COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY
82 dead, more than 100 injured in Baghdad hospital fire
April 29th, 20210 BAGHDAD — A fire caused by an oxygen tank explosion at a COVID-19 hospital, Ibn Khatib, has resulted in the death of at least 82 people and injured more than 100 more. The explosion occurred on April 24. Witnesses and authorities said that the blaze caused some people to jump from hospital windows. Prime Minister Mustafa...
Henry Ford College’s Coach Chris Shepard named Coach of the Year for third time
April 28th, 20210 DEARBORN — Chris Shepard, head coach of the Henry Ford College (HFC) men’s basketball team, was named Coach of the Year for the third time. He was named by his peers in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA). Shepard began coaching at HFC during the 2017-18 season and in his first year, he led the team to...
Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of “apartheid” crimes against Palestinians
April 27th, 20210 NEW YORK — On Tuesday, an international rights watchdog accused Israel of pursuing policies of apartheid and persecution against Palestinians — and against its own Arab minority — that amount to crimes against humanity. New York-based Human Rights Watch published a 213-page report, which it said was not aimed at comparing...
Dingell, Tlaib introduce Arab American Heritage Month resolution in U.S. House
April 26th, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Monday, U.S. Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) and Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn), introduced a resolution honoring Arab American Heritage Month, a celebration held in April to recognize the incredible contributions Arab Americans have made in the country. "As a strong, proud and unapologetically Arab American...
Report shows Muslim advocacy group received more than 6,000 complaints in past year
April 26th, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has released a report detailing nationwide incidents of civil rights complaints by Muslim Americans that the group received over the past year. The 2021 report is named Resilience in the Face of Hate. The country’s “largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy...
Dearborn student takes social media by storm with Rubik’s Cube art
April 24th, 20210 DEARBORN — A local 12-year-old boy is using Rubik’s Cubes to display his creativity and is taking multiple social media platforms by storm. Mohamed Charara, a student at Unis Middle School, started collecting Rubik’s Cubes a year ago. “I once saw a video of someone doing it and I wanted to try it,” Charara said....
Seven candidates file for Dearborn mayor; 18 for City Council; no challenger for City Clerk
April 23rd, 20211 - Ali "Barber Al" Alhashemi withdrew from the race. There are now 18 candidates for the seven city council seats. DEARBORN — While candidates had until April 23 to withdraw their names from the race, an unofficial list has been announced in Dearborn. The primary election is scheduled for August 3. With the retirement of...
Three candidates running for Dearborn Heights mayor; eight for City Council
April 23rd, 20210 -Robert Constan withdrew from running for treasurer. Lisa Hicks-Clayton will now run unopposed for the treasurer position. DEARBORN HEIGHTS — With partial and full terms on the ballot for the 2021 elections, all candidates had until April 23 to withdraw from the race. The partial terms are for mayor, ending on Dec. 31, city...
D7 Superintendent responds to social media comments
April 23rd, 20212 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — With students spending more and more time online, D7’s superintendent is addressing social media concerns and comments with students. Layla Cruz, a ninth grader at Annapolis High School, said that she was recently called out of class to discuss her own social media comments. “I had gotten called down to...
Hamtramck elections: Eight candidates file for Council; four candidates for mayor
April 22nd, 20210 HAMTRAMCK — After Tuesday’s filing deadline for the upcoming races for Hamtramck mayor and three Council seats, the city now has a tentative list of candidates for an important 2021 election. The following candidate list is up to date as of Saturday, as candidates had the option to drop out by Friday, April 23. Hamtramck City...
Senate overwhelmingly passes bill to target hate crimes against Asian Americans
April 22nd, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill that targets hate crimes directed towards Asian Americans on Thursday. The legislation comes amid an increase in discrimination and violence against Asian communities in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. Officially titled the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, the...
Michigan city and state income tax filing and payment deadline extended to May 17
April 22nd, 20210 LANSING — To match the federal government extension of tax return filing and payment deadline, Governor Whitmer signed two bills on Wednesday that update state and city income tax filing and payment deadlines. The new federal tax deadline is Monday, May 17. One bill extends the April 15 or April 30 city income tax return or...
