Ali Harb

US candidate Jill Stein considering vocal Palestine advocates for VP spot Shortlist of running mates for Green Party candidate includes two Arab Americans from the swing state of Michigan.

August 3, 2024 Ali Harb

(Al-Jazeera) United States Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein is considering three Palestinian rights advocates, including two Arab Americans, to be her running mate in the elections, her campaign has confirmed. The vice president announcement will be made during a livestream rally […]

‘Progress’: How Eid is becoming a US school holiday Growing number of school districts across the country are accommodating Muslim students by calling off classes on Eid.

April 20, 2023 Ali Harb

(Al-Jazeera) Growing up in the United States, Selaedin Maksut would skip school on Eid to go to the mosque, attend festivities with his family and celebrate one of the most joyous days for Muslims across the world. While he said he never […]

US may elect first Muslim senator. Why are few Muslims thrilled? Donald Trump-backed Mehmet Oz’s Senate bid fails to produce enthusiasm seen with previous Muslim firsts in US.

November 5, 2022 Ali Harb

(Al-Jazeera) The United States may elect its highest-ranking Muslim official next week — a Donald Trump-backed Republican who has questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 elections. Mehmet Oz, a television personality and retired surgeon of Turkish descent, is running in Pennsylvania against […]

US Congress must understand ‘trauma’ of Nakba, Rashida Tlaib says The US legislator, who introduced resolution to recognise Palestinian displacement, tells Al Jazeera ‘Nakba hasn’t stopped.’

May 18, 2022 Ali Harb

(Al-Jazeera) It’s important for United States lawmakers to understand the “trauma and pain” of the Palestinian Nakba, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has said, urging Washington to condition aid to Israel on its rights record. Tlaib introduced a congressional resolution earlier this week to […]

US Muslims call for action as ‘spying’ incidents shake community Council on American-Islamic Relations says it uncovered a ‘mole’ within its organisation and a ‘spy’ at a US mosque.

December 30, 2021 Ali Harb

(Al-Jazeera) First, the major Muslim-American advocacy group reported that a “mole” had infiltrated the leadership of one of its state branches. Then, only days later, the organisation said a “spy” at a US mosque had passed information on to an “anti-Muslim” group. […]

Palestine advocates slam Biden’s ‘victory lap’ over Gaza ceasefire White House sent an email on Friday highlighting comments from pro-Israel advocates and others praising Biden for role in securing truce

May 21, 2021 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) As Palestinians were still looking for survivors under the rubble in Gaza, the White House officially tried to claim victory, citing praise by pro-Israel lawmakers and advocacy groups for President Joe Biden’s handling of the crisis. The administration’s approach […]

How Arabs and Muslims helped Biden win Michigan and the White House Election data shows increase in turnout in Arab and Muslim communities that overwhelmingly favoured Biden in the presidential race

November 10, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) In one of his first decrees as president in 2017, Donald Trump signed an executive order banning travellers from several Arab, Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. Less than four years later, Arab and Muslim communities in Michigan […]

Joe Biden says Muslims would serve ‘at every level’ in his administration Speaking to Muslim-American advocacy group, Biden reiterates pledge to repeal Trump's 'Muslim ban' on day one of his presidency

October 15, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden vowed Muslim Americans would be included in every social and political aspect in his administration, and reiterated his pledge to repeal President Donald Trump’s “Muslim ban” on his first day in office. In a […]

‘Out-vote the hate’: Tlaib and Omar call for large Muslim turnout At virtual event hosted by Senator Bernie Sanders, the congresswomen and other prominent US Muslims called for 'historic' turnout to defeat Trump

October 14, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar along with other prominent Muslim Americans have called for high voter turnout from their community to push back against bigotry and defeat President Donald Trump in next month’s election. Speaking at a virtual […]

‘Inshallah’: Biden uses Arabic expression over release of Trump’s tax returns No foreign policy discussions during the first US presidential debate, in which candidates traded insults and spoke over each other

