Dearborn mayor declines to apologize after clash with Christian minister over 'not welcome here' remark

Dearborn, Mich. — Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud faced questions about remarks telling a Christian minister he was not welcome here during the city’s latest council meeting, a confrontation that drew national attention and underscored tensions around free speech and faith in the city ahead of the November election.

During the meeting, Ted Barham, a Christian minister, repeated the remarks from the prior clash and opened his remarks with a blessing. He urged the council to consider a broader message about love and forgiveness and proposed a global Christian call to prayer in response to calls to prayer from Islamic tradition. Barham emphasized a stance of blessing toward opponents and urged the council to join him in a world-spanning Christian call to prayer in places where Islamic calls to prayer are heard. The moment reflected a broader appeal to bridge faiths through prayers and peace, while keeping the focus on the city and its residents.

Several speakers pressed for a denouncement of Hamas and Hezbollah by name. Anthony Deegan told the chamber that he loves Hammoud with the love of Christ and wishes God’s blessings on the city, but he then asked whether the mayor would explicitly denounce Hamas and Hezbollah by name, framing the inquiry as a test of the city’s allegiance to the United States versus foreign groups. Deegan’s question highlighted a common thread in the debate over where political leadership stands on extremism and national security within a local context.

Shane Rife of Garden City challenged Hammoud’s public profile, asking where the mayor’s allegiance lay after Hammoud appeared at a rally in which Arab American News publisher Osama Siblani praised Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as a hero. Rife framed the question around the implications of a local leader sharing a platform with individuals who praise extremist entities, pressing for clarity on the city’s stance toward such affiliations. Pastor Jeff Davis of Dearborn Evangelical Covenant Church also spoke in support of Barham, stressing Barham’s long service to the community.

Nagi Almudhegi, a Yemeni-American engineer and candidate for mayor, weighed in during an interview with Fox News Digital. Almudhegi argued that the United States is built on the principles of freedom of speech and freedom of religion, saying that Barham had the right to speak his mind and Hammoud should have afforded him that opportunity instead of engaging in a confrontational tirade. He warned that Hammoud’s remarks risked feeding a perception that Christians are unwelcome in Dearborn and said such impressions could alienate a segment of the city’s diverse population. Almudhegi had previously released a statement condemning the remarks as uncalled for and unprofessional, and he reiterated support for Barham.

When Hammoud spoke later in the evening, he did not apologize or offer a formal denunciation of any individual or group. Instead, he framed Dearborn as a city that represents the best of America, where people from all backgrounds and beliefs can live together peacefully and respectfully. He said the city has pushed back against attempts to demonize it and urged residents to reject hatred and divisiveness. Hammoud’s comments came as he sought to shore up support ahead of the November mayoral election, in which he faces Almudhegi in a two-person race. The exchange drew national attention to how issues of religious freedom and free speech are playing out in local politics.

Observers say the controversy could shape voters’ views in the upcoming election, potentially elevating questions about inclusive leadership, civic harmony, and the city’s stance toward controversial statements made by figures associated with or visiting Dearborn. Hammoud’s staff did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

As the meeting drew to a close, residents remained divided, with some praising Hammoud’s defense of Dearborn’s inclusive identity and others urging him to clearly denounce extremism and reaffirm the city’s commitment to protecting free expression for all faiths. The ongoing dispute underscores the broader national debate over how local leaders address provocative comments and how such episodes influence electoral outcomes in communities with large and diverse populations. Jasmine Baehr is a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital, where she covers politics, the military, faith and culture.