Dearborn Faces Federal Lawsuit Alleging Unequal Treatment of Religious Holidays

Dearborn, Michigan, is facing a federal civil-rights lawsuit over city-sponsored religious displays. Margot Cleveland, a Dearborn resident and journalist, filed the complaint on September 17 against the city and Mayor Abdullah Hammoud. The complaint alleges that city officials used public funds and property for Ramadan displays while declining her requests for comparable recognition of Christian and Jewish holidays. It also alleges retaliation after she raised the issue. The case is docketed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan as No. 2:26-cv-13519.

Dearborn denies religious favