Calgary Muslim Mayor “Naheed Nenshi” named the Best Mayor in the world. He has been awarded the 2014 World Mayor Prize after a competition with another 29 mayors from around the world. According to the World Mayor Contest website Nenshi is “the most admired mayor of any large Canadian city” . the website also said that ” His vision how a …

By James G. Abourezk, University of Nebraska Press Reviewed by Andrew I. Killgore- WRMEA   Former Congressman and U.S. Senator from Rapid City, South Dakota James (Jim) Abourezk mulls over his life and career with special praise for some and harsh words for others. The balance comes out about even, but Jim’s summing up of people and events leaves a …

 by Nora Barrows-Friedman– The Electronic Intifada Following the recent approval of a resolution to divest from companies that profit from Israeli apartheid at the University of California at Davis, a barrage of hateful, Islamophobic and racist attacks have been launched against Arab and Muslim students — including a student senator. UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi condemned the divestment resolution just …

By Juan Cole The revelation by the Washington Post’s Adam Goldman and Ellen Nakashima that the car-bomb assassination of Hizbullah commando Imad Mughniyah in Damascus in 2008 was a joint CIA/ Israeli Mossad operation comes at an awkward time for Washington. The administration of George W. Bush did not target Mughniyah because of his alleged involvement of past actions against …

February 2015: Dr. Rand Askalan For enhancing healthcare across borders – Canadian Arab Institute While Dr. Rand Askalan has found a way to wed her activism to her professional skills – medical activism, that is – she still shares what many have on their minds – the ability to have an impact, to be a part of a bigger, more …

By Ahmed A. Yousef Much like the disease they are, and ought to be called; not IS, ISIS, or ISIL have demonstrated once again their beliefs. They are certainly and unequivocally opposed to Islam and humanity. This cancer has attacked and violated Muslims more than anyone else. These cowards who hide behind their baklavas prey on the civilians who do …

By FRANCES BULA – State of Vancouver January 28th, 2015 This was a bombshell yesterday. More to come. No one seems to know all the scenarios that might play out (could this void the city’s land sale with Brenhill? will public hearing process need to be changed?), all of which sound serious and complicated. Lots of interesting things in Justice …

By Amer Zahr By most accounts, American Sniper depicts its Arab Iraqi subjects in a simplistic and shallow fashion.  No one has accused director Clint Eastwood of portraying the Arab characters of the film in a manner that is nuanced or layered. And I don’t mean to be too elementary, but that is really all that matters.  When a movie …

Restricted Space for Refugees- HRW (Amman) – Jordanian reform initiatives in 2014 failed to end long-term abuses, and authorities continued to detain and prosecute peaceful critics, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2015. A three-year deadline for lawmakers to bring domestic legislation into compliance with basic freedoms guaranteed by Jordan’s 2011 constitution passed in October 2014 without …

By Gerald Caplan- Rabble.ca Good for the Harper government for facilitating the secret talks between a pig-headed Washington and Cuba’s geriatric “communist” dictatorship. Despite the widespread demoralization within the Department of Foreign Affairs, its officials, backed by the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister John Baird, demonstrated to the world exactly what kind of role Canada is capable of playing on …