The city of Dearborn, Michigan, and Mayor Abdullah Hammoud are facing a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging that the city favored Islamic religious observances while failing to provide comparable recognition for Christian and Jewish holidays.
The lawsuit, Cleveland v. Dearborn et al., was filed September 17 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The case number is 2:26-cv-13519.
The plaintiff, Dearborn resident and attorney Margot Cleveland, alleges violations of the First Amendment, the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause and the Establishment Clause.
The allegations have not been adjudicated, and the city disputes the claim that it discriminates on the basis of religion.
What the complaint alleges
According to the complaint, Dearborn spent public funds on Ramadan displays, including approximately $1,500 on banners and about $5,000 on a large crescent moon display in Peace Park.
Cleveland says she did not ask the city to remove Muslim religious or cultural displays. Instead, she says she repeatedly asked officials to provide similar recognition for Easter, Passover and other Christian and Jewish observances.
The complaint alleges that those requests were ignored or left unanswered.
The available record reviewed by IsraelNews.io does not establish that the city issued a formal written rejection under a clearly identified policy governing religious displays. That distinction could become important as the case proceeds.
The lawsuit also says the mayor's conduct conveyed the message that Christians and Jews were "second class citizens." That phrase is an allegation made in the complaint, not a finding by the court.
The 'not welcome' exchange
The complaint also cites a September 2025 Dearborn City Council meeting involving Christian pastor and resident Ted Barham.
Barham objected to honorary street signs recognizing Osama Siblani, publisher of The Arab American News, and criticized Siblani's past rhetoric concerning Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah.
Hammoud responded sharply, calling Barham a bigot, racist and Islamophobe and telling him: "Although you live here, I want you to know as mayor, you are not welcome here."
The mayor added that he would celebrate if Barham moved out of Dearborn.
Hammoud later said his comments were directed at one individual whom he regarded as acting in bad faith, not at Christians as a group. He has said Dearborn welcomes Christians, Jews and residents of every background.
Dearborn's response
The city said in response to the lawsuit that it has a "longstanding commitment to serving all residents fairly and equitably, regardless of faith or background."
Dearborn also said it has come under attack because of the diversity of its population and that it would continue to protect residents' dignity and equal rights.
The federal case is at an early stage. No court has ruled that Dearborn or Hammoud violated Cleveland's constitutional rights.
The complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, damages, attorney fees and litigation costs.
The next significant development will likely be the defendants' formal response and any motions addressing the constitutional claims, the city's display policies and the factual record surrounding Cleveland's requests.