Author Archives: Arab America

For Arab women, hard-won progress in education has not earned them the economic progress they deserve. Although young women seek and succeed in tertiary education at higher rates than young men, they are far less likely to enter and remain in the job market. Understanding and tackling the barriers that hinder women from working would unlock Arab women’s potential and yield significant social and economic benefits to every Arab State.

Echoing the trend observed globally, women in the Arab world outnumber men in pursuing university degrees. The ratio of female to male tertiary enrollment in the region is 108 percent. This ratio is even more favorable to women in Qatar (676 percent) and Tunisia (159 percent).

Yet, three out of four Arab women remain outside of the labor force.

Young women entering the labor market are disadvantaged in comparison to their male peers. Of female youth actively seeking work, 43.9 percent are unemployed in the Middle East, twice the male youth unemployment rate at 22.9 percent.

And, when an economic crisis occurs, women are the most vulnerable workers. For example, in North Africa, female youth unemployment increased by 9.1 percentage points after the most recent economic recession, as compared to 3.1 percentage points for males.

When taking into account both the low female labor force participation rate along with the high unemployment, only 18 percent of working-age Arab women have jobs. At this rate, it would take 150 years to reach today’s world female labor force participation average.

Source: www.brookings.edu

In the midst of an increased fractional medical system here, more and more people are trying to find ways to keep themselves healthier so that they don’t have to one day find themselves in the hospital simply for the fact that their body started breaking down due to a poor immune system. Here in the city of Los Angeles, many have taken steps to find alternative methods of healing in order to prevent frequent hospital visits. With all of the stressful events that people find themselves in, or happen to look at after being saturated with depressing news because they couldn’t turn away from the day’s headlines, many people’s immune system has taken a beating for the worse. But there are natural herbs out there that many have said does maintain the immune system for the better and that herb is known as the ‘Black Seed’.

The words of the Prophets (s.a.w) will always hold true in all situations and times even those concerning health. Since the time of the early 1960’s there were many here in the West that took an interest in Ayurvedic medicine as an alternative to traditional medicine; it also sparked an interest in the Unnani-Tibb medical system (Islamic Medicine), and one of its core herbs is the Black Seed. Known by its medical name, Nigella Sativa has been said to be one of the most well rounded of the Unnani herbs and has a list of poor health preventative qualities like being an anti-flammatory, anti-tumor and anti-bacterial agent which if used correctly overtime, could have the best affect on your body. Of course one should always consult your medical provider when taking any natural herb for the first time; however even in the Western medical community many doctors are encouraging integration of natural herbs to maintain wellness.

In the Islamic holistic health community, it has been known for years about the healing effects of the black seed, because the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) echoed this truth over 1433 years ago. There are many Halal stores and international markets all Major Metropolitan cities  that carry the Black Seed, also known as Black Cumin or Black Caraway; that can be purchased cheap. It has been the experience of the writer that seed is indeed powerful and cleansing, so everyone’s experience with it may be different. Even still learn more about this powerful little seed and over time, you just may see an improvement in your health inshallah.

As always, we try to relate why these issues are important and what results have we seen in the people we treat. We have come across several clients who suffered from severe allergy issues; especially in the Spring Time. Those that started the regimen of Black Seed found significant relief; some even giving up their Zyrtec and Claritin; while some needed more severe treatment through their allergist; but noted that they still found temporary relief for their allergy and sinus issues. More to come soon……

 Daud Scott-CHNP

Source: naturesfirstpath.com

My Halal Kitchen is a halal food and cooking blog featuring culinary tips and healthy halal recipes anyone can make and demonstrating how any cuisine can be made halal.

Source: myhalalkitchen.com

A passionate collector of classic cars, Mahfouz Kabariti dreams of building a museum in the occupied Gaza Strip.

Mahfouz has restored vintage vehicles for almost twenty years. There are currently five cars in his garage, with no space for more.

A museum, he says, would be the perfect place to collect, preserve and exhibit the history of automobiles in Gaza.

However, Gaza has been under a severe blockade imposed by Israel since 2007, making it very difficult if not impossible to find spare parts to maintain vintage cars.

But Mahfouz sees job opportunities in restoring old cars — and employment opportunities are needed in Gaza, where general unemployment stands at 40 percent and youth unemployment at 70 percent.

Source: electronicintifada.net

My hearty congratulations to television presenter Lucy Aharish, who was chosen to light one of the beacons on Independence Day. On the anniversary of her nation’s disaster she will stand on Mount Herzl, not far from the ruins of the Arab village of Deir Yassin, the separation barrier and the Aida refugee camp, and light the beacon to the glory of the State of Israel. Aharish recalled that she was moved by the invitation, even to the point of tears. Her mother said on hearing the news that it was “a slap to all the racists.” We can assume that many “non-racist” Israelis will also be moved at the sight of the Arab woman who grew up in Dimona and appears on Hebrew television without an accent, participating in the fundamental ceremonies of their Jewish, democratic state.

Source: www.haaretz.com

Do you run a government agency but hate complying with the law? Then you need DC Matic, the Hillary Clinton-approved email server! Here’s how it works: First…

Source: www.youtube.com

The Deputy Head of the Hamas political bureau, Dr Mousa Abu-Marzouk, said yesterday that the movement “rejected” an Israeli proposal which would effectively separate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank in return for a five-year truce. The terms of the proposal were passed on through Palestinian businessmen and independent figures; Israel would have allowed Gaza to develop its seaport as well as the airport, claims a report in Anadolu.

