DEARBORN, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The city of Dearborn and its Democratic mayor are facing a federal lawsuit alleging they promoted Islam in violation of the U.S. Constitution.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Dearborn resident and The Federalist journalist Margot Cleveland by the American Freedom Law Center. It alleges the city spent $6,500 in public money on Ramadan banners and a large crescent-moon display while declining requests to provide similar recognition to Christian and Jewish holidays.
According to the lawsuit, the city spent $1,500 on banners and $5,000 on the crescent-moon display in Peace Park. The Dearborn Police Department also produced and sold Ramadan-themed T-shirts bearing the department’s emblem.
“You Are Not Welcome Here”
While Dearborn publicly recognized Ramadan, Cleveland asked the city to provide similar recognition for Easter, Passover and other Christian and Jewish observances. The lawsuit alleges that city officials ignored her requests and later retaliated against her for raising the issue.
The complaint claims the city violated the First Amendment’s Establishment and Free Speech clauses, as well as the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
“The City of Dearborn spent taxpayer money to light up its streets and parks for Ramadan while stonewalling a resident who simply asked that Easter, Passover, and other Christian and Jewish holy days be treated the same way,” Robert J. Muise, AFLC co-founder and senior counsel, said in a statement. “That is a straightforward Establishment Clause violation, and the retaliation our client faced for speaking up about it only compounds the constitutional harm.”
The city has denied discriminating against other faiths. In a statement reported by The Associated Press, Dearborn said it remains committed to treating residents equally and blamed the criticism on attacks against the city’s diversity and “welcoming nature.”
A Muslim-Majority City
Dearborn is widely regarded as a Muslim-majority city, although no official religious census exists. The city has approximately 106,000 residents.
The lawsuit also cites comments Hammoud made to Christian pastor and Dearborn resident Ted Barham during a September 2025 City Council meeting.
“You are a bigot, and you are racist, and you’re an Islamophobe,” Hammoud told Barham. “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 the city.”
Barham raised concerns about honorary street signs recognizing Osama Siblani authorized by Wayne County and publicly supported by Hammoud and other Dearborn officials. Barham’s concerns centered around the Arab American News publisher Siblani’s support for Hezbollah and Hamas. Both organizations are designated as terrorist organizations by the United States.
Hammoud later backpedaled those comments in a November 2025 interview with The Guardian. He said those comments were directed at a bad-faith actor and did not reflect hostility toward Christians generally.
The AFLC isn’t buying it. “Our client is simply asking the City to treat Christians and Jews as equal citizens,” AFLC co-founder and senior counsel David Yerushalmi said.
Cleveland said she did not want Dearborn to stop recognizing Muslim holidays. Instead, she asked the city to provide equal recognition to Christian and Jewish holy days. The lawsuit alleges that the city did not respond and expanded its Ramadan displays in February.
The lawsuit seeks a declaration that the city and Hammoud violated Cleveland’s constitutional rights, an injunction prohibiting the alleged unequal treatment, nominal damages, and attorneys’ fees.
Senate Race Brings Additional Scrutiny
The lawsuit comes less than two months before the Nov. 3 election between Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers.
El-Sayed, a Muslim and the son of Egyptian immigrants, has faced questions about his association with political commentator Hasan Piker, who drew condemnation for saying that “America deserved 9/11.” Piker campaigned with El-Sayed before the August primary, but El-Sayed has since sought to distance himself from some of Piker’s remarks.
El-Sayed is not a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, although he supports several policies associated with the organization’s progressive platform, including abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
