Rally in Dearborn supports arrested Christian missionaries

Saying that the right to free speech is important, about 25 demonstrators rallied today on the steps of Dearborn City Hall in favor of the four Christian missionaries arrested at the Arab International Festival for allegedly disturbing the peace.

Detroit Free Press

By Niraj Warikoo

July 26, 2010

The rally was organized by Majed Moughni, a Dearborn attorney who is Muslim and concerned that the June 19 arrests violated the U.S. Constitution and harmed the image of Muslims in Dearborn.

“Their arrests never should have happened,” Moughni said. “We respect the Constitution. No one should be afraid to come here and speak.” Behind Moughni was a banner he designed that said “USA Free Speech for everyone!”

Moughni is a candidate on the Republican ballot next month for the Congressional seat of U.S. Rep. John Dingell, a Democrat.

Dianne Pondell, 64, of Taylor came to rally wearing a T-shirt that read: “Proud to be an American.”

“I love our nation,” Pondell said. “This is still America.”

Two of the missionaries who were arrested repeatedly say that Islam is a violent religion and that Christianity is the only true faith.

Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly Jr. and others have said the missionaries were trying to provoke people at the festival in order to gain attention and raise money for their small group. They note there were several other Christian groups at the Arab festival, as in previous years, who had no problems.

A counter-demonstrator, Scott Cherry, 45, of Dearborn, said the four missionaries were misleading the public with their edited videos posted on You Tube. The missionaries claim that Christians are oppressed and persecuted in Dearborn.

“They didn’t tape all the other Christians,” at the festival handing out literature, Cherry said. Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad has said that the missionaries caused a stir and were disrupting a family event.

“Everyone’s space should be respected,” Haddad said after the arrests last month. “It’s Father’s Day weekend … People are here to have a good time and it’s our job to ensure security.”

Haddad noted that the festival draws a wide range of people and features booths from different religions and agencies, including the CIA and FBI.

“We have to co-exist and everyone should have a good time … Everyone is welcome, but you have to act in a way that keeps the peace….With 300,000 people, it’s paramount you keep everything orderly.”

Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com

One Comment

  • Marriage is not easy but God says marriage is Holy; and, living in a Holy, God pleasing manner is also not easy but it is filled with joy. When marriage is in Christ it is the foundation of all we hold near and dear and the bedrock of society itself. When People have difficulty in thier marriages often because they themselves are not living according to the Word. However, in the end it takes only one, usually two to wreak a marriage but it always takes three to restore it. And it is the Lord Jesus, the Messiah Who is that third party.

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