'You're Not Welcome Here': Dearborn Mayor Slams Resident During Council Meeting

DEARBORN, MI — Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud blasted a resident during a city council meeting earlier this month.

Dearborn resident Ted Barham objected to a new street sign honoring Osama Siblani, a longtime Arab American leader and founder of the Dearborn-based Arab American News, at the Sept. 9 city council meeting.

Council members told Barham the decision to place the renamed street sign at Warren and Chase roads was made by the Wayne County Executive. The sign went up in August.

Nonetheless, Barham said the sign matters to Dearborn residents and went on to say Siblani supported Hezbollah and Hamas. He then read two Siblani quotes that he said could be "inciting violence."

He read from a 2022 Siblani speech that declared, "'We are the Arabs who are going to lift Palestinians all the way to victory whether we are in Michigan and whether we are in Jenin.'"

"'Whether we are in Michigan, and whether we are in Jenin,' the reason why I mention this is because it sounds like he could be inciting violence in Michigan," Barham told the council.

Hammoud then slammed Barham.

"I think it's quite hypocritical to know that you're approaching this podium, when you yourself have videos in front of my mosque saying the cruelest of things about Muslims, about the religion of Islam," Hammoud said. "Because you are a bigot, and you are a racist, and you are 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 I launch a parade celebrating the fact that you moved out of the city."

Patch left a message with Hammoud's office requesting comment.

Barham also drew heat from Councilman Robert Abraham.

"I'm going to stop you, because he's not a violent person," Abraham said. "And you can interpret his words any way you want, but I will guarantee you he is not intending to incite violence anywhere in the world."

Siblani told The Detroit News the remarks Barham made at the meeting referred to the 2022 attacks in Jenin by Israeli forces, a city in the West Bank.

"I represent my people. I represent the people who are hurting, who are suffering, who are struggling, who are dying every day," Siblani told the outlet.

Nagi Almudhegi, who is challenging Hammoud in the mayor's race in November, said the mayor's response was "unprofessional."

"Leadership is not about labeling people; it’s about listening to them," Almudhegi said. "When a resident steps forward to express concern, even passionately or controversially, it is the duty of elected officials to respond with respect, not retaliation. And no resident should ever be told they are 'not welcome' in their own city."

Hammoud became Dearborn's first Arab American and Muslim mayor when he was elected in 2021. Dearborn has America’s highest-percentage Muslim population.