The Islamic Center of America is facing challenging times that require leadership
May 25th, 20180 Controversies have plagued the Islamic Center since the passing of its founder, Imam Mohammad Jawad Chirri, in November 1994. Since then, several religious figures have come and gone after deep differences surfaced between the board and the successive imams. This week, the Islamic Center of America’s board of trustees made...
Young Palestinians organize to advance their struggle, retain identity
May 18th, 20180 DEARBORN — A new nonprofit organization called New Generation for Palestine (NGP) held its first community-wide event Thursday, May 10, at Byblos Banquet Hall in Dearborn. The "Nakba Commemoration Dinner” attracted more than 300 guests, mostly Palestinian Americans. May 15 marked the 70th anniversary of the Nakba, the catastrophic...
15 U.S. organizations receive grants to strengthen relationships among Muslims and non-Muslims through arts and culture
May 18th, 20180 The Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art selected 15 grantees from a pool of 200 applicants, double from the previous year, when 98 organizations applied. Among the recipients is the University of Michigan-Dearborn's Center for Arab American Studies, which was awarded $216,677. NEW YORK — Fifteen U.S. organizations will receive a...
Dearborn tailor charged with seven criminal sexual conduct cases
May 18th, 20180 LIVONIA — A 57-year-old Dearborn man is facing seven additional charges for allegedly inappropriately touching other men. Majed (Mark) Mohamad Wazni was charged on May 15 with seven counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. He’d already been charged earlier this year with two other...
Dearborn police seek gun, items stolen from cars
May 18th, 20180 DEARBORN — Dearborn police are asking the public to help find suspects who stole several items, including a handgun, from unlocked vehicles in the city. Officials said the thefts happened in the early morning hours of May 9 and the suspects made off with a gun, wallets, credit cards and other personal items. A suspect tried to...
Koubeissi Taekwondo School stresses moral focus as the road to success
May 18th, 20180 By Eman Jassem The Arab American News intern DEARBORN — Koubeissi Taekwondo School champions train faster and process techniques with more prosperity when training practices are varied and include a moral focus. Taekwondo is a South Korean traditional martial arts sport that relies on combat philosophy, concentration,...Dearborn: Cherry Hill from Outer Drive to Telegraph will be closed for traffic through October
DEARBORN — Drivers should be aware that Cherry Hill is closed to through traffic from Telegraph to Outer Drive due to a large-scale construction project. Drivers are advised to use Michigan Avenue, the official detour, when traveling east and west. The city is conducting pavement replacement, sewer construction and water main...
Local restaurant provides Dearborn seniors Halal Meals on Wheels
May 18th, 20180 By Keith A. Owens Special to the Arab American News DEARBORN - Since the latter part of 2010, Country Restaurant, located at 5131 Schaefer Road in Dearborn, has contracted with Wayne County Senior Services to provide halal meals for Wayne County seniors who qualify for the Meals On Wheels program. More than 60 seniors...
ACC hosts town hall on opioid and heroin crisis
May 18th, 20180 SOUTHFIELD — The Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC), a premier nonprofit human service organization serving Southeast Michigan, hosted a community event on May 9 called “A Community in Crisis: ACC’s Opioid and Heroin Town Hall Meeting” that featured local religious and community leaders, medical professionals and law...
Protesters reject ICA’s second statement about hosting Israeli officers, demand transparency and accountability
May 18th, 20180 DEARBORN — For the second week in a row, local Muslims protested the Islamic Center of America’s (ICA) hosting of Israeli officers last month, along with a group of military students from around the world. Requested by the State Department and organized by the mosque’s interfaith organization, the officers participated for the...
Dearborn Heights man arraigned in fatal shooting of customer at gas station
May 18th, 20180 DETROIT — A 26-year-old gas station clerk has been arraigned in the fatal shooting of a customer inside the west side Detroit business. According to the Wayne County prosecutor's Office, Rami Ali Jaber of Dearborn Heights appeared Tuesday in 36th District Court on first-degree murder and gun charges. Prosecutors say 34-year-old...
