A city council meeting in Dearborn, Michigan, turned explosive last week after Mayor Abdullah Hammoud told a Christian resident he was “not welcome” in the city for questioning the wisdom of honoring a controversial local figure.
Edward “Ted” Barham, a longtime resident, introduced himself before voicing concerns over new street signs honoring Arab American News publisher Osama Siblani. Barham reminded council members of Siblani’s past words praising violent “martyrs” and encouraging struggle “with stones, others will fight with guns, others fight with planes, drones, and rockets.” He compared the county’s decision to renaming streets after Hezbollah or Hamas, stressing that as a Christian, he sought peace, closing with Jesus’ words: “Blessed are the peacemakers.”
Instead of receiving respect for his perspective, Barham was scolded. Council members tried to distance themselves by noting Wayne County, not the city, had approved the signs. But Mayor Hammoud escalated sharply, declaring: “The best suggestion I have for you is to not drive on Warren Avenue or to close your eyes while you’re doing it. His name is up there and I spoke at a ceremony celebrating it because he’s done a lot for this community.” He then accused Barham of being “a bigot, and you are racist, and you’re an Islamophobe,” before going further: “Although you live here, I want you to know as mayor, you are not welcome here. And the day you move out of the city will be the day that I launch a parade celebrating the fact that you moved out of this city.”
Those words, delivered by the sitting mayor, struck many as chilling. A citizen raising concerns about public honors for a man tied to inflammatory pro-terror rhetoric was not only dismissed but branded unwelcome in his own hometown.
Dearborn, with the highest-percentage Muslim population in the United States, has long wrestled with questions of identity and representation. But the exchange highlighted a deeper issue: whether elected officials will defend free speech and represent all voices, or whether only select viewpoints will be tolerated in public debate. For conservatives, the answer seems increasingly clear — dissent against favored narratives is met not with dialogue, but with open hostility from those in power.
Remember, as a Muslim, the Mayor believes that if you are not Muslim, you are an infidel, therefore you must be killed. Wake up people, Sharia Law is right around the corner.
That city didn’t ‘earn’ its nickname of “dearbornistan” for nothing.
I suspect that Mr. Barham has lived there a lot longer than the moslem mayor has and been much less divisive as well. That’s just one more piece of evidence how the takeover operates – refuse to assimilate and then demand everyone accommodate them, or leave. At least he wasn’t threatened with death, yet.
When are Americans going to stand up like this man did against a crazy Muslim name on an Americans sign,all involved should be kicked out of our country, last time I checked this is America, I’m tired of seeing Mexican commercials that dont speak English, why is this happening, do you think u could go to Mexico or any other country and put an American commercial on their TV, not happening, think America.
“Mayor Abdullah Hammoud” tells a citizen “Edward “Ted” Barham, a longtime resident” that he is not welcome at an open city meeting. There is lies the tale.
When will these JERKS learn that muslims only want to destroy this country. Keep electing them to power positions and soon you will have to move out because you are not part of their downgraded so called civilization. Take a good look at what’s happening in Europe.
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Bless his heart for wanting his city back! I don’t think there’s not one English sign there,everything is Arabic. It’s more or less like George Floyd square,what are you thinking?!?! “I’m going to have a parade when you more” is about the sickest thing ever! Sir,please move so Sodom can be leveled. Remember that if one good person is there,God would not destroy it. Ooh, I’d be either suing or say make me an offer to go!