Author Archives: Arab America

A U.S.-based international education and training organization said Wednesday it’s evacuating 18 Arabic language program students from Egypt to Morocco due to deteriorating security conditions. Armine Poghikyan of the nonprofit American Councils for International Education in Washington, D.C., said Wednesday that participants in the Arabic Overseas Flagship Program arrived June 21 at Alexandria University for … Continued

The National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) this week partnered with the U.S. Commercial Service in support of the “Discover America Festival,” which wrapped up yesterday in the State of Kuwait. The five-day event showcased over 100 American entities in such sectors as education, franchising, health, security, tourism, and a wide range of consumer products. … Continued

For nearly three months earlier this year, Tunisian rapper Ala Yaacoubi–better known by his stage name, Weld El 15–was on the run. On March 22, just weeks after he released the video for his incendiary protest song “Boulicia Kleb” (“Police are Dogs”), he was charged with insulting and threatening police, tried in absentia, and sentenced … Continued

For years, Arab Amercians in Dearborn have used garages as extensions of their houses — for smoking, eating, socializing with friends and watching TV. But city officials have a problem, The Detroit News reports. They are looking at passing an ordinance on garage use, arguing that as people get too comfortable hanging out in the … Continued

The Arab American National Museum conducted a countrywide search for a director, but found its top candidate was already on the job. The museum, 13624 MIchigan Ave., announced Friday that it selected Devon Akmon as director. The former deputy director has overseen daily operations for the past year and succeeds founding director Anan Ameri, who … Continued

A new face has been chosen to lead the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn. The museum announced on Friday that it selected Devon Akmon as director. The former deputy director has overseen daily operations for the past year and succeeds founding director Anan Ameri, who retired in May. Akmon’s appointment came after an exhaustive … Continued

After years of organizing against unwarranted Muslim surveillance and unconstitutional stop and frisks, we have reached an incredible milestone in our efforts to end discriminatory policing practices. With the help of your phone calls, email, tweets, and meetings with local representatives, in the early morning hours of Thursday, June 27th, the NY City Council voted … Continued

The British government has prohibited two leading American anti-Muslim activists, Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, from entering the United Kingdom to speak at an event sponsored by the English Defence League (EDL), a British anti-Muslim hate group. Geller and Spencer had reportedly planned on speaking at an EDL protest in South East London where Islamic … Continued

<center><iframe width=”470″ height=”264″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/Aj-pyJF6ckU” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe></center> Palestinians have been losing for a long time; losing land, losing freedoms, and losing patience. But that is precisely what makes 23-year old Mohammed Assaf’s victory on “Arab Idol” all the more profound. With his winsome smile and powerhouse voice, the 23-year-old Palestinian wedding singer from Khan Younis, refugee … Continued

In this video essay, Silk Road Rising Artistic Director Jamil Khoury envisions an Arab American theatre movement that is vibrant, visible, daring, and unafraid of its own power. Click below to watch! Khoury says: “I belong to a community of Arab American theatre artists and theatre professionals. We work as individuals and we work as … Continued

Celebrating the crossroads between American and Arab cultures, Qatar Foundation International (QFI) will host an art exhibit opening on Monday, June 24 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The artists are high school students featured in a dynamic multi-disciplinary exhibition presented by QFI from Monday through July 13 at ADC Contemporary & BUILDING BRIDGES International Art Exchange at … Continued

A few months ago over dinner, my mother enthusiastically said, “a Palestinian singer from Gaza made Arab Idol’s second season!” “His name is Mohammed Assaf,” she told me, adding that he is reminiscent of the iconic, late Egyptian singer, Abdel Halim Hafiz. My mother continued. I remained silent. For one second, I wanted to laugh, … Continued