Dearborn Mayor sued over religious holiday funding allegations

A federal civil rights lawsuit has been filed against the city of Dearborn, Michigan, and Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, alleging religious favoritism in the use of taxpayer funds. The suit, filed by journalist Margot Cleveland through the American Freedom Law Center, claims the city violated First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.

The litigation centers on the city’s expenditure of thousands of dollars on public Ramadan displays, including street banners and themed police department apparel. The plaintiff alleges that city officials ignored repeated requests to provide similar funding and recognition for Christian and Jewish holidays, specifically Easter and Passover.

Robert J. Muise, co-founder of the American Freedom Law Center, stated that the city’s actions constitute a “straightforward Establishment Clause violation” and noted that the client faced retaliation for raising the issue.