Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud told a Christian resident he was "not welcome" in the city during a City Council meeting after the resident objected to new street signs honoring Arab American News publisher Osama Siblani.
Edward "Ted" Barham addressed the council on Sept. 9, identifying himself as a Dearborn resident and criticizing street-name signs installed at two intersections on Warren Avenue. The signs were placed by the Wayne County commission in August, not by the city, according to local reports, and Hammoud and other officials attended a ceremony marking the designation.
Barham told the council he objected to naming intersections after Siblani because, he said, Siblani is "a promoter of Hezbollah and Hamas," and he cited past remarks attributed to Siblani including, "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." Barham closed his remarks by quoting Jesus, saying, "Blessed are the peacemakers."
Mayor Hammoud responded directly to Barham in remarks that drew audible reaction in the council chamber. "The best suggestion I have for you is to not drive on Warren Avenue or to close your eyes while you’re doing it," Hammoud said. He said he had spoken at the unveiling ceremony because, in his view, "he's done a lot for this community." Hammoud then told Barham he was "a bigot, and you are racist, and you’re an Islamophobe," and added, "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."
The controversy centers on Wayne County’s August decision to honor Siblani with street signs; the county commission approved the designation, not the Dearborn City Council, according to local reporting. Siblani is the publisher of the Arab American News, and the remarks quoted by Barham have drawn criticism from those who say they amount to praise for violent actions in support of Palestinian causes. The Wayne County ceremony was attended by Hammoud and other local officials.
Fox News Digital reached out to Hammoud's office and to Siblani for comment and did not receive a response by the time of publication. Efforts to reach Barham by phone were also unsuccessful.
Dearborn, a city with one of the highest percentages of Muslim residents in the United States, has long been a focal point for debates over cultural identity and local politics. The exchange at the Sept. 9 meeting underscored tensions that can arise when county-level decisions intersect with city residents' concerns about public recognition and symbolism.
The incident renewed questions among residents and observers about how elected officials balance community celebration and responsiveness to dissenting voices. City officials and county commissioners have different roles in approving commemorations such as street-name signs, and the debate illustrated how such decisions can provoke sharp public reaction.
No formal disciplinary action or follow-up policy decision was announced at the meeting. The exchange was raised publicly in the council chamber and reported by local media, prompting discussion about civic discourse in a community that is ethnically and religiously diverse.