Hamtramck fails to pass anti-profiling ordinace
The Hamtramck City Council did not pass an ordinance brought to vote Tuesday that would prohibit police from profiling people based on their appearance, immigration status or other factors, because they said what they had in front of them was the wrong version of the measure they intended to vote on. City attorney Jim Allen told the...Collecting goods for Gleaners
Dearborn — Over 1350 pounds of non-perishable food was collected at a recent food drive held at Henry Ford Village, a full-service retirement community, in Dearborn. Residents and staff alike gave generously to the Food Drive that was held between November 27 and December 1, 2007. Cash donations were also accepted and...Dearborn residents reminded about city’s snow plowing policy
DEARBORN — As the season of winter snow arrives, Dearborn residents are reminded about the details of the city's official snow plowing policy. The key fact to remember is that when the City determines that snowplowing is necessary, Dearborn's emergency warning sirens will be sounded. The siren noise is a distinctive alternating high and...Derborn Public Schools Winter Break Will Start On December 19
Originally scheduled to start on December 20, 2007 the Dearborn Public Schools will now start the Winter Break on December 19, 2007. On Monday, December 10, 2007 district administration learned that the start of Eid Al-Adha (holiday of sacrifice) would be on December 19, 2007. Due to expected low attendance, the district will...LIFE provides emergency relief to victims of cyclone in Bangladesh
Southfield — As part of its ongoing efforts to alleviate human suffering, the American-based relief organization, Life for Relief and Development (LIFE), is currently working on the ground in Bangladesh to provide food and other essentials to some of the hundreds of thousands who survived the devastation of Cyclone...Death ruled a suicide, family disagrees
DEARBORN —A 22 year-old Dearborn Heights man, Hiesham Al-Shawwa, was found shot to death in his 2007 GMC Yukon in east Detroit on Friday, Dec. 7, according to family members. Naher Asleh, a cousin of Al-Shawwa, said he was found on Beaconsfield Street near East Warren Avenue with a shotgun wound to the chest, and that the shotgun...Henry Ford Health receives state’s highest honor
Ann Arbor — The Michigan Quality Council (MQC) announces Henry Ford Health System as a 2007 Quality Leadership Award recipient. The Michigan Quality Leadership Award is the highest honor for organizational performance excellence in the state. It is awarded after a rigorous review by a team of examiners who perform a...ACCESS Leadership dinner honors judge, entrepreneur
DEARBORN — The Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) honored two local leaders Wednesday at its Annual Community Leadership Dinner. Wayne County 3rd Circuit Court Judge Charlene Elder and Armada Oil & Gas CEO Ali Jawad received leadership awards. Elder was appointed to her seat by Governor Jennifer Granholm...Local imam has memoirs published
DEARBORN — A group of interfaith leaders, including the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion, met at the Islamic Center of America recently to discuss Imam Sayid Hassan al-Qazwini's book "American Crescent," published in October. Well-known religion journalist David Crumm said that in more than 20 years of writing about...Teaching unschooled youngsters
It is a leap for a young person to come to a major Canadian urban center from a far country, in some cases from a refugee camp, where that person has had little or no education in any language, often being illiterate even in a mother tongue. Yet, that leap is taken by many children and teens, even though such youngsters are but a...Ten ways to manage your finances and avoid post-holiday regrets
Indianapolis —The holidays are upon us, bringing all those images and sensations we cherish — the glow of the menorah, the fragrance of home-cooked meals and sugar cookies, and the sounds of the season in holiday songs, laughter, and shrieks of joy from kids discovering Santa's generosity. But for many of us there are a few not-so-joyous...Gravel only Democrat to campaign in Michigan
DEARBORN — Progressive U.S. presidential candidate Mike Gravel spoke to students at the University of Michigan–Dearborn Thursday, as the only Democratic candidate willing to campaign in Michigan. The former senator from Alaska later had lunch at the New Yasmeen Bakery with members of the Arab Student Union. "I think it's very stupid what...Shadid appointed first ‘writer-in-residence’ fellow at AUB’s Issam Fares Institute
BEIRUT — The Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IFI) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) announced today that award-winning Washington Post correspondent Anthony Shadid has been appointed as its first resident fellow for the 2007-08 academic year. He is also the first "writer-in-residence" at IFI, a...Ex-principal of Arabic Khalil Gibran school loses round in court
According to a report in the New York Daily News, a federal judge this week shot down a last-minute attempt by the former principal of a Brooklyn Arabic-language school to keep the city from selecting her successor. Debbie Almontaser wanted the judge to delay the selection of a new principal for the Khalil Gibran International...Arab American faces deportation after Afghanistan service
A highly decorated Arab American sergeant in the U.S. army, who is currently serving as a paratrooper in Afghanistan, faces deportation on his return to the United States because of an irregularity in his immigration papers. Sgt Hicham Benkabbou has been served with an order to stand trial for deportation as soon as he arrives......
