Dearborn, Michigan – A recent city council meeting in Dearborn devolved into a contentious exchange over religious and cultural influence when a local pastor declared the city was no longer operating under American law but Sharia law. The outburst by Pastor Lorenzo Sewell of 180 Church on Tuesday highlighted ongoing anxieties about the integration of Muslim culture within American civic life.
Sewell's assertion that Dearborn is "up under Sharia law" was not a reference to the codification of specific Muslim religious practices into legislation. Instead, he described it as a perceived uneven application of favoritism towards Muslims, which he believes is at odds with national norms. "We are not a nation of Muslims," Sewell stated, noting that Muslims constitute a small percentage of the U.S. population.
The pastor's comments drew a direct link to an incident involving local activist Jake Lang, who protested at Dearborn's Arbaeen March, an annual religious commemoration. Lang reported being assaulted by counterprotesters, with one video showing him being punched and others attempting to throw rocks at him. Sewell and other critics viewed the response from authorities as insufficient, with Sewell specifically stating, "You are up under Sharia law. That is the reason why you have made no arrests."
Dearborn police did confirm one arrest was made during the altercation, with the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office handling potential charges. A press release stated that the individual arrested was held without bond as the investigation proceeded.
Lang, who frames himself as a defender of American culture, has a history of confrontational online and real-world activism directed at the Muslim community. His presence at the Arbaeen March led to the physical altercation, which he described online as an attempt by "3 BARBARIC Muslims" to "STONE me to death!!! For preaching the NAME OF JESUS!!!"
In response to these concerns and ahead of the city council meeting, Lang, Sewell, and other demonstrators organized protests. They aimed to pressure the city to more closely examine what they perceive as the undue influence of Sharia law and Muslim communities.
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud addressed these characterizations during the city council meeting, pushing back against the notion that Muslims receive preferential treatment. "When people portray Dearborn as some place that has been overtaken by Muslims, they aren’t simply attacking our Muslim and Arab communities. They’re also trying to erase our Christian brothers and sisters who have contributed immeasurably to the city and folks of other faiths," Hammoud stated. He emphasized that such rhetoric attacks "the idea that all of us can belong to America at the same time."
According to the 2020 U.S. census, Dearborn is home to the largest concentration of Arab-Americans in the United States, with approximately 54.5% of its residents reporting Middle Eastern or North African ancestry. This demographic makeup made Dearborn the first American city with a predominantly Arab population.