Local lawmakers weigh in on the Iran deal
July 15th, 20150 DETROIT — Several members of Congress from Michigan said they are studying the nuclear agreement with Iran before making a definitive decision on it. While Democratic lawmakers appeared to be more welcoming of the deal, local U.S. representatives from both parties agreed that Iran should not be given a path to an atomic...
Dealership donates car to single mother
July 15th, 20150 Elashkar and his son at Ford Road Motor Sales' office in DearbornDEARBORN—After Mike Elashkar, general manager of Ford Road Motor Sales, learned a needy single mother’s car was stolen, he decided to help by donating a 2006 Malibu. Stefanie Irvine’s old Dodge Neon was stolen from Cass Avenue in Detroit while she was taking...
Henry Ford College fall 2015 registration is open
July 15th, 20150 DEARBORN—Students can now register for fall 2015 courses at Henry Ford College. The fall semester begins Thursday, Aug. 27. HFC offers courses and programs that respond to the changing needs of students, community and corporate partners. In addition, HFC continues to develop relationships...
Police investigating Bint Jebail Cultural Center vandalism
July 14th, 20150 DEARBORN — The police are seeking the public's assistance in finding out who is responsible for defacing the Bint Jebail Cultural Center last week. The center was vandalized with graffiti-sprayed statements, relating to Sayed Hassan Qazwini, who had been hosting Ramadan evenings at the banquet hall."The Qazwini and Iraq Club,"...
Barbecue to benefit Dearborn Animal Shelter
July 14th, 20150 DEARBORN—Dearborn Councilman Robert Abraham is opening his home to the public for a fundraising event that helps support the Dearborn Animal Shelter’s Hope’s Heroes program for special needs animals. All are welcome to attend the fifth annual Abraham’s Open House and Barbecue, which will be held on...
International Al-Quds Day rally held in Dearborn
July 13th, 20150 DEARBORN — Rallies in support of International Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day are held locally and throughout the Middle East each year on the last Friday of Ramadan. Demonstrators speak out against Israel’s control of Jerusalem and its occupation of Palestine. The rallies are held in solidarity with...
Spousal support can pressure men to grant religious divorce
July 10th, 20150 DETROIT — Many Muslim women feel their rights are being violated because they can’t get an Islamic divorce, often from men who were extremely physically abusive. Not all Muslim women experience trouble getting an Islamic divorce and religious divorce is also an issue outside the Muslim community. To many women, an Islamic...
House of Wisdom hosts interfaith iftar
July 10th, 20150 Spiritual leaders and government officials in a group photo at the dinner, July 1DEARBORN HEIGHTS — The Islamic House of Wisdom held its annual iftar dinner, on Wednesday, July 1. Government officials, community activists and Muslim, Christian and Jewish clergy attended the event.Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi, the spiritual leader of the...
HFC president discusses new name, finances and diversity
July 9th, 20150 DEARBORN — When Dr. Stan Jensen started his tenure as the president of Henry Ford College two years ago, the school had enough cash to cover operational costs for a few months only. But the new president helped lead the school through the bleak economic times and raise its educational and administrative standards. Jensen's...
Bint Jebail Cultural Center vandalized after hosting Qazwini
July 9th, 20150 DEARBORN— The Bint Jebail Cultural Center was vandalized with graffiti-sprayed statements, relating to Sayed Hassan Qazwini, who has been hosting Ramadan evenings at the banquet hall."The Qazwini and Iraq Club," the graffiti read in Arabic on the exterior of the center. Similar statements, which also attack the center's founder, were...
Humanitarian crisis in Yemen worries local Yemenis
July 9th, 20150 DEARBORN – The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is worsening. The International Red Cross warned of a "real risk" of famine in the war-torn country, as the conflict enters its fourth month. Outbreaks of disease and lack medical supply are also threatening the population. An alliance of Arab nations led by Saudi Arabia is conducting a...
Judge sentences Dr. Farid Fata to 45-years in prison
July 9th, 20150 Dr. Farid Fata has been described as a "cancer to the medical community and accused of "medical genocide." DETROIT—Judge Paul Borman sentenced Dr. Farid Fata to 45 years in prison on Friday after the oncologist tearfully begged for mercy. Fata showed no emotion when victim impact statements were read...
