Arab American News Founder Honored at ACRL Gala

Dearborn resident Osama Siblani will be the guest of honor at the Arab-American Civil Rights League "Fight for Justice" annual gala on Oct. 16.

The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Burton Manor in Livonia. More than 200 dignitaries, including numerous state and community leaders, elected officials and civil rights activists will honor Siblani and Dr. James Zogby, founder of the Arab American Institute.

Siblani is the publisher of The Arab American News, the largest circulated Arab-American publication in the United States. He was inducted in the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame on April 21.

A recipient of the “Spirit of Diversity in Journalism Award” from Wayne State University, Siblani was the founder of the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC).

Siblani has also been featured in almost all national and international news media around the world. Born in Beirut, Lebanon in 1955, Siblani came to the United States in 1976 to pursue his education.

He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1979 at the University of Detroit. In 1980 he assumed the position of vice president at Energy International, Inc., a major import-export firm dealing with the Middle East.

He held this position until he began The Arab American News in 1984, at which time he resigned to run the newspaper full time.

Siblani’s prime motivation for beginning the newspaper was the 1982 Israeli invasion of his homeland Lebanon and the startling discovery of the bias from major media companies in America.

The Arab American News is celebrating its 29th year of publication.