DEARBORN, Michigan — City of Dearborn news release: "In response to several inquiries from concerned parents, community leaders and the media, Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad wants to reassure the community that his department is fully prepared to facilitate the peaceful and safe visit of Terry Jones to the Dearborn area while providing seamless public … [Read more...]
Human Rights Conference at Hyatt Sparks Controversy
DEARBORN, Michigan - The Dearborn area will be hosting two conferences on Sunday, April 29 that deal with the controversial topics of "Honor Killing in Islam" and "Islamophobia". It's been about one year since Jessica Mokdad was murdered. She was just 20 years old. Organizers for the Jessica Mokdad Human Rights Conference (to be held at the Hyatt Sunday … [Read more...]
Christless Christianity – As Dangerous As Islamic Law
LETTER TO THE EDITOR (In response to Terry Jones anti Sharia protest rally in Dearborn) -- I am a Michigan native, though I have not lived there for a long time. Growing up in Western Michigan, I viewed Detroit as the exotic, far-off place where we went to sit in the old hallowed grounds at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull, watching Trammell and … [Read more...]
Pastor Terry Jones Protesting at Islamic Center Today
DEARBORN, Michigan - Pastor Terry Jones is back in Dearborn today to exercise his 1st amendment rights of free speech, and freedom of religion - by speaking in front the Islamic Center of America mosque on Ford Road in Dearborn, Michigan. The rally was scheduled to occur from 1:00 to 3:00 pm today. Various groups (including BAMN) were gathering near the … [Read more...]
Grand Mufti Calls for ‘Destruction of All Churches in Region’
EDITORIAL - According to several Arabic news sources, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, declared that it is "necessary to destroy all the churches of the region." The Grand Mufti made his assertion in response to a question posed by a delegation from Kuwait: a Kuwaiti parliament member recently called for the "removal" of … [Read more...]
Blasphemy and Free Speech
EDITORIAL - A growing threat to our freedom of speech is the attempt to stifle religious discussion in the name of preventing “defamation of” or “insults to” religion, especially Islam. Resulting restrictions represent, in effect, a revival of blasphemy laws. Few in the West were concerned with such laws 20 years ago. Even if still on some statute books, … [Read more...]
Threats to Free Speech: A Tale of Two Terry Joneses
Within the span of several days, two news items concerning two Terry Joneses helped illuminate the different paths by which speech critical of Islam can be gradually extinguished. The pastor. Lawyers for one Terry Jones, the Florida-based minister who oversaw a Koran burning in March and handed global jihadists an excuse to rampage, were in a Detroit … [Read more...]
BAMN Invades Dearborn – Preventing Pastor Terry Jones from Walking to Arab Festival
DEARBORN, Michigan - An angry group of Detroit area BAMN protestors prevented Pastor Terry Jones from walking peacefully to Dearborn's 16th annual Arab Festival last Friday afternoon. Using Dearborn's City Hall and Schaefer Road as a stage for their antics (and attempting to grab international news headlines) - a small group supporting Terry Jones … [Read more...]
Mayor Praises Community for Response to Terry Jones
DEARBORN, Michigan – Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. said he was proud of the Dearborn community for tempering their response to Terry Jones when he appeared at City Hall last Friday. Mayor O’Reilly had joined with Dearborn religious and community leaders last week in urging a calm response to the controversial figure. Together, they asked for the focus … [Read more...]
Mayor’s Letter About Terry Jones
An Open Letter from Mayor John O'Reilly The mayor's office issued a press release today regarding the upcoming visit of Pastor Terry Jones - and the upcoming Arab International Festival. We publish it here verbatim - as a service to the citizens of Dearborn. Dear residents and friends of Dearborn, This weekend we will again be visited by persons who … [Read more...]