Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
McCollum praised for her achievements for constituents As we end 2021, I wanted to share with you my reflections on a year of great challenges, disturbing national discord, and some remarkably positive advancement. So much has happened this year. President Biden and Vice-President Harris were inaugurated in January, a COVID vaccine is approved and available…
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Arab community hosts fundraiser for Marie Newman Dec. 29, 2021 A coalition of Arab and Muslim Americans will host a fundraiser for Democrat Congresswoman Marie Newman on Wednesday Dec. 29, 2021. Newman was elected to serve in the 3rd Congressional District but as the result of remapping will run for re-election int he new 6th…
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U.S. seizes illegal Iranian flow of weapons to Yemen On December 20, the United States Navy 5th Fleet seized upwards of 1,400 AK-47 assault rifles and 226,600 rounds of ammunition from a vessel originating from Iran. This ship was on a route historically used to illegally smuggle weapons to the Houthis in Yemen. The smuggling of arms from Iran to the Houthis represents a flagrant violation of the UN targeted arms embargo and is yet another example of how malign Iranian activity is prolonging the war in Yemen. Iran’s support for…
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Racist targeting of Arab businesses by Lightfoot administration to be probed by City Council hearing 36th Ward Chicago Alderman Gilbert Villegas proposed a City Council investigation into a Building Department Task Force accused of harassing Arab-owned small businesses targeted by Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s racist crackdown to confront rising street gang violence. By Ray Hanania Chicago…
The Political Grapevine/The Tabboun Friday, Dec. 17, 2021 A mix of political items involving mainstream American political candidates, and Arab and Muslim candidates and public officials. If you have news email it to former Chicago City Hall reporter Ray Hanania at [email protected]. By Ray Hanania Palestinian Professor Iyeman Chehade, who has a brilliant understanding of…
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Being Arab in America is a burdensome struggle Arab Americans have a lifelong challenge living in America. Part of the problem comes from he divisions in their own community, and the marginalization of them by the Arab World. We’re discriminated against and there is no system to address that discrimination. We are excluded from almost…
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Three officials who defended community honored by American Arab Chamber More than 200 Arab and Muslim community leaders attended the annual American Arab Chamber of Commerce “Action” Awards dinner. Action Awards were presented to three public officials who went out of their way to defend the rights of Arab and Muslim Americans in Chicago and Cook…
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Number of journalists imprisoned around the world sets new record China remains the world’s worst jailer of journalists; India and Mexico rank among the deadliest The number of journalists behind bars reached a record high in 2021, with 293 behind bars as political upheaval and media crackdowns reflect increasing intolerance for independent reporting around the…
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US Rep. Lauren Boebert owes US Rep. Ilhan Omar an apology People who can’t debate real issues because they lack the intelligence to do so instead turn to racist hatred and name-calling to demonize others with whom they disagree. That’s the case with Colorado Congresswoman Lauren Boebert who made a vicious personal attack against Minnesota…
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An Arab American Thanksgiving By Ray Hanania One of the greatest contributions of the Arab World to the Western World is the gift of Arab food, especially in America where the national menu has grown as a result of the arrival of immigrants from around the world. One of the most important food holidays in…
International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People observed by UN The UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People announced the World observance of the International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People on November 29, 2021, at 10.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. (CST New York Time) in the General Assembly Hall…
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American Arab Chamber to host first business dinner for retail owners Dec. 9 The American Arab Chamber of Commerce, the only active organization representing Chicagoland Arab and Muslim business owners, will host the first business dinner for members on Thursday December 9 at Aladdins’ Banquets, 8821 W. 87th Street in Hickory Hills, Illinois. The Chamber…
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Award-Winning Palestinian Film Opens 25th Annual Arab Film Festival The country’s largest and oldest festival of Arab films returns with in-person events showing 54 cutting-edge pieces, with a full slate of films streaming online throughout North America. This year, the 25th annual Arab Film Festival will take place November 18 to 24 in San Francisco,…
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Six Palestinians on hunger strike protesting their administrative detention B’Tselem: Release all administrative detainees Six Palestinian prisoners are currently on hunger strike to protest their administrative detention: Kayed Fasfous, 32, a father of a seven-year-old from Dura, has been on hunger strike for 118 days. He is in hospital as the lengthy strike has caused…
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AHRC Supports TPS Designation for Lebanon: The American Human Rights Council (AHRC-USA) adds its voice to Rep. Debbie Dingell’s in calling upon President Biden and DHS secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to designate Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). It is the practice of the US to give this status to countries experiencing extreme from natural or…
More than $750,000 refunded to Arab property owners in County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Arab Chamber program Hundreds of Arab and Muslims property owners participated in a Tax Refund Workshop organized by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and the American Arab Chamber of Commerce Friday Nov. 5, 2021 at the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview, Illinois. More…
A new high school model for the 21st century Former Illinois State Superintendent of Education and former Deputy Undersecretary of Education in the United States Department of Education, Dr. Michael J Bakalis, presented the philosophy, structure, and unique opportunity of a new high school model to a group of interested parents and citizens on Thursday…
2021 General Elections are Over: Time to Reconcile, Work Together and Move Forward No doubt that this year’s general elections that was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 was one most important and most contested in a number of cities across the state of Michigan, notably in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck for Arab and…
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