September 30, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Many Middle East-related policy questions that could affect the lives of millions of people hang on the outcome of the US presidential elections in November: a possible return to the Iran nuclear deal; Washington’s relations with Riyadh; and the White House […]

Joe Biden’s plan for Arab Americans: Six takeaways The Biden campaign released a platform addressing domestic and foreign policy issues that affect Arab Americans; here's what's in it

August 30, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has released a comprehensive platform outlining his plans for the Arab-American community, emphasising commitment to civil rights and prosperity at home as well as a more balanced foreign policy in the Middle East. […]

Biden aides apologise privately over attack on Linda Sarsour In a private call with community activists, a recording of which was obtained by MEE, Biden campaign officials said statements against Sarsour were an 'egregious misstep'

August 23, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Top aides to presidential candidate Joe Biden have apologised to Arab and Muslim Democrats over an attack on Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour by the campaign, in an effort to quell anger over the controversy. In a private call with […]

Linda Sarsour says Biden campaign’s ‘unprovoked’ attack hurts Democrats Biden campaign says it is committed to engaging with Muslims, but non-apology has done little to quell anger from Sarsour's supporters

August 20, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) There is a realistic chance that November’s presidential election may be decided by who wins Michigan. In 2016, President Donald Trump won the Midwestern state by a mere 10,000 votes. Michigan also happens to be home to large Arab […]

Biden campaign’s attacks on Linda Sarsour alienate Muslim voters, activists say Muslim advocates say the campaign's statement against Sarsour shows disregard for Muslim voters who may play key role in November's election

August 19, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour offered advice to the Democrats on Tuesday on how to engage Muslim voters: ensure representation, treat Muslims as a decisive voting bloc in swing states and reach out to them in their communities. “The Democratic […]

‘Slap in the face’: Muslims decry Bloomberg’s upcoming appearance at Democratic convention As New York mayor, Bloomberg oversaw a surveillance programme that targeted Muslim community gatherings, businesses and student groups

August 18, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg oversaw a surveillance programme targeting the city’s Muslim community for almost a decade. This week he will be speaking at the Democratic national convention — an event that has so far focused on […]

Democratic congressman faces accusations of Islamophobia over anti-BDS flyer Congressman William Lacy Clay has been accused of putting 'Muslim lives in danger' by progressive challenger Cori Bush

August 3, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Congressman William Lacy Clay, a Missouri Democrat, is facing accusations of Islamophobia after his campaign sent a flyer featuring the photo of Muslim-American activist Linda Sarsour to attack his progressive challenger over her support for the right to boycott […]

‘Dismantle’ racism: Muslim-American Democrats issue platform proposals Coalition of Muslim Democratic delegates puts forward list of recommendations including ending surveillance programmes and US aid to Israel

July 24, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) In 2016, the Democratic Party’s platform sounded an alarm on the harm that a Donald Trump presidency would cause by outlining potential damages to different communities targeted by the then-Republican nominee’s proposals. “The stakes have been high in previous […]

Biden campaign holds private meeting with Palestinian-American activists Senior adviser to Joe Biden was 'evasive' and made no promises to address Israel's human rights abuses, source tells MEE

July 22, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Joe Biden’s presidential campaign held a private virtual meeting with Palestinian-American activists on Tuesday, several sources familiar with the call confirmed to Middle East Eye. Tony Blinken, a top campaign adviser, drew a “contrast between Donald Trump and Joe […]

Arabs for Black Lives urges community to do its part against racism New initiative endorsed by Arab artists, academics and organisers calls for eradicating anti-blackness within Arab communities

June 5, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Arab Americans have launched an anti-racism initiative in solidarity with the African-American community as protests continue over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died at the hands of Minneapolis police last week. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, […]

Arab-black relations: Floyd tragedy highlights ties and tensions Debate emerges about responsibilities of Arab American-owned businesses in mostly black neighbourhoods