Dearborn woman aims to reinvent Ramadan cheer with moon-shaped trees
May 18th, 20180 DEARBORN — Celebrating Ramadan in the U.S. doesn’t come as naturally as it does in Muslim-majority countries. From fasting during long summer days to lackluster holiday cheer and enduring anti-Muslim sentiments, Muslim Americans have to try just a little harder throughout Islam’s holiest month. Samar Baydoun Bazzi, a 29-year-old...
Gaza massacre, Jerusalem embassy move ignite diverse local and global protests
May 18th, 20180 DETROIT – On the 70th anniversary of what is considered the greatest catastrophe in Palestine, drones painted the sky with trails of smoke grenades and snipers perched on the Israeli side of the Gaza border pelleted thousands who were protesting against those responsible for the historic tragedy – the Nakba, in Arabic. More than...
Lebanese Americans have mixed reactions to parliamentary election results, inspired by participation
May 11th, 20180 "The poor turnout was due to the limited time many voters had to register and prepare necessary documents, as they had not initially expected that elections would be held outside Lebanon." -Salim Sassin, a Free Patriotic Movement leader DEARBORN – Lebanese Americans in Metro Detroit are proud to have participated in their...
State suspends Detroit party store liquor license for selling to minors
May 11th, 20180 LANSING — During the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) May 3 hearing in Southfield, the Commission ordered the suspension of the liquor license and permits held by B&S Party Store, located at 3730 Buchanan St. in Detroit. Under MCL 436.1903(1), the commission is required to impose a suspension or revocation of the liquor......
Arab American cop files claim of discrimination against his employer
May 11th, 20180 SAN JOSE, CA — A Lebanese-American police officer in San Jose filed a claim against the city and his employer after enduring years of harassment based on his ethnicity and religion. Oakland’s KTVU reported Tuesday that San Jose police officer Nabil Haidar, a 22-year veteran of SJPD and a Muslim, endured taunts about his religion...
Former Port Huron pastor charged in enticing girls to engage in sex acts online
May 11th, 20180 PORT HURON — A former Port Huron pastor is facing federal charges amid allegations he enticed underage girls to engage in sex acts online. FBI agents learned about Jackie Douglas Woodburn’s virtual interactions while probing a chatroom-based website that attracts adult men who pose as youths “seeking to sexually exploit minor...
Wayne County Commission approves Woronchak resolution on Ramadan
May 11th, 20180 DETROIT — On Thursday, May 10, the Wayne County Commission approved a resolution introduced by Commission Chairman Gary Woronchak (D-Dearborn) recognizing the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which begins May 16. Woronchak continued a tradition he established several years ago of commemorating the start of Ramadan each year with a...
NAACP to hold 2019 national convention in Detroit
May 11th, 20180 DETROIT — The NAACP announced Sunday that it will hold its 110th annual national convention at Cobo Center in Detroit in July 2019. Leon Russell, chairman of the national NAACP's Board of Directors, made the announcement at the Detroit branch's 63rd annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner at the Cobo Center last Sunday. Russell said......
U.S. House approves Dingell-Upton amendment to protect the Great Lakes from nuclear waste
May 11th, 20180 WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday , the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bipartisan amendment introduced by U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) and U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) expressing the Congress' strong position that the American and Canadian governments should not allow permanent or long-term storage of spent...
Green Party nominates Jennifer Kurland for Michigan governor, Charin Davenport for Lt. Governor
May 11th, 20182 FLINT — The Green Party of Michigan held its nominating convention in Flint on Saturday, May 5 and chose Jennifer Kurland as its candidate for Michigan governor. Kurland was born and raised in Michigan and has lived in the state her entire life. She is a community activist with more than a decade of experience in environmental......
Dearborn High, Crestwood High School receive national recognition
May 11th, 20180 DEARBORN — Two high schools in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights were ranked in the top 100 nationwide by U.S. News & World Report in its 2018 edition of best high schools, and the International Academy of Macomb was ranked the top magnet school in the nation. Magnet high schools are public high schools that typically attract the...
Dearborn schools Clean Up parades run through May 24
May 11th, 20180 DEARBORN – For the last 66 years, Dearborn Public Schools students have promoted the city with Clean Up parades around their schools. The promotion of these annual events in addition to other environmentally-friendly events will continue through May 24. The parades, which have evolved over the years, continued to expand the message......
