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...
UIC report examines experiences, racial justice for Chicagoland’s Arab Americans
March 12th, 20230 According to U.S. Census data, more than 100,000 Arab Americans reside in the Chicago metropolitan area, representing about 90 percent of all Arab Americans in Illinois. Many scholars and community leaders contend this is an undercount due to Arab Americans not having a racial category of their own on the Census. They note that this not...
Dingell, colleagues introduce legislation to make home care coverage mandatory under Medicaid
March 12th, 20230 WASHINGTON – On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D- Ann Arbor), Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman Ed.D. (D-NY) introduced the HCBS Access Act to make HCBS a mandatory benefit within Medicaid and ensure eligible older adults and people with disabilities have the option to choose between home care and institutional...
Bill requiring Arab Americans be counted in state data progresses to Illinois House vote
March 11th, 20230 CHICAGO – On Wednesday, a bill that would ensure those who identify themselves as Middle Eastern or North African are counted in state data progressed in the Illinois House of Representatives. The legislation, House Bill 3768, passed the State Government Administration Committee. It will go to the House floor for a vote, and then......
Survey: 11 percent of Michiganders admit to illegal dumping
March 11th, 20230 Illegal dumping: We’ve all seen it, whether we’re strolling down the sidewalk or driving down the highway. The sight of abandoned furniture, old mattresses and washing machines just waiting to become someone else’s problem. But while we can all agree it’s a blight on our hometowns and green spaces, how many of us are actually...
Family of Ali Naji sues Dearborn Police Department and city for $10M
March 10th, 20235 DEARBORN — The family of a man who was killed after walking into the Dearborn Police Station and pointing a loaded gun at officers inside is suing the department for $10 million, alleging wrongful death and excessive force. Ali Naji, 33, was killed on Dec. 18 after he entered the lobby of the police station, pointed a gun at an......
Michigan Lottery announces $1.25 billion contribution to schools across the state
March 10th, 20230 LANSING – On Thursday, Governor Whitmer joined the Michigan Lottery to announce its $1.25 billion contribution to the School Aid Fund in fiscal year 2022. This marks the Lottery’s fourth consecutive contribution of more than $1 billion to Michigan’s schools. “The Michigan Lottery’s contributions to our schools over...
The Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund grants more than $114 million in its first year
March 4th, 20230 LANSING — The Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund (MIHAF), administered by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), has delivered more than $114 million in relief to 15,688 homeowners in its first year. The MIHAF launched in February 2022 to support Michigan homeowners experiencing financial hardships related to the......
