Author Archives: Arab America

Today, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the Arab American Institute (AAI) and representatives from a number of Arab American and Syrian American organizations met with officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to discuss the implementation of government protections for Syrian nationals currently residing in the United States. For nearly a year, Syria has … Continued

Muslim-American comedian Dean Obeidallah won’t be short on material when he performs Friday at Dearborn’s Arab American National Museum. Obeidallah, honored with the first-ever Bill Hicks Spirit Award for “thought-provoking comedy” in 2005, is known for using his time in the spotlight to entertain audiences and dispel stereotypes associated with the Middle East and Arab … Continued

Indeed, Dearborn has the most concentrated Arab American population in the country–and the state of Michigan ranks second overall in the size of its population, too, according to the Arab American Institute. The U.S. Census estimates that more than one-third of Dearborn’s population of 98,000 identify as having some Arab heritage. Many Arabs first came … Continued

After complaints from some Muslim and Arab-American groups, the FBI has pulled more than 700 documents and 300 presentations that stereotyped Islam or were factually inaccurate, an FBI spokesman said. The federal agency also intends in coming weeks to roll out plans on how it will vet training materials. FBI Director Robert Mueller announced the … Continued

First, there was “Flying While Muslim.” This expression summed up the extra challenges of being an American Muslim when flying on commercial airlines. This situation has become almost accepted as part of the American Muslim experience. In fact, I have even comically offered advice to people in my community on how to avoid extra problems … Continued

The Center for Education, Dialogue and Advanced Research [CEDAR] of the American Lebanese Assembly [ALA] announces the inauguration of its annual conference for Professionals of American Lebanese Society (PALS) to be held on October 4-5, 2012 in Washington D.C. CEDAR calls on all American Lebanese to save this important date. PALS meeting is intended to … Continued

A few months ago an AP investigation uncovered an intensive NYPD effort to spy on Muslim students in several New York City colleges. The latest update from the AP finds that the program has actually included surveillance operations at a much wider network of schools, including several outside New York. (Just a few: Yale, Rutgers, … Continued

iFashion Network, yet again, launched a set of talented and innovative emerging designers this February during New York iFashion Week. Lebanese born designer Ghassan Yazbeck drew in a fairly large crowd of standing room only international press, models, domestic editors, photographers, VIP’s and fans. The designer left the crowd fascinated by his unique collection. The … Continued

ADC calls on the Obama Administration to pressure Israeli officials to immediately release Palestinian prisoner, Khader Adnan, who has been illegally detained and held against his will for over two months. ADC urges all members to take action and contact the Obama administration immediately. Khader Adnan, a 33-year-old Palestinian baker and father of two, was … Continued

THE America that drew my family was 7,000 miles from where they started, in old Marjayoun, in what is now Lebanon. My aunts and uncles, grandparents and great-grandparents, were part of a century-long wave of migration that occurred as the Ottoman Empire crumbled, then fell, around the time of World War I. In the hinterland … Continued

“The world has lost a great foreign correspondent. Young Anthony Shadid reported, where few ventured, from troubled areas with pertinent historical and cultural contexts. His courage, stamina, intellect and extraordinary powers of observation respected his readers’ intelligence while elevating his profession’s standards.” “Anthony Shadid’s legacy will always be a beacon of enlightenment and integrity for … Continued

<i>Anthony Shadid, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who covered nearly two decades of Middle East conflict, including long stints at the Washington Post and the New York Times, died on Thursday, apparently of an asthma attack, while on an assignment in Syria. Ayman Mohyeldin, an NBC News correspondent currently based in Cairo, Egypt, offers this appreciation … Continued