Community News (V11-I5)

Ali R. Malek joins St. Mary’s Medical Center

WEST PALM BEACH, FL– St. Mary’s Medical Center has announced that Dr. Ali R. Malek, Interventional Neurologist, has joined St. Mary’s Medical Center as the Medical Director of the hospital’s Neurointerventional Program.

Triple Board Certified in neurology, neurocritical care and vascular neurology, Dr. Malek formerly practiced at Tampa General Hospital where he was the director of their Neurosciences ICU for the last five years. He also served as faculty in the Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery with the University of South Florida.

Dr. Malek attended the University of South Florida (USF) for his undergraduate and master’s work. He completed his neurology residency at USF and was chief resident in his final year. He has completed fellowships in vascular and critical care neurology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and in endovascular neurosurgery at Providence Hospital in Michigan.

Dr. Malek has been involved in many professional and community organizations throughout his career. He was the former Vice President of the American Heart Association – Florida/Puerto Rico Affiliate and served on the Board of Directors of the Florida Society of Neurology. Additionally, Dr. Malek was Chairman of the LifeLink Advisory Board. LifeLink is a not-for-profit community service organization dedicated to the recovery of organs and tissue for transplant. 

Dr. Fuad Shahin recognized with Order of Ontario

TORONTO–Dr. Ahmed Fuad Sahin has been appointed  to the Order of Ontario, the highest civilian order in Ontario recognizing the unique contributions of outstanding Ontario citizens in the service of their fellow Ontarians and the country at large.

“I am pleased to invest some of our province’s most deserving citizens into the Order of Ontario,” said the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Chancellor of the Order of Ontario. “This distinguished honour is bestowed on those who have gone above and beyond, those who have demonstrated excellence in various fields of endeavour.”

Dr. Fuad Sahin is the Founder of IDRF (International Development and Relief Foundation), a Canadian charity doing international relief work  His vision of traditional Islamic humanitarianism combined with his strong life long commitment to social justice encouraged Dr. Fuad Sahin and others to create a non-governmental organization committed to reaching out to and assisting the suffering people in every part of our world.

Dr. Fuad Sahin was born in Urfa, Turkey, the town considered to be the birthplace of the Holy Prophet Abraham.  In 1958, he came to Ontario and joined as an Internship Resident in Kingston, Ontario. In 1966, he became an Urologist, affiliated with Greater Niagara General Hospital, Niagara Falls, Ontario, where he continued to practice, until retirement. In addition to his outstanding accomplishments in his own profession, especially in service to his patients, what Dr. Sahin should be best known for is his faithful service, leadership, and accompaniment of the Muslim communities of Ontario and the communities at large in which he has lived, worked, and served. He is an outstanding Muslim, an outstanding citizen, and an outstanding Canadian.

Over the years, he has been the motivational force, the founder, or co-founder of a significant number of organizations, which were created to promote greater understanding, awareness, and education about humanitarianism, peace, and the importance of upholding the dignity of all human beings, such as:  Islamic Society of Niagara Peninsula, Islamic West Associates of Canada, Canadian Turkish Muslim Association, Islamic Foundation Inc., Toronto, Council of Muslim Communities of Canada (CMCC). Not only has he worked to strengthen Muslim organizations but he has reached out beyond his own faith. Dr. Sahin has been unflagging in his efforts to promote inter-faith understanding of world religion through active participation in such groups as: Christian -Jewish- Muslim Dialogue and the Christian Muslim Liaison Committee. Furthermore, Dr. Sahin has represented Canada at a number of international conferences on World Peace and World Religions.

Mosque plans approved in Sioux City

SIOUX FALLS, SD (News Agencies)–  City authorities in Sioux Falls have approved plans for a mosque amidst neighbor protests. A home near an elementary school has been approved for use as a mosque on Fridays.

“For one thing, I don’t think it’s a proper use for this area,” neighbor Clinton Stickle told Keloland Television.

Stickle lives across the street from the Islamic Center. He doesn’t oppose the religion, just the location. “It’ll flatten the property values around here just like that,” Stickle said.

He’s also worried about increased traffic and parking. But the man in charge of the Islamic Center has guaranteed to the city there won’t be more than 28 people worshipping here at any given time.

“They have a right to worship here,” city planner Jeff Schmitt said.  Schmitt says the mosque was approved just like any other place of worship would be. “We have churches in residential neighborhoods all over the city and for us to say you can’t worship here was difficult,” Schmitt said.

The city will review the Islamic Center’s conditional use permit at the end of the year to make sure it is abiding by the agreement.

Amherst Mosque

AMHERST,NY (News Agencies)–Officials in Amherst have approved a new mosque on Transit Road. Construction will now proceed on the Jaffarya Centre Mosque as planned. The 10,325 square foot mosque will have a single story building and will have parking space for 200 cars.

The mosque is estimated to be constructed at a cost of $3 million. Foundation will be laid by later January and bids for heating and plumbing work are being accepted through the project’s general contractor, FJ Construction of Lancaster.

Muslim student organization accused

CHICAGO, IL– An investigation of the Muslim-cultural Students Association of Northwestern University has found that the group violated Associated Student Government rules regarding publicity and contracting, according to the Daily Northwestern.

The group last year had invited Bill Ayers, a University of Illinois professor and the founder of 1960s radical group the Weather Underground, along with poular speaker Imam Zaid Shakir.

The investigation claims that the MCSA submitted the event for approval just three days before it was scheduled to take place. Student Activities Board guidelines recommend that three weeks advance notice be given for any contracts exceeding $2,000.

Despite the negative ruling the event is still planned to take place later this quarter, according to Tedd Vanadilok, McSA adviser and director for Asian and Asian-American Student Affairs.

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