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Michigan city defends itself against accusations of favoring Muslim holidays over other faiths

The complaint seeks damages and a court order after alleging Dearborn spent $6,500 on Ramadan displays while omitting Easter and Passover observances.

  • On Thursday, journalist Margot Cleveland filed a federal lawsuit accusing Dearborn and Mayor Abdullah Hammoud of favoring Muslim holidays over Christian and Jewish observances in the majority Arab American city.
  • The complaint alleges Dearborn spent $1,500 on Ramadan banners and $5,000 on a Peace Park crescent-moon display last year while failing to mark Easter or Passover similarly.
  • Tensions stem from a 2025 clash where Hammoud criticized pastor Ted Barham for opposing a street named after Osama Siblani, which Barham called "quite inappropriate."
  • In a statement Saturday, Dearborn rejected the allegations, asserting it "has a longstanding commitment to serving all residents fairly and equitably, regardless of faith or background."
  • The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and court orders to ensure compliance with the First and Fourteenth Amendments, while Hammoud maintains residents of all faiths remain welcome.
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Michigan city defends itself against accusations of favoring Muslim holidays over other faiths

The city of Dearborn, Michigan, says its diversity and welcoming nature are to blame for a lawsuit accusing it of favoring Muslim holidays over the holidays of other religious faiths.

·New York, United States
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Associated Press News broke the news in New York, United States on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
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