EEOC decides Almontaser rights violated
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has found that the New York City Department of Education in 2007 discriminated against Debbie Almontaser, who was forced to resign from her position as principal of an Arabic-language public school in Brooklyn. Debbie Almontaser, former head of Khalil Gibran International Academy,...U.S. Department of Justice asked to regulate AIPAC as a foreign agent of the Israeli government
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice has been formally asked to begin regulating the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) as the foreign agent of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A 392 page legal filing presented by a four person delegation of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in a two hour...Arabs organize to get counted in Census: “There is nothing ‘other’ about us.”
SAN FRANCISCO — A coalition of Arab American cultural organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area have launched a grassroots organizing campaign designed to send a clear message to Washington: that they, along with every other Arab in America, are in fact Arab, and not white. A custom designed T-Shirt to support the organizing...Senate debates indefinite detentions
NEW YORK (IPS) — Civil liberties advocates and U.S. constitutional law scholars lost no time in condemning proposed legislation introduced in the Senate Thursday that would hand the government the power to indefinitely detain terrorism suspects without charge and to conduct trials through military commissions only. Typical was the...YOUR MONEY – How to challenge your property tax assessment
DEARBORN — It’s that time of year again. Local residents and business owners are receiving property tax notices of assessment. After three years of a battered real estate market, many suspect that they are being overtaxed on inflated property values. If you own a home or business you will receive a letter in the mail called a...Admiral Mullen: Foreign policy is too dominated by the military
The Pentagon's top officer said the military cannot continue to do the bulk of the heavy lifting overseas, and it's time for the State Department and other agencies to step up. Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Wednesday evening that there...Harvard Fellow calls for genocidal measure to curb Palestinian births
A fellow at Harvard University's Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Martin Kramer, has called for "the West" to take measures to curb the births of Palestinians, a proposal that appears to meet the international legal definition of a call for genocide. Martin Kramer, fellow at Harvard University's Weatherhead Center...Arab American finishes second in Texas primary race for governor
Going into the 2010 Democratic primary election in the state of Texas, few people thought Farouk Shami had a chance to compete for the party's nomination. Palestinian native Farouk Shami made his mark as a hair care products mogul before entering the Democratic race for Texas...Debate over military action against Iran gains steam
WASHINGTON (IPS) — While the ongoing U.S. military "surge" in Afghanistan continues to capture the headlines, Iran's nuclear program — and how best to deal with it — is rapidly emerging here as this year's biggest foreign policy challenge. Although the administration of President Barack Obama remains hopeful that a combination...
Ask an Arab!
February 27th, 20100 NPR features comedians Maysoon Zayid and Dean Obeidallah as they open up and answer questions from passers-by about magic carpets and plural marriage.Check out the full story with video here. ...Spring is around the corner, so keep healthy the remainder of winter
In many areas of the country, the snow and wintry conditions will linger into spring. And yes, the risk of contracting colds, especially those "change-of-season" colds, will arise. When cold weather hits, you prepare your house by checking the furnace and making sure your car has the proper fluids. "Winterization" applies to your car,...Don’t let aches and pains slow you down
We all know the feeling that comes with the first great day of spring. When the sun is shining, the air smells sweet and fresh and the temperatures are warm, we all feel the urge to get outside and throw off the confinement of the winter months. Whether you're an avid athlete, a dedicated gardener or someone who's been meaning to get...
Scholars protest full-body scanners
February 20th, 20100 A national group of Muslim scholars last week issued a statement declaring the use of new airport security full-body scanners in violation of religious virtues. A computer screen shows a scan of a security official in a RapiScan full-body scanner being trialed at Manchester Airport in Manchester, northern England January 7,...
U.S. wins six medals, three gold in one day
February 20th, 20100 VANCOUVER — Lindsey Vonn struck gold for the United States this week, surviving a crash course in downhill skiing to beat compatriot Julia Mancuso to give the USA a 1-2 finish in an opening women's Alpine race on an icy course that contributed to a string of wipe-outs. Lindsey Vonn of the U.S. reacts after crossing the finish...Get back to healthy nutrition basics
(ARA) — Even the healthiest eaters have their weaknesses — those foods that make them "splurge," ignoring calorie counts and fat grams. It's an easy trap to fall into; we're surrounded every day by foods that taste good and inspire cravings. The problem is that when you splurge too much, it can start to affect your health.......
Obama taps young Muslim leader to repair ties with Islamic group
February 20th, 20100 President Barack Obama on Feb. 13 appointed Rashad Hussain, currently working as a legal counsel at the White House, to be the U.S. Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). Rashad Hussain Making the announcement via video conference to the annual gathering of the U.S.-Islamic World Forum, the...AIPAC duplicated stolen classified policy documents before returning to U.S. government
WASHINGTON — Top officials of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee duplicated a stolen classified U.S. government policy document before returning it under order of the U.S. Trade Representative, according to a newly released FBI document. The document is available for download here. Testimony about AIPAC's executive director...
San Francisco community commemorates Gaza attacks, organizes activist efforts
February 13th, 20100 BURLINGAME, Calif.— Israel's first prime minister David Ben Gurion once said about displaced Palestinian refugees "the old will die and the young will forget." Mariam El Shafei, 16, lost an eye during the Dec. 2008-Jan. 2009 bombardment of Gaza. She was brought to the U.S. by the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund. El Shafei...Obama urges bipartisanship, can he deliver?
WASHINGTON — In a State of the Union address with a Clintonesque range of policy initiatives, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in Congress found moments to cheer: U.S. President Barack Obama (below) makes a point as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi look on during his first State of......
Haiti: An unwelcome Katrina redux
February 1st, 20100 President Obama's response to the tragedy in Haiti has been robust in military deployment and puny in what the Haitians need most: food; first responders and their specialized equipment; doctors and medical facilities and equipment; and engineers, heavy equipment and heavy movers. Sadly, President Obama is dispatching Presidents Bush and...
American prejudice against Muslims, Islam higher than bias against other major faiths
January 23rd, 20100 NEW YORK (AP) – Americans are more than twice as likely to express prejudice against Muslims than they are against Christians, Jews or Buddhists, a new survey found. Nearly two-thirds of Americans say they have little or no knowledge of Islam. Still, a majority dislike the faith. The analysis, for release Thursday, is from......
Republican victory a rebuke to Obama
January 23rd, 20100 WASHINGTON — Tuesday's loss by the Democrats of their 60th Senate seat has raised serious questions about the outlook for the White House's policy agenda and spurred a rash of finger-pointing among Democrats over who bears responsibility for the very public rebuke issued by Massachusetts voters. Scott Brown's victory Tuesday...Suicide rate among veterans surges
WASHINGTON (IPS) - Suicides among United States military veterans ballooned by 26 percent from 2005 to 2007, according to new statistics released by the Veterans Affairs (VA) department. U.S. Marines from 3rd Battalion 4th Marines walk by their vehicle during sunset at base Delaram in Nimroz province, southern Afghanistan,......
