeks contributions
DEARBORN HEIGHTS— Imam Mohammed Ali Elahi, religious leader of the Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights, is appealing to the community for funds to meet an upcoming financial obligation. In a letter sent to The Arab American News, Imam Elahi announced that negotiations with the bank holding the mortgage on the building in...
School funding cuts put education at risk
November 18th, 20090 DEARBORN - Hundreds of parents, students and educators from districts throughout the state rallied in Lansing on Tuesday, demanding that legislators restore funding to school districts facing debilitating cuts following the state budget crisis. Hundreds of people gathered in Lansing on Tuesday to protest school funding...IN BRIEF: Exhibit details growth of Islam in Detroit
DEARBORN — "Building Islam in Detroit: Foundations / Forms / Futures," an academic exhibition that has toured the world, is being put on display by the Center for Arab American Studies at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. The exhibit opened Nov. 13. "Building Islam in Detroit charts the growth of mosques and Muslim......
UM silences debate about Palestine
The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor has long been a haven for political movements, and many times, they've been started at least partly by non-students. But the right for non-students to speak at Michigan Student Assembly meetings has been compromised since the MSA passed a controversial resolution on Oct. 27 that will restrict...Engineers, architects hold annual banquet
The Arab American Engineers and Architects Association held its 4th annual banquet on November 6 at the Farmington Hills Manor, awarding scholarships and celebrating the year's accomplishments. Dr. Mumtaz Usmen Interim Dean of Engineering at Wayne State (r) receives an award from AAEA member Awni Qaqish. PHOTO: Nafeh......
Dearborn teams flounder in playoffs
DEARBORN — What began as a promising playoff season ended in heartbreaking fashion last Friday night as both Dearborn Public Schools football teams dropped first round games, effectively ending their seasons. Fordson and Edsel Ford, both among the top point-getters in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Playoffs, were...Muslim-run health clinic gets BCBSM grant
DETROIT — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is awarding free clinics throughout the state a total of $1 million in grants that will provide health services to individuals and families without health insurance. With the Michigan unemployment rate currently at 15.3 percent more Michigan residents than ever are going without health......