Michigan Muslim mayor tells Christian who opposes renaming streets for Islamic extremist he is ‘not welcome’ in Dearborn

Edward “Ted” Barham, who identified himself as a longtime Dearborn resident, voiced concerns during the public comment period about Wayne County’s decision to name two intersections on Warren Avenue after publisher Osama Siblani.

“He’s a promoter of Hezbollah and Hamas,” Barham said, quoting past remarks attributed to Siblani in which he appeared to glorify violent resistance. “He talks about how the blood of the martyrs irrigates the land of Palestine … others will fight with planes, drones, and rockets.”

Barham compared the honor to naming a road “Hezbollah Street or Hamas Street,” calling it provocative and emphasizing that, as a Christian, his goal was to promote peace. He closed his remarks by quoting scripture: “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

Several council members quickly interjected, cautioning Barham against what they deemed “personal attacks.” They also pointed out that the City of Dearborn did not make the decision; Wayne County Executive Warren Evans and the county commission approved the designation.

“The sign that was placed on Warren Avenue, which is a County road, was done by the Wayne County Executive,” one council member clarified.

Barham insisted the matter still concerned Dearborn residents, since the signs stood in their community. That is when Mayor Hammoud delivered remarks that stunned many in attendance.

“The best suggestion I have for you is to not drive on Warren Avenue or to close your eyes while you’re doing it. His name is up there, and I spoke at a ceremony celebrating it because he’s done a lot for this community,” Hammoud said.

He then went further, denouncing Barham personally: “You are a bigot, and you are racist, and you’re an Islamophobe. 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.”

Siblani, born in Lebanon in 1955, immigrated to the US in 1976 and co-founded The Arab American News in 1984. The paper, published in both Arabic and English, is one of the most widely circulated Arab American publications in the country.

He was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2013 but has also drawn heavy criticism for openly rejecting labeling Hamas as a terrorist organization, describing Hezbollah and Hamas as “resistance” movements, and delivering speeches praising “martyrs” and urging people to fight “with stones, guns, planes, drones, and rockets.” Jewish groups, including the ADL, have long accused him of expressing sympathy for organizations the U.S. government designates as terrorist groups.