“Israel made the proposal with the aim of separating the enclave from the West Bank so it can swallow it with the settlements,” wrote Abu-Marzouk on his Facebook page. He said that Hamas has informed the Palestinian leadership about the proposal.

“We are paying a steep price for our stance by the continued blockade and economic pressure over the Strip, but we reject any idea that would lead to the separation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,” he added, “despite the fact that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his government are actively doing so with their policies.”

Source: www.middleeastmonitor.com

Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and other state officials recognized members of the Islamic Speakers Bureau’s “100 Influential Georgia Muslims” at the State Capitol Building on Tuesday.

Nearly two dozen Muslim-American clergy, doctors, lawyers, artists and activists attended the March 11th event, which included a House resolution hailing the contributions of Georgia’s Muslim community as well as remarks by Attorney General Sam Olens, Court of Appeals Judge Carla Wong McMillian, and State Representative Pedro “Pete” Marin.

“The…event at the Georgia Capitol showcased the contributions that American Muslims make every day to Georgia’s economy, institutions, healthcare, education, legal system and beyond,” said Soumaya Khalifa, founder and executive director of the Islamic Speakers Bureau.

Source: www.atlantamuslim.com

is weekend, the Egyptian government will welcome delegates from around the world to the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh for an investment conference described by Egypt’s investment minister, Ashraf Salman, as the “backbone” of the country’s future economic growth. According to reports, the Egyptian government plans to use the conference to launch a new economic development program, while attendees will listen to presentations on a wide range of investment projects.

In the lead-up to the conference, the Egyptian government has been on a major public relations push, talking up the country as a business-friendly destination. Writing in the Wall Street Journal last week, Salman argued that the government’s economic, legislative, and regulatory reforms together “amount to a quiet revolution” in the economy. Yet there is little to distinguish these reforms from the failed economic model of Egypt’s past, which, despite impressive economic growth, only intensified poverty, unemployment, inequality, and social injustice.

Source: foreignpolicy.com

In 1971 PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat said of the great Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish: “I can smell the fragrance of the homeland on you.” In this observation the leader captured a central part of Darwish’s philosophy – whilst Palestine has left beautiful traces in the air it is a concept that can’t quite be touched.

Perhaps the most common reflection on Darwish’s work is that Palestine is a metaphor for the loss of Eden, or a constructed paradise. As he himself observed when you are deprived of home, it becomes a “need” and a “lust”, or a dream which is more beautiful than the reality. The state of exile becomes all encompassing.

“This jasmine in the July night is a song
for two strangers who meet on a street leading nowhere.
“Who am I after your two almond eyes?” the male stranger asks.
“Who am I after your exile in me?” the female stranger asks.” (Night That Overflows My Body)

No wonder the reverberations of exile seep out into Darwish’s writing. At six years old he fled his home in Upper Galilee, which was being bombed by the Israelis, and sought refuge in the camps of southern Lebanon. When he and his family returned one year later, settlements had been built on the remnants of their home.

His family were classed as present absentees and lived as refugees in their own country. From a young age Darwish was confronted with the fact that Palestinians were second-class citizens but still had to celebrate the creation of Israel. Whilst at school, on Israel’s Independence Day, Darwish wrote a letter to a Jewish boy to explain that he could not be happy until he was allowed to have what the Jewish boy had.

Source: www.middleeastmonitor.com

Islamic State (ISIS) has burned 1,500 historical manuscripts in Iraq and sold Assyrian sculptures on the black market, the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities revealed yesterday.

The Undersecretary of the Minister of Tourism Qais Hussein Rashid said that the province of Nineveh in northern Iraq, which is under ISIS control, is at the forefront of Iraqi provinces that contain the largest number of archaeological sites.

Speaking at a symposium held by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism at the Council headquarters in Baghdad, under the slogan “ISIS: The Enemy of Humanity, History and Civilisation”, Rashid pointed out that the militants illegally dug into the archaeological sites and sold the pieces they found, noting that his ministry was able to stop the sale of some Iraqi antiquities in some international auctions.

While he listed the sites that were destroyed, he reported that ISIS blew the shrine of Ibn Al-Atheer ten days after they occupied Mosul, and the Shrine of the Prophet Yunus, under which important Assyrian antiquities exist.

He added that the militants have sold Assyrian sculptures and burned 1,500 manuscripts, expressing his fears that ISIS may demolish 520 heritage houses in Mosul.

Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Adel Shershab, said ISIS had destroyed the archaeological areas in Iraq.

Source: www.middleeastmonitor.com

A member of the Hamas political bureau has said that the movement accepts in principle a Swiss proposal to resolve the crisis facing Palestinian Authority employees in the Gaza Strip. There are, however, some reservations, said Khalil Al-Hayyeh.

Speaking to Resalah news site on Thursday, Hayyeh said that Hamas wants the Swiss proposal to be addressed in the context of the Palestinian reconciliation agreement.

The problem has arisen because the international community will not accept a Palestinian Authority in which there is Hamas participation, even though the Islamic movement won the election in 2006. Hence, it is difficult for international donors to contribute towards the salaries of those workers who have been employed by Hamas in Gaza since 2007.

According to PLO official Azzam Al-Ahmad, the Swiss proposal cannot be applied now. Speaking during a central council meeting last Sunday, he claimed that Hamas will not accept it without their participation in the government. “The international community will not accept a Palestinian government that includes Hamas,” he added, “and we cannot resolve things if Hamas does not commit itself to a Palestinian government and fulfil its obligations.”

Source: www.middleeastmonitor.com