Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Acts 17 Apologetics vs. City of Dearborn: Lawsuit Complaint Filed Today

So far in Dearborn . . .

  • We've been physically assaulted for asking a question at a booth that invited us to ask questions.
  • We've been thrown in jail for having a peaceful conversation.
  • We've been slandered and libeled by the Mayor.
  • We've been blasted by the media (especially by Niraj Warikoo of the Detroit Free Press).
  • We've been forced to undergo one of the most ridiculous criminal trials in Michigan history.

If you've been following this blog for the past two years, you've seen Muslim security guards assault our sister Mary Jo Sharp at the Dearborn Arab Festival. You've seen Dearborn's own Corporal Kapanowski assault our sister Negeen. You've seen falsified police reports, written by corrupt police officers trying to justify their unlawful arrests. You've seen police officers (who take an oath that they will support and defend the Constitution) take us into custody for attempting to hand out copies of the Gospel to Muslims outside the festival. You've seen lies from the Mayor, lies from police, and even lies from Christians trying to curry favor with the local Muslims.

For a complete summary of our experience in Dearborn, click here.

Enough is enough. Today, the Thomas More Law Center filed a massive 96-page Complaint against the City of Dearborn. Mayor John B. O'Reilly, Police Chief Ronald Haddad, seventeen Dearborn police officers, and two members of the Arab Chamber of Commerce are officially being sued. If the City of Dearborn refuses to honor the U.S. Constitution, we hope this lawsuit will help persuade them that, so long as Michigan is part of the United States, they have no choice in the matter.

Of course, the City of Dearborn is no stranger to civil rights lawsuits. A Christian wrestling coach sued the City after he was targeted for his faith by a Muslim principal. (The City settled out of court.) Two more Christian teachers at a majority Muslim high school are now suing after being targeted and persecuted for their faith.

You can read our entire Complaint (or get the PDF here):



Here is the Thomas More Law Center's press release:

Sharia in the USA: Christians Jailed for Preaching to Muslims—Dearborn, MI Officials Sued to End Their Imposition of Sharia Law

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The Thomas More Law Center announced today that the City of Dearborn, its Mayor, John B. O’Reilly, its Chief of Police, Ronald Haddad, 17 City police officers, and two executives of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce were named as defendants in a ninety-six page federal civil rights lawsuit filed in the Federal District Court in Detroit this morning.

The lawsuit, brought by TMLC and co-counsel and Sharia law expert, David Yerushalmi, stems from two separate police actions at the June 2010 Dearborn, Michigan Annual International Arab Festival.

Richard Thompson, TMLC President and Chief Counsel, commented, “Muslims dominate the political and law enforcement process in Dearborn. It seems that police were more interested in placating the Mayor and Muslims than obeying our Constitution. Sharia law makes it a crime to preach the Gospel to Muslims. This is a classic example of stealth Jihad being waged right here in America. And it should be a wake-up call for all patriotic Americans.”

The first incident occurred on June 18, when police jailed four Christian missionaries when they witnessed Dr. Nabeel Qureshi, a Muslim convert to Christianity, peaceably discussing his Christian faith with Muslim youths. The other three, David Wood, Paul Rezkalla, and Negeen Mayel, were arrested along with Qureshi for allegedly “breaching the peace.” The Christians were led away in handcuffs by police to the applause and cheers of Muslim onlookers who just witnessed a victory of Sharia law over the Christians.

Watch Video of Arrest

The second incident occurred on June 20, as two missionaries, Rezkalla and Josh Hogg, stood on the public sidewalk handing out the Gospel of John to passersby willing to take them. The Christians were there for approximately 5 minutes when eight City police officers descended upon them, seized them, and brought them to the police command trailer located inside the festival where the Christians were admonished, photographed, and ordered to stop their peaceful religious activity.

Watch Video of Police Seizure

The police assaults and arrests of the Christians, captured on video, caused a national furor over the lawless tactics of the City’s police department.

