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Dearborn activist and comedian Amer Zahr showcased his debut show "America Out of the Box" on Al-Araby TV (Qatar) on September 12, 2024, in which he introduced viewers to "Dearborn, America's Jihad capital," citing a Wall Street Journal opinion piece by Steven Stalinsky, executive director of MEMRI – the Middle East Media Research Institute. He said that Stalinsky was bothered by Arab Americans in Dearborn acting as though America was a free country, and he called MEMRI, the Middle East "Racist" Institute. Later on in the show, Zahr interviewed Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, who said that Arab Americans in Dearborn are making the "beauty that is the American fabric." He said that the Arab Americans in Dearborn are "more American than in just about any other city you can imagine coast to coast," and very civically engaged. For more about the Wall Street Journal piece by MEMRI Executive Director Steve Stalinsky, see MEMRI Special Announcements No. 1445. For more about Amer Zahr, see MEMRI TV clips Nos. 11298, 11121, 10862, and 9566.
Amer Zahr: "'Welcome to Dearborn, America's Jihad Capital.'
[...]
"The Arabs of Dearborn published images of the body parts of Palestinians, and the American-bankrolled war of genocide and starvation. This was done in start violation of the values of American media that prohibits the publication of images and evidence, and summarizes the situation for the public, using random pompous words, like 'conflict', 'two-state solution,' and 'peace process.'
"The Arabs acted as though America is a free country, and this bothered Steven Stalinsky, the Executive Director of MEMRI – the Middle East Media Racist Institute, which specializes in publishing the Israeli narrative, and supporting the IDF's right to commit genocide.
"Steven felt that this had become a big deal now, and it was not enough to incite against protesters, by means of his notorious institute. Therefore, he decided to write an article in a respected newspaper, which welcomes a variety of opinions, and seriously promotes the Zionist narrative.
[...]
"The jihad capital of America. The Wall Street Journal opinion page said that we were the jihad capital of America. First thing I did, as someone who has worked on politics is looked up the voter rolls, and yes, we have like 55 'Jihads' who vote in the city of Dearborn. But you immediately, obviously had to take up sort of protective measures. How much of that has been happening, especially after October 7th?"
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud: "You know, it has been happening for as long as I have been alive, actually. Especially post-9/11, growing up post-9/11. We have been dealing with this level of ignorance for as long as... 'Hizbullah High'. Where I went to high school. The jihad capital... I have a cousin named Jihad. We love shawarma, but that's really the extent of it.
"I think that for many a folk, they cannot fathom the idea that there is a large concentration of Arab-Americans, who are more American than just about any other city that you can imagine, coast to coast. We participate in public office. In every facet of society. We make the beauty that is the American fabric and we contribute like any other person. I'll double down and say that a name like mine, a name like Abdullah, is as American as any other name."
Zahr: "How do you see the American-Arab community voting in this election? And what are the sentiments that you are seeing when you talk to people?"
Hammoud: "What I find in this election cycle is that this election is changing on a day-to-day basis. We don't know what to expect. And so, what we're advocating for is immediate change in the policy on the ground in Gaza and Palestine, because we don't have time to wait until November. Each day you wake up, and you see that there is a new kill count, a new massacre that has occurred, and that is unacceptable. So we are trying to utilize the leverage we have now to hold elected officials accountable today on the decision-making that they have been charged with."
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