At Dearborn’s first City Council meeting since his fiery clash with a local Christian minister went viral, Mayor Abdullah Hammoud declined to apologize for telling Rev. Ted Barham he was “not welcome” in the city — a comment that has drawn national attention and now threatens to become the central issue in Dearborn’s upcoming mayoral election.
Rev. Barham, a longtime Christian minister, returned to address the council Tuesday night and opened his remarks by quoting his viral confrontation with the mayor.
“The mayor, in a way, cursed me, as was seen around the world,” Barham said calmly. “And I would like to repeat what I said that day to you, Mr. Mayor: ‘God bless you.’”
Barham, who has received encouragement from supporters around the world to pursue legal action, made it clear he has no intention of suing.
“People have been saying I should do that all over the world. I have no intention of doing that,” he said. Instead, he emphasized his larger spiritual message: “Bless those who curse you… Love your haters.”
He then turned to Mayor Hammoud with a new appeal: “Would it be possible for you, Mayor Hammoud, in front of the world and council members, to join me in saying we would like to put out a Christian call to prayer and a Christian call to faith in all the countries around the world where an Islamic call to prayer goes out?”
Community Voices Demand Answers
Several other community members followed Barham, calling on Hammoud to either apologize or clarify his stance on radical groups like Hamas and Hezbollah — a demand the mayor sidestepped.
“Do you definitively, unequivocally, by name, denounce Hamas and Hezbollah?” asked Anthony Deegan.
Shane Rife, a resident of nearby Garden City, said he was “shocked” to learn that Hammoud had once appeared at an event where Arab American News publisher Osama Siblani praised Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as a “hero.”
“Where is your allegiance?” Rife asked bluntly. “Is your allegiance to the United States or is your allegiance to Hezbollah?”
A Political Storm Heading Into November
The backlash has placed the spotlight on Mayor Hammoud as he seeks re-election in November, facing only one challenger: Nagi Almudhegi, a Yemeni-American engineer and political newcomer.
Almudhegi spoke with Fox News Digital following the meeting, sharply criticizing Hammoud’s conduct.
“The United States of America is built on the principles of freedom of speech and freedom of religion,” he said. “The gentleman [Barham] spoke respectfully. The mayor should have afforded him that opportunity instead of launching into that tirade.”
He warned that Hammoud’s “not welcome here” comment risks feeding a narrative that Christians are unwelcome in Dearborn, home to the largest Muslim population in the United States.
“People would get the impression, or it would feed into the paranoia… that there’s no place for Christians,” Almudhegi added. “And that is what I’m 100% against.”
Mayor Responds, But Stops Short of Apology
When Mayor Hammoud finally spoke during the meeting, he did not address the calls for an apology nor did he answer whether he would denounce Hamas or Hezbollah by name. Instead, he defended the city’s diversity.
“Dearborn represents the best of America,” Hammoud said. “People of all backgrounds, of all faiths, and of all beliefs can live peacefully and respectfully as neighbors.”
“For decades, people have been intent on dividing and disparaging our city,” he added. “Dearborn residents… have come together to shun hatred and to root it out.”
His office did not respond to additional requests for comment.
What’s Next?
With the November election just weeks away, voters in Dearborn will either double down on the current leadership, or choose a new direction under Almudhegi, who has framed the issue as one of constitutional rights and equal treatment.
As Barham reminded the council Tuesday night, “Love your haters” is not just a Christian teaching — it’s a challenge to leaders everywhere to rise above division.
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The problem isn’t what this mayor said it is that the entire community is not pissed off that he said it. Parts of our country have already fallen to foreign control. Dearborn, LA, Minneapolis, New York etc. our enemies are winning.
Dear Dearborn Mayor,
This is not a third world country. This is the USA and to get here your swore an oath. Remember that? If you want to rule like your past country then you had best deport yourself back to where you can rule like a third world dictator! Prepare for the consequences of your actions DARLING!
Is this pitiful excuse for a mayor a transplant or was he born here? Not that it really matters, he does NOT ‘own’ the city and his ‘threat’ was totally out of line