Dearborn is considered home to the largest Muslim population in America. As a result, it is evident that City officials, including the Mayor, engaged in this unconstitutional official action solely to please this significant voting bloc and to submit to its will.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Acts 17 Apologetics, Dr. Nabeel Qureshi, David Wood, Paul Rezkalla, Negeen Mayel and Josh Hogg.

Read the Law Center’s Federal Complaint here

Robert Muise, TMLC’s Senior Trial Counsel who is handling the matter, stated, “While the videos of the police violating the fundamental constitutional rights of our clients are utterly shocking, it is perhaps even more shocking that City officials, including the Mayor, would engage in a propaganda campaign to smear the good reputation of these Christians even after they were acquitted by a jury of the bogus criminal charges. All of this is strong evidence of the fact that Sharia is negatively influencing the City and its officials.”

14 comments:

Haecceitas said...

Great to see some significant progress with this. Even as someone who has only tried to closely follow the Dearborn case via the web, it has been frustrating to wait so long. I can only imagine how frustrating it has been for you. In fact, I was beginning to worry that if the lawsuit isn't filed soon, the city of Dearborn might be able to prolong the trial so that a decision wouldn't be reached prior to the next festival.

armand said...

go act17 go

simple_truth said...

I do hope that this progress in events will lead to a ruling in favor of the four plaintiffs in the near future.

It is vitally important that the City of Dearborn pay for their crimes against these four innocent people. A very strong statement needs to be sent to Dearborn, specifically to its Muslim citizens who may think that they don't have to follow and respect our Constitution as the rest of us have to.

Gabriella Oak said...

I must admit to only reading the first 14 and last 10 pages, but it seems pretty comprehensive.

Bonne Chance !!

Timmy Jimmy said...

So sad that this is happening in the United States and so many are oblivious to it. Press on and blessings.

Fisher said...

God is on your side. I trust that whatever comes out of this whole fiasco of a situation, God will use it to further the cause of His Gospel and His Kingdom. :)

Grace and peace.

Fisher.

Anonymous said...

I was an eye witness to the event and the police were way out of line. The Dearborn Four"s rights were violated and the city of Dearborn must now be put on trial for violating the 1st Amendment Rights of these individuals

Anonymous said...

Can you sue your accuser, the booth, the Muslims and Mosques who were at the booth, and all Mosques and Islamic centers? Oh yea Shadid Lewis for being Embarrassed and Yaya Snow for his use of bad arguments and lies to promote the treason of Islam. I do hope you win all jokes aside but seriously can you sue that coward Josh McDowell for defending Dearborn and not putting Jesus first.

Dearborn Muslims are like a mob and this will show them they cannot abuse the laws to push Christians around. Unlike Muslim countries we have rights and Islam needs to take its place among the religions and see it is far from superior. Islam is a religion that was for its time only its to barbaric for 2011 it needs to be gotten rid of and its followers unbrain washed.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for taking the lead in this cause.

Haecceitas said...

I was expecting to see a flurry of comments on this post but there are only 8 comments so far. I wonder why.

Christie said...

I read the WHOLE thing today and I am officially tired of the phrase "creating,
adopting, approving, ratifying, and enforcing the rules, regulations, ordinances, laws, policies,
practices, procedures, and/or customs".

David and Nebeel. I am with you all the way and will be praying for you. I was hoping the photograph exhibit would be posted too, any chance of that?

-Chris Cali

Radical Moderate said...

I read over the complaint, and it looks devastating. I encourage all of you to read it. Very well written, fills in a lot of details.

But how come you guys did not include the price of Two Falafalls in the complaint? :)

Morrison said...

As a Christian, I don't see suing the unbelievers as providing much of a witness.

So much for "bless them that curse you."

What would Jesus do?

Anonymous said...

"As a Christian, I don't see suing the unbelievers as providing much of a witness.

So much for "bless them that curse you."

What would Jesus do?"

This is war and defending our Constitution, which is divinely ordained by God.

You are not living your religion if you are not defending our God-given values.