May 29, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) “Please, please, I can’t breathe,” George Floyd pleaded, gasping for air as a police officer’s knee pressed into his neck for several minutes until his life was lost. Floyd’s death in Minneapolis on Monday has touched the conscience of […]

Joe Biden’s campaign removes ‘racist’ anti-Palestinian language from platform Passage saying BDS lets Palestinians 'off the hook for their choices' has disappeared from Biden's plan for Jewish-American communities

May 26, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Joe Biden’s campaign has watered down an anti-BDS line from his platform for Jewish-American communities, removing “racist” language that angered Palestine solidarity activists. The Biden campaign said in a statement earlier this month that his administration will “firmly reject […]

Biden’s plan for Muslim Americans: A ‘good start’ but missing policy details Activists call for more specifics from Biden's campaign and urge direct engagement with Muslim community

May 13, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Joe Biden has released a plan to protect the civil rights of Muslim Americans and reverse some of Donald Trump’s Islamophobic decrees if elected president. The plan, titled “Joe Biden’s agenda for Muslim-American communities,” vows to undo Trump’s Muslim ban on […]

Young Arab Americans want to win Michigan for Bernie Sanders Arab-American activists are rallying around the Vermont senator, saying they feel heard by his campaign

March 9, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Hassan Almusawy is only 17, but in November, he’ll be voting for the first time. To ensure that his preferred candidate is on the ballot, he’s travelled more than 1100km from Lincoln, Nebraska, to Dearborn, Michigan, hoping to convince […]

Rashida Tlaib calls on Michigan’s Muslim-Americans to back ‘Ammu Bernie’ Congresswoman tells Middle East Eye that Sanders' advocacy for human rights is part of his core values, not just rhetoric

March 6, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Rashida Tlaib has an outline of Senator Bernie Sanders’ hair and glasses attached to her maroon blazer. She points to it with joy and pride — “Do you like my pin?” As the congresswoman waits to give a speech […]

Group of Palestinian Americans endorses Bernie Sanders for president Collection of activists and organisations says Sanders draws attention to the 'injustices of the occupation'

March 2, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) A coalition of Palestinian-American activists and advocacy groups has endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for president, lauding the Democratic candidate as a “supporter of justice, equality and human rights for all, including the Palestinian people.” “We call upon all Palestinian […]

US election 2020: At one Iowa mosque, almost all caucus votes went to Bernie Sanders Muslim-Americans came out overwhelmingly in support of Sanders at mosque in Des Moines

February 4, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) “Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar.” The Muslim call for prayer, known as adhan, echoed through the Muslim Community Organization in Iowa as voters stood in a registration line outside the prayer hall, waiting to attend the Democratic Party’s caucuses at […]

US election 2020: The Arab and Muslim vote may be decisive in Iowa In a tight presidential race, Iowa's Arab- and Muslim-American community could have major say on results

February 3, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) Iowa. It’s known as America’s breadbasket. The nation’s heartland. A state of farmers, wheat and cornfields. The rural Midwest. It’s also so much more than that. A sparsely populated state of just 3.1 million people, Iowa is home to […]

US election 2020: Some Muslims in Iowa will caucus in their own mosques Muslim Americans say caucusing at mosques will increase political engagement in the community

February 2, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) As soon as communal prayers ended at a mosque in Des Moines on Friday, Imam Jaaphar Abdul Hamed turned to worshippers to remind them that the state’s caucuses to pick the Democratic presidential nominee [are] on Monday. Such announcements […]

Ilhan Omar takes Bernie Sanders’ message to Iowa mosque 'It's not about somebody else. This election cycle is about us,' US congresswoman tells Muslim Americans

February 1, 2020 Ali Harb

(Middle East Eye) If Muslim-Americans want to become “visible” and elevate their issues on the decision-making table, they must participate in the upcoming presidential elections. That was Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s message to worshippers at the Muslim Community Organization in Des Moines, Iowa. […]