House passes NO BAN act, seeking to limit presidential ability to impose discriminatory travel bans
April 21st, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, the U.S. House passed the NO BAN act, or H.R. 1333, which would limit presidents’ authority to suspend or restrict people from entering the country. The act also prohibits religious discrimination in various immigration-related decisions, such as whether to issue an immigrant or nonimmigrant visa,...
Police Officers Association of Dearborn endorses Susan Dabaja for mayor
April 19th, 20210 DEARBORN — City Council President Susan Dabaja has earned a much sought after endorsement from the Police Officers Association of Dearborn (POAD). Three other candidates sought the endorsement for mayor from the POAD. POAD President Bill Anhut said Dabaja was the right choice. “The Police Officers Association of Dearborn...
Metro Detroit Arab community struggles to assess COVID impact due to “White” census classification
April 17th, 20210 Since Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency last March, Dr. Zafar Shamoon, chief of emergency services at Beaumont Hospital-Dearborn, has witnessed first-hand the precariously rising cases of COVID-19 in the community. “Dearborn has been hit very hard," Shamoon told The Arab American News. "This is one of the busiest, if......
Local realtor announces candidacy for Dearborn Heights City Council
April 16th, 20210 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Hassan Ahmad, a resident for more than 15 years and a real estate broker with Re/Max Leading Edge is running for City Council. After moving to Dearborn Heights, Ahmad met his wife and had a daughter and two sons, who attend school in the city. “Being the proud product of this city, I have come to know the...
Arab American family continues to seek help for second terminally ill son
April 16th, 20210 ANN ARBOR — Ten days after an Arab American teen, Haitham Breadiy, passed away in October 2019 after battling Lafora Body Disease, his younger brother, Gehad “GG” Breadiy, began to experience symptoms of the same terminal illness. Their mother, Azeza Kashem, continues to seek help from community support and to raise awareness of...
Abdul El-Sayed endorses Abdullah Hammoud for Dearborn mayor
April 15th, 20210 DEARBORN — Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, former Detroit Health Department director and gubernatorial candidate, is endorsing State Rep. Abdullah Hammoud’s campaign for mayor. “Rep. Hammoud is the right person to lead Dearborn at this critical time in the city’s history,” El-Sayed said. “We are navigating not only the COVID-19...
Dearborn native becomes one of the first Muslim Americans to command U.S. naval ship
April 15th, 20210 DEARBORN — Commander Houssain “Sam” Sareini of Dearborn has become one of the first Muslim Americans to command a U.S. naval ship. On April 9, Sareini took command of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) at a ceremony in Portsmouth, VA, according to a Navy press release. Sareini has been in......
Khodr Farhat announces candidacy for Dearborn City Council
April 14th, 20210 DEARBORN — Longtime resident and activist Khodr Farhat has announced that he is running for one of seven City Council seats up for grabs in the upcoming election. Farhat made the announcement in a Facebook post. “After many long conversations with community members, family and friends, I’m excited to announce that I will be...
Governor Whitmer shares Ramadan greetings via video
April 14th, 20210 LANSING — With the start of Ramadan this week, Governor Whitmer shared Ramadan greetings with the entire Muslim community. “Peace be upon you,” she said. “I want to extend my greetings for a Ramadan Mubarak to all Michiganders who observe this important and holy month.” In her statement, Whitmer went on to explain the......
Hamtramck students win speech competition with hopeful messages
April 14th, 20210 HAMTRAMCK — Five Hamtramck Public Schools students recently competed in the Optimist Club of Downtown Detroit's Annual Oratorical Virtual Competition on March 17, with three students placing in first, second and third place. First-place winner Nura Uddin will be advancing to the next level of the competition, along with...
Dearborn approves temporary pop-up food businesses during Ramadan
April 14th, 20210 DEARBORN — The Dearborn City Council approved temporary pop-up outdoor food businesses to operate to accommodate Ramadan gatherings. The initiative is intended to encourage individuals to celebrate Ramadan safely while practicing social distancing and was recommended by Mayor Jack O’Reilly’s administration and approved by the......
