Dearborn Ordered to Apologize for Arrests of Christian Missionaries at Arab Fest
More: Dearborn Ordered to Apologize for Arrests of Christian Missionaries at Arab Fest
DEARBORN, MI — The city of Dearborn accepted a settlement agreement that includes a public apology to three Christian missionaries who claim their Constitutional rights were violated during the annual 2012 Dearborn Arab Festival.
Dr. Nabeel Qureshi, David Wood, and Paul Rezkalla were jailed on June 18, 2010 after making an interview at the Arab Festival for “breach of peace.”They were later found not guilty and the American Freedom Law Center filed a civil suit on the defendants’ behalf.
The lawsuit named
Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Police Chief Ronald Haddad, 17 police officers, two executives from the American Arab Chamber of Commerce and later the Arab Chamber.
In accordance with the settlement agreement, Deaborn will post the following apology on the city’s website for three years:
On June 18, 2010, David Wood, Nabeel Qureshi (co-founders of Acts 17 Apologetics) and Paul Rezkalla were arrested by Dearborn police officers at the Dearborn Arab International Festival (“Arab Festival”), while they were engaging in a peaceful dialogue about their Christian faith with several festival attendees. Wood, Qureshi, and Rezkalla were subsequently charged with breach of peace, a misdemeanor offense.
The decision to arrest these individuals was based in part on information provided to the Dearborn police by Arab Festival attendees, workers, and volunteers. When all of the information—including the video captured by Wood, Qureshi, and Rezkalla—was presented to a Dearborn jury, the jury found that these individuals were not guilty of the criminal offense of breach of peace.
The City of Dearborn regrets and apologizes for the decisions to arrest and prosecute David Wood, Nabeel Qureshi, and Paul Rezkalla and the hardship caused to everyone involved.
Through this apology and its acceptance by David Wood, Nabeel Qureshi, and Paul Rezkalla, the parties seek to build a bridge and to confirm to the community that members of all faiths are welcome in Dearborn to peacefully share their views and to engage in religious discussions.
As you can imagine, Pamela & Spencer are crowing and jubilating about their VICTORY OVER TEH SHARIA!!11!! (not linking to that shit)
I just want to throw up.