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| Detroit Iraqi-Americans demand U.S. pullout from homeland |
| 2004-08-13 |
| Chanting "Get out of Najaf, get out of Iraq," Iraqi-Americans assembled Friday to protest fighting in the Islamic holy city and demand sooner-than-scheduled elections in their native country. "Stop the guns from talking and let's negotiate!" Imam Husham Al-Husainy, leader of the Karbalaa Islamic Educational Center, shouted through a bullhorn while leading 50 men and boys as young as 5 in the peaceable, hour-long demonstration. Some held hand-lettered signs that read, "Occupation is not liberation" and "No puppet government in Iraq." A handful of black-clad women stood silently off to one side of the demonstrators outside the Shiite mosque. Al-Husainy led chants that alternated between English and Arabic, offered prayers for peace in Iraq and called for elections ahead of the Dec. 31, 2005 target date. The cleric, who strongly supported the U.S. invasion of Saddam Hussein's Iraq, also spoke directly to President Bush: "You are abusing the democratic values of America. Where are the elections you promised us? ... If you can't bring peace and democracy to Iraq, then you don't deserve to be re-elected." Iraqi-Americans remain grateful that the U.S. military overthrew Saddam, but question the legitimacy of Iraq's interim government, said Youssef Fawaz, corresponding secretary for the Greater Detroit chapter of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. "They're really agitated right now," he said. "Let's get (Iraqis) to be able to choose, not people chosen by the administration." Ali Haiber, an automotive engineer from Wayne County's Canton Township who attends services at the Karbalaa center, agreed with Fawaz that Iraq's current leaders don't have a valid claim to power. "They're just hand-picked. They're just puppets," said Haiber, a native of Pakistan who attended the demonstration with his two young sons. Friday's protest was the latest of several staged by Al-Husainy and other Arab religious leaders in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn. Southeast Michigan has the highest concentration of Arabs in the United States; in Dearborn, Arab-Americans make up about a third of the population. |
| Posted by:TS(vice girl) |
| #11 lol .com |
| Posted by: TS(vice girl) 2004-08-14 12:29:34 AM |
| #10 Yo, Imam. You wants to buy some rocket launcher? |
| Posted by: Johnny GMan Undercover Fed 2004-08-13 10:43:22 PM |
| #9 Observations: 1. 50 Arab demonstrators in Deerborn is a pretty small percentage. 2. Any Conyers constituent could have been under the Aba's. 3. How do you differentiate an Iraqi-American from a Syrian-American who plays the pan-flute and comes out of a 30 minute session in the airplane washroom smelling of toilet chemicals - and I don't mean eau du toilet. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-08-13 10:39:25 PM |
| #8 One view of the "event"... |
| Posted by: .com 2004-08-13 10:13:08 PM |
| #7 "50 men and boys as young as 5..... A handful of black-clad women.... corresponding secretary for the Greater Detroit chapter of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee..... a native of Pakistan...." Nice little tableau.... |
| Posted by: Wuzzalib 2004-08-13 9:23:11 PM |
| #6 What have you done for me lately, dhimmi? |
| Posted by: ed 2004-08-13 8:02:59 PM |
| #5 Yep, and these are the same assholes who live off are society & have no problem taking a tax incentive to start up a 7/11 or some shit in Dearborn.....they also have no problem making money in this country. I'm so glad I no longer live in Detroit and have to deal w/these douche-bags, if Iraq is so f*cking great why don't they just go back. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2004-08-13 7:54:39 PM |
| #4 I'm with you guys...BTW, did you see where this Dearborn group of Moooslims complained until Charlie Daniels promised not to perform his "raghead" song there? If these people can't behave and side with the US while they live in the US, it's either Manzanar time or time to gas up the bus for the airport! |
| Posted by: GreatestJeneration 2004-08-13 7:27:31 PM |
| #3 damn bh you beat m,e too it but i say we put their ass on a plane tonight |
| Posted by: smokeysinse 2004-08-13 7:14:34 PM |
| #2 "but question the legitimacy of Iraq’s interim government" Let's apply this equally. Show me your visa, Joe. And all the rest of you, haul out your fucking paperwork. [Youssef is Arabized Joseph - ed] |
| Posted by: .com 2004-08-13 7:12:48 PM |
| #1 How about, "Get out of Detroit! Get out of America" Fuggemall. |
| Posted by: BH 2004-08-13 7:08:46 PM |
