Dearborn mayor declines to apologize after clash with Christian minister; election looms
Tension over remarks at a contentious council meeting continues to shape Dearborn’s politics, with Barham doubling down on his message and opponents weighing in as the November race tightens.
The controversy surrounding Dearborn’s city government intensified again this week as Mayor Abdullah Hammoud refused to apologize for telling a Christian minister he was “not welcome here” and for vowing to “launch a parade” when the speaker left town. The exchange occurred during a city council meeting that followed a viral clash over an honorary street-sign naming and the broader questions it raised about religious freedom and who is welcome in Dearborn.
Ted Barham, a local Christian minister who has been a focal point of the dispute, opened Tuesday’s session by reiterating the remarks that drew national attention on Sept. 9. He told the council that, for him, the pastor’s line carried a broader message: “Bless those who curse you… love your haters,” a refrain he said extends beyond Dearborn to the wider religious and geopolitical landscape. Barham also offered a new appeal. He asked if, in front of the world and the council, the mayor could join him in a “Christian call to prayer” and a “Christian call to faith” in all the countries around the world where an Islamic call to prayer goes out. He said he had no plans to file a lawsuit despite pressure from supporters and suggested that the city’s message should be one of forgiveness and reconciliation rather than confrontation.
As the meeting unfolded, speakers pressed the council to denounce Hamas and Hezbollah by name, and some attendees framed the issue in stark terms about the city’s identity. Anthony Deegan, speaking for some residents, said the city should “bless” its leadership, but he also asked whether Hammoud would explicitly condemn the militant groups. Others, including Shane Rife of Garden City, questioned Hammoud’s associations, asking where the mayor’s loyalties truly lie in the eyes of Dearborn’s diverse population. Rife cited a rally in which Osama Siblani, publisher of the Arab American News, praised Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and described him as a “hero,” and he asked whether the mayor intended to be on a platform with such figures.
The forum also drew reactions from within Dearborn’s ranks who have long sought to defend Barham’s right to speak and to push back against what they view as intimidation. Pastor Jeff Davis of the Dearborn Evangelical Covenant Church expressed support for Barham, highlighting his longtime service in the community. Yemeni-American engineer and mayoral candidate Nagi Almudhegi weighed in on the balance between freedom of speech and the city’s safety and reputation. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Almudhegi defended Barham’s right to speak and warned that Hammoud’s remarks could create a misleading impression that Christians are not welcome in Dearborn. He also noted that the principles of freedom of speech and freedom of religion are “sacrosanct” in the United States and argued that the city should uphold them even amid heated discourse.
When Hammoud finally spoke, he did not offer an apology or a formal denunciation of the minister’s comments. Instead, he invoked Dearborn’s track record of inclusivity and resilience, saying the city “represents the best of America” and that people of all backgrounds, faiths, and beliefs can live together in peace. He argued that Dearborn had historically resisted attempts to divide its residents and that it would continue to root out hatred. In remarks carried across the chamber, the mayor urged residents to reject the rhetoric of hostility, emphasizing a message of unity over division.
The exchanges at Tuesday’s meeting underscored ongoing tensions in Dearborn as the city moves toward its November mayoral election. Hammoud and Almudhegi will appear on a two-name ballot in a race that has, in large part, become a referendum on issues of religious freedom, free speech, and the city’s character in the eyes of its many communities. The mayor’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
State and local observers have noted that the debate over how Dearborn handles speech, faith, and public sentiment touches broader questions in American urban politics about how cities respond to provocative remarks while preserving civil rights. Advocates on both sides say the incident has mobilized supporters and critics and could influence voter perception of leadership, accountability, and community safety as the election nears.
As the campaign unfolds, Hammoud’s decision not to apologize is likely to be a defining issue in the race with Almudhegi framing the dispute as a test of how elected officials treat dissent, protect religious liberty, and maintain the city’s reputation for inclusion. Hammoud’s team has emphasized that Dearborn’s diverse population deserves leaders who can navigate conflict without abandoning core American principles. The outcome of the November contest will signal how residents weigh those principles against the reputational and political costs of the latest controversy.