DEARBORN, MI — Tensions boiled over at a recent Dearborn City Council meeting when Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud launched a heated verbal attack on local Christian resident Edward “Ted” Barham after Barham criticized new honorary street signs celebrating Arab American News publisher Osama Siblani.
Barham, speaking during the public comment portion of the meeting, expressed deep concern over two intersections on Warren Avenue being renamed to honor Siblani, whom he described as a vocal supporter of terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas.
“He’s a promoter of Hezbollah and Hamas,” Barham stated, quoting Siblani’s own past remarks praising violent resistance and martyrdom in Palestine. “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, identifying himself as a Dearborn resident and Christian, called the signs “provocative” and likened the action to naming roads after designated terror organizations. “It’s as if we put up ‘Hezbollah Street’ or ‘Hamas Road.’ That’s not honoring peace—it’s glorifying violence,” he said, before concluding his remarks with a quote from Jesus: “Blessed are the peacemakers.”
Despite his appeal for civility and concern for community harmony, council members interrupted Barham, cautioning him against “personal attacks.” Officials attempted to deflect responsibility, noting that the honorary designations were placed on a Wayne County roadway, not a city-managed street.
“The sign that was placed on Warren Avenue, which is a County road—that was done by the Wayne County Executive,” one council member clarified. Nevertheless, Barham emphasized that the signs still stood within Dearborn’s city limits and were therefore a local issue for residents.
Mayor Hammoud responded in a stunning tirade, escalating the situation by personally attacking Barham.
“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. “His name is up there and I spoke at a ceremony celebrating it because he’s done a lot for this community.”
The mayor then went further, accusing Barham of being “a bigot,” “a racist,” and “an Islamophobe.” His final words stunned many in the chamber: “Although you live here, I want you to know as mayor, you are not welcome here. And the day you move out of this city will be the day that I launch a parade celebrating the fact that you moved out of this city.”
The signs honoring Siblani were installed in August following approval by the Wayne County Commission, not the Dearborn City Council. Yet Hammoud and other Dearborn officials publicly attended the unveiling ceremony, signaling their strong support.
Critics argue that Siblani, while a fixture in Arab-American media, has openly endorsed extremist rhetoric, which should disqualify him from receiving civic honors in a pluralistic American city. His praise for “martyrs” and endorsement of armed struggle against Israel has sparked concern among Christian, Jewish, and patriotic residents who view such views as antithetical to American values.
Fox 2 Detroit and Fox News Digital attempted to reach Mayor Hammoud and Siblani for comment. Neither responded as of publication. Attempts to contact Barham were also unsuccessful.
Dearborn, home to the highest percentage of Muslim residents in the United States, has increasingly found itself at the intersection of national conversations about identity, extremism, and free speech. Incidents like this raise difficult questions: Are elected leaders in Dearborn representing all citizens—or only those who align with a specific ideology?
When a peaceful citizen raising valid concerns about radicalism is met with public shaming and told he’s “not welcome,” it reflects a dangerous shift away from open discourse and toward authoritarian intolerance. The role of public officials is to uphold the rights of all residents—not silence the ones they disagree with.
