Protest against Starbucks draws bypasser support
Protestors demonstrated against apartheid outside Cobblestone Farm in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, Sept. 2 during a meeting between Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and employees. The group believes Schultz contributes large sums of money to support occupation in Israel. Photo courtesy of Blaine Coleman The city of Ann Arbor has long...Grocery store tax incentive has potential to create jobs, boost sales
LANSING – The Michigan Departments of Agriculture (MDA) and Treasury this week released information on Public Act 231, a new tool geared to support grocery store development and give citizens better access to fresh food through tax incentives. Under Public Act 231, certain retail food establishments that expand, improve or open in...Lebanese give to needy communities
For the past four years, the Future Movement USA's Michigan group in Dearborn has held a traditional iftar during Ramadan, and it was always a hit. But this year, in light of current economic troubles, the group decided to spend their money differently. Future Movement Michigan volunteers pack boxes full of essential food items...Eliminating the rallying cry of extremists
All Islamic groups are allied with al Qaeda, right? That has certainly been the wisdom accepted by so many in the post 9/11 years. And though I am an American Palestinian Christian, it is assumed that I am Muslim and therefore a Hamas supporter. This was made clear to me by a Detroit-area talk show host earlier this year when he...Boycott targets ugly side of beauty industry
As the dust settled on the destroyed homes, schools and lives in the aftermath of Israel's assault on Gaza earlier this year, mainstream human rights groups from Amnesty International to Physicians for Human Rights/Israel issued reports condemning Israel's attack and alleging that the Israeli government and the Israeli Defense Forces had...Woman sues judge over hijab incident
Raneen Albaghdady, left seated, and the Council of American-Islamic Relations-Michigan have filed a federal lawsuit against Wayne County Third. PHOTO: Nick Meyer/TAAN A Muslim woman from Dearborn Heights who originally went to court for a simple name change filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against Wayne County Circuit Judge...
Ramadan in Dearborn
August 29th, 20090 Ramadan can be seen in the Detroit area's Middle Eastern enclaves when decorative lights go up on the outsides of houses, large evening crowds fill bakeries and cafes that were empty during daylight hours, and mosques start to overflow at prayer times throughout the day. Abdul Salam Saad, right, of Yemeni origin, breaks fast...Dearborn police need help catching suspect in home invasion
An artist's rendering of the suspect in an east Dearborn home invasion on Chase Road, based on police interviews. DEARBORN — Police are looking for a suspect in a home invasion that took place Aug. 24 in the 5400 block of Chase Road. The suspect allegedly pushed his way into the home and threatened the only occupant inside, a...Co-founder of iconic Dearborn mosque dies at 98
Hussien El Haje, photographed May 15 in an emotional moment during a celebration marking over 70 years of worship at the American Moslem Society Dearborn Mosque. PHOTO:TAAN Hussien El Haje, a founder of the iconic Dix mosque in Dearborn's south-end, died on Monday, August 24 at 98 years old. El Haje was honored in May at a...The Israeli occupation has corrupted its own society
The state of Israel has become hell, into which not only sinners — but also the innocent — may be cast at any moment. According to statistics from the Prime Minister's office, more Israelis have been murdered in the past month in Israel than those murdered since January 2007 in the territory of the Palestinian...Dearborn football teams gunning for title in 2009
DEARBORN — Summer is drawing to a close, and while it’s a sad time for many, others can’t help but be excited by the return of football season. High school football season in Dearborn has always taken on a special significance, especially in regards to the timeless rivalry between cross-town programs Dearborn and Dearborn...“Captain Abu Raed” opens at Bloomfield Hills Landmark
The first Jordanian film ever exported to theaters around the world opens in the Detroit area this weekend. "Captain Abu Raed," winner of 27 international awards including the 2008 Sundance Film Festival's World Cinema Audience Award, is now showing at the Maple Art Theatre, 4135 West Maple Rd. in Bloomfield Hills. Writer-director...Ramadan resolution adopted in state House
LANSING — The state House on Wednesday adopted a resolution wishing Michigan Muslims a happy Ramadan. The Muslim holy month of fasting, prayer and charitable giving starts this week. The resolution does includes a couple of mistakes. According to a version of the document posted on the legislature's website, the resolution includes...
Third Arab American Comedy Show a runaway success
August 22nd, 20090 As a veteran of New York City's Arab American Comedy Festival, comedian Mike Mosallam knew that the idea had a ton of potential if it could just find the right audience. "Love Match," a dating show spoof with fictional host Khaled Woolery, far left, drew big laughs from the Ford Performing Arts Center crowd at the 3rd Annual...
Why are we in Afghanistan?
August 22nd, 20090 As we approach the eight-year anniversary of the war in Afghanistan — the "good" war — we should ask ourselves an embarrassingly simple question: Why are we there? Amidst talk of troop levels, suicide bombings, coalition casualties, and "democratic" elections, more fundamental questions arise. How did we get there? What are we doing?......
Local family’s relatives evicted in Jerusalem heist
August 15th, 20090 A Troy man whose three brothers are literally living on a street in East Jerusalem with their wives and children after being evicted from their homes to make room for Jewish settlers is appealing for support from activists and elected officials in protesting his family's displacement. Protesters hold candles during a rally in...City’s high schools promise exciting football season in new division
DEARBORN - It's a season of new beginnings for the Dearborn, Dearborn Edsel Ford, and Dearborn Fordson programs as the three high school football teams each move into the newly-created Western Wayne County Blue Division. And if it turns out anything like last season, there will be plenty of happy football fans in the area as all...A shake-up among teachers, administrators in Dearborn Schools
DEARBORN - In mid-August, no matter how hard they try to fight it, the thought of going back to school starts creeping into the backs of kids' minds. In Dearborn, many of them will see some new faces when they go back in September. A major shift in principals and administrators throughout the district has taken place this summer in a...City council seat open in Dearborn Heights
DEARBORN HEIGHTS - City officials are looking to appoint a new City Council member to replace Bob Brown, who resigned on July 14. Resumes and letters of interest are being accepted at City Hall through Aug. 26. Candidates will have a chance to introduce themselves at a Sept. 1 meeting and on Sept. 8 the council is expected to......
New language education initiatives
Two new federally funded initiatives are offering college students unique opportunities to learn or make use of Arabic language skills through the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Georgetown University in Washington. The National Security Education Program has provided a Language Flagship Initiative grant at U-M to "change the...
Flint teen linked to missing Macomb County man
August 15th, 20090 DETROIT - A 17-year-old Flint teen of Lebanese descent has been linked to the disappearance of a Chesterfield Township man, and a series of other crimes in Macomb County, according to reports Thursday by The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press. Ihab Maslamani Ihab Maslamani was arraigned Thursday afternoon in Clinton......
Post office may close area facilities
Fifteen Detroit-area U.S. Postal Service locations may have to close. Officials have said the Postal Service has lost $4.7 billion so far this year and expects the number to grow to $7 billion by the end of the fiscal year, because of the recession and increased use of electronic billing and messaging. The agency has proposed...
U.S. stands to lose if peace process stalls
August 15th, 20090 Barack Obama is in a bit of a bind. Unlike any of his predecessors, this American president chose, admirably, to attempt to tackle the Palestinian-Israeli conflict shortly after taking office, realizing that this long-festering issue has seriously damaged the US image in the Middle East. A Palestinian boy climbs up from a......