We, the undersigned, express our deep concern regarding the recent actions of Mayor Abdullah Hammoud of Dearborn, who publicly labeled Dearborn resident Mr. Edward “Ted” Barham a racist, bigot, and Islamophobe during a public city council meeting.

Even more troubling, Mayor Hammoud—whose duty is to protect the rights of all residents—stated that Mr. Barham, a Christian minister, is not welcome to live in Dearborn, using words that may incite others to target or harm him. These remarks have placed Mr. Barham’s reputation, safety, and very life at risk. Such statements are not only inappropriate but also undermine the principles of democratic engagement, public safety, and civic respect. It is not the purview of any elected official to pressure residents to leave their city.

Despite the seriousness of the incident, the mayor declined to offer an apology during a subsequent council meeting held two weeks later.

Mr. Barham was simply exercising his constitutional rights to free speech and to petition the government for a redress of grievances by raising a concern about the naming of two street corners after Osama Siblani, a person who has expressed support for designated foreign terror organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah and publicly called for violent terrorism in the United States and in the Middle East.

We firmly believe that every resident—including Mr. Barham—has the right to voice concerns without fear of personal attacks, intimidation, or retaliation from public servants. We call upon our elected officials at every level to publicly condemn Mayor Hammoud’s call for Mr. Barham to leave Dearborn and the denigrating comments on his character. Furthermore, we urge a formal investigation into Mr. Siblani’s endorsement of terrorism to determine whether honoring him on street signs reflects the values of our community.