Dearborn Heights police implement new policy for Muslim women
July 8th, 20150 Kazan filed a lawsuit earlier this year after she was forced to remove her hijab during her arrest. DEARBORN HEIGHTS— The Police Department has announced that it will be implementing a new policy for women who wear a religious headscarf, following a lawsuit filed earlier this year by a resident who was arrested and forced to remove...
Restaurateurs find that fasting during Ramadan can be difficult
July 8th, 20150 Elhassan talked to WWJ's Zahra Huber TAYLOR–Fasting during Ramadan can be especially difficult for restaurateurs who prepare and serve food all day. While fasting, Mahmoud Elhassan, the co-owner of Peepo’s Subs and Shawarma, works over a hot stove for hours, making subs and other dishes. Sometimes...
Iraqi chef Samira Cholagh earns popularity on YouTube
July 8th, 20150 Cholagh DETROIT—Popular Iraqi American Chef Samira Cholagh’s YouTube videos have received about two million views. Cholagh, a native of Baghdad has her own cooking show on Almas Television called Cooking with Samira. She initially became known around metro Detroit as the former host of a......
Muslims determined to revitalize Detroit neighborhood
July 8th, 20150 DETROIT—Two nonprofits that were founded by Muslim Americans are bringing a Detroit neighborhood back to life. The nonprofits, Neighborly Needs and Indus Community Action Network are working on the Dream of Detroit Project together.The Dream of Detroit Project started on Waverly Street. To date three of five...
Dave Abdallah runs for Dearborn Heights City Council
July 6th, 20150 Abdallah.DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Dearborn Heights resident and real estate agent Wassim “Dave” Abdallah announced his candidacy for Dearborn Heights City Council this week. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Abdallah has been a Dearborn Heights resident for 15 years and has worked in the city even longer....
Arab Americans divided over gay marriage
July 3rd, 20151 DEARBORN — The Supreme Court has dubbed marriage a fundamental constitutional right that states cannot deny to gays and lesbians. Same-sex marriage has been a contentious issue on the national agenda for decades. Despite the conservative leanings of the Arab American community and the floods of anti-gay comments that followed...
Should Orville Hubbard’s statue be removed?
July 2nd, 20150 DEARBORN—As Americans debate removing the Confederate Flag from the South Carolina State House grounds, a conversation has surfaced locally over whether former racist Mayor Orville Hubbard’s statue should be taken down. Hubbard served as the Mayor of Dearborn for 36 years, from 1942 to 1978. His statue sits across the old......
Yemeni American running for Hamtramck City Council
July 2nd, 20150 HAMTRAMCK—Saad Almasmari, a 28-year-old Yemeni American, is running for a seat on the City Council. Hamtramck is home to one of the largest concentration of Yemeni Americans in metro Detroit and is also known for being one of the most ethnically and religiously diverse cities in the country. According to the 2010 Census, 41...
Proposed smoking ban at Dearborn parks stirs controversy
July 2nd, 20150 DEARBORN — An ordinance that would ban smoking at parks in Dearborn caused outrage among Arab Americans who say the proposed ban specifically targets hookah smokers.The City Council tabled the ordinance last week in order to discuss a memo that would exempt golf courses from the ban. The ordinance had passed the first reading......
Residents ignore Arizona pastor’s visit to “save” Muslims in Dearborn
July 1st, 20150 DEARBORN— Arizona Pastor Steven Anderson's visit on Friday, June 26, with members of the Faithful Word Baptist Church, fell well under the radar. The church had used social media to announced that it would be coming to Dearborn in an attempt to "save" Muslims by going door-to-door and grabbing their attention with "Free...
Muslim woman competes in Runner’s World magazine cover contest
July 1st, 20150 Rahaf Khatib.FARMINGTON— In a marathon with hundreds of runners dashing to the finish line, Rahaf Khatib is sure to stick out like a sore thumb. The 31-year-old mother of three proudly wears the hijab and participates in national marathons. She recently entered a nationwide contest to be featured on the cover of......
