Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud, a Democrat, told Edward “Ted” Barham, a Christian minister, that he was “not welcome” in the city after the local resident objected to the installation of new street signs honoring Osama Siblani, the publisher of Arab American News, during a city council meeting last week.
According to Fox News, Barham raised his objections to two intersections that were renamed after Siblani in the city of Dearborn, Michigan, and described the Arab American News publisher as a “promoter of Hezbollah and Hamas.” Fox News reported that Barham was later identified as a Christian minister.
During last week’s city council meeting, the Christian minister shared some of Siblani’s previous controversial statements, saying, “He talks about how the blood of the martyrs irrigates the land of Palestine … whether we are in Michigan and whether we are in Yemen. Believe me, everyone should fight within his means. They will fight with stones, others will fight with guns, others fight with planes, drones, and rockets.”
“I feel like having that sign up there is almost like naming a street Hezbollah Street or Hamas Street,” Barham continued. “Hezbollah bombed the embassy in Beirut, including many Americans. I just feel it’s quite inappropriate.”
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According to Fox News, Barham warned that having street signs honoring Siblani would be “provocative” and explained that, as a Christian, he wanted to promote peace. The outlet noted that Barham ended his remarks by quoting from Scripture, saying, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”
Fox News reported that city council members warned Barham against making “personal attacks” in his remarks and claimed that the city did not have control over the street signs since the decision had been made by Wayne County.
According to Fox News, the mayor recommended that Barham choose not to drive past the street signs honoring Siblani or to close his eyes while driving past the signs.
“His name is up there and I spoke at a ceremony celebrating it because he’s done a lot for this community,” Hammoud stated. The mayor also labeled Barham as a “bigot” and a “racist.”
“You’re an Islamophobe, and although you live here, I want you to know as mayor, you are not welcome here,” Hammoud said. “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.”
