Tensions flared at a Dearborn, Michigan, city council meeting Tuesday when a local pastor accused the city of operating under Sharia law, a claim that ignited broader fears about the influence of Muslim culture in American civic life.
Lorenzo Sewell, pastor of 180 Church, declared during the meeting, "America, we have lost this city. This is a city that is no longer up under American laws; we are up under Sharia law. We will not have it anymore. Enough is enough."
Sewell’s remarks, made amid a series of anti-Islam protests in Dearborn, voiced concerns that the growing Muslim population in Michigan is seeking to align its communities with religious worldviews he believes conflict with national norms. "You are only 1% of this nation. We are not a nation of Muslims," Sewell stated.
His invocation of Sharia law, however, was not based on specific legislation but on what he perceived as preferential treatment for Muslims in the name of religious freedom. Sewell and other critics pointed to an incident where Muslim counterprotesters allegedly faced insufficient consequences for assaulting local political activist Jake Lang.
"You are not up under American law. You are up under Sharia law. That is the reason why you have made no arrests," Sewell said, referencing the altercation.
Lang, who identifies as a faith-based defender of American culture, has had previous confrontations with the Muslim community in Dearborn. In one online post, Lang expressed extreme anti-Muslim sentiments regarding immigration. Earlier this month, Lang’s protests at the city’s Arbaeen March, an annual religious commemoration, escalated into a physical confrontation. Videos show Lang being punched from behind while holding a protest sign, and subsequent pursuit by Muslim counterprotesters, one of whom allegedly attempted to strike him with a rock.
Dearborn police did arrest one individual involved in the altercation and sought assistance in identifying others. "One individual was arrested by Dearborn Police during the altercation and is currently held without bond as the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office determines charges," a police press release stated.
Lang and Sewell, however, argue that this action is insufficient, pressing the city to more thoroughly examine Muslim influence and the alleged impact of Sharia law.
Dearborn officials have refuted characterizations of unequal treatment. Mayor Abdullah Hammoud stated at the city council meeting, "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 added, "Ultimately, they’re attacking something much larger than any one faith or community. They are attacking the idea that all of us can belong to America at the same time."
According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Dearborn has a population that is predominantly of Middle Eastern or North African ancestry, making it the first American city with an Arab majority at approximately 54.5% of its residents.