Civic, political integration of American Muslims
America is known as a "melting pot," with many cultures, religions, ethnicities and races integrating into the mainstream American culture. Muslims have been a relatively new addition to the immigrant population. Their integration had just begun to progress when it came to an abrupt standstill with the events of September 11, 2001....
Community reacts to ‘Our Arab American Story’
December 8th, 20070 Documentary premieres at gala event; gets mixed reviews Since the premiere of the documentary "Our Arab American Story," shown in Novi last week, producer Keith Famie said he's gotten mostly positive feedback from those who watched it. The film was shown at the Rock Financial Showplace during "Flavors of the Arab World," a......
Panel discusses needs of Iraqi refugees
ANN ARBOR — Refugees, or people who flee from their homes in times of crisis, are often treated as political pawns. Political leaders debate who caused the refugees, what should be done with them, and what their status means politically. Meanwhile, the refugees are ignored, victimized or treated as a burden. ...Rights group needed now more than ever
ADC struggling for funds as anniversary approaches DEARBORN — The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) in Michigan will hold its Annual Fundraising Gala on Friday, December 7, at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn. ADC Michigan will host the Gala for the eighth year, as it celebrates another year of promoting the civil...Ann Arbor peace groups discuss support for Annapolis conference
ANN ARBOR — A group of peace organizations against the occupation in Palestine gathered in Ann Arbor on Tuesday to show support for the Annapolis Mideast peace conference, despite being generally skeptical of its chances for ultimate success. "We feel we should support whatever can happen there," said Odile Hugonot-Haber, of the Women's...Fight dedicated to slain uncle
DEARBORN — One of two local Arab American boxers initially scheduled to perform at an upcoming nationally televised event in Dearborn has pulled out of the show. Undefeated middleweight Brian "The Lion" Mihtar and promoters of the event said they could not agree on the amount of money Mihtar was to be paid and the opponent he was to......
Students donate to Locks of Love
DEARBORN — A group of Dearborn girls had their long hair lopped off last Monday at McDonald Elementary School, offering their thick locks to a charity that provides hairpieces for disadvantaged children who suffer from illness-related hair loss. Fifth-grade teacher Reem Bathish organized an assembly at the school where students with...Niqab farce continues
When my partner Adèle, unable to get around because of knee replacement surgery, filled out her ballot at home, no one came around to see if she was wearing a niqab or other face covering. Perhaps the matter was overlooked. The bill forbidding voting while wearing a face covering is now moving through Canada's House of......
Liberal leader attacks Khadr’s Gitmo ordeal
Stéphane Dion, leader of Canada's opposition Liberal Party, has called upon Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper to "demand that Omar Khadr be removed from Guantanamo Bay detention facility to be transferred to the United States to be tried in a legitimate court." Khadr, a Canadian citizen whose family has had close ties to Osama...Almrei denied bail from Gitmo North
Hassan Almrei is the last inmate of Guantanamo North, the detention facility for people with suspected terrorist affiliations seeking to avoid deportation from Canada. The facility is on the grounds of the Kingston Penitentiary. Justice François Lemieux refused to give him bail. Judge Lemieux listed several factors......