- Pastor Lorenzo Sewell spoke at a Dearborn city council meeting, declaring, 'Enough is enough' and claiming the city is under Sharia law.
- Sewell stated, 'You are not up under American law. You are up under Sharia law. That is the reason why you have made no arrests,' referring to a recent incident.
- Dearborn Police reported that one individual was arrested during the altercation and is currently held without bond as the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office determines charges.
- Mayor Abdullah Hammoud responded at the city council meeting, stating that portrayals of Dearborn as overtaken by Muslims erase Christian and other faith communities.
- Sewell emphasized that 'you are only 1% of this nation. We are not a nation of Muslims.'
- Hammoud noted that the attacks on the community are 'attacking something much larger than any one faith or community.'
Religious tensions in Dearborn, Michigan, have intensified following remarks by Pastor Lorenzo Sewell, who declared the city is governed by Sharia law. Sewell, of 180 Church, stated, "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." He further claimed, "You are only 1% of this nation. We are not a nation of Muslims."15
In response, Mayor Abdullah Hammoud defended the city's diversity, asserting that such rhetoric harms not only the Muslim community but also the Christian population and others. He stated, "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."4
The mayor emphasized that these claims threaten the broader concept of inclusivity in America, saying, "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."6
The situation escalated during a recent incident where one individual was arrested by Dearborn Police amid the tensions, with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office currently determining charges.3
The clash highlights ongoing struggles over identity and belonging in a city known for its diverse population.
“Sewell told the crowd 'You are only 1% of this nation. We are not a nation of Muslims,' while Dearborn Police said one person was arrested and held without bond pending charges. Mayor Abdullah Hammoud countered that such portrayals erase the city's Christian and other faith communities.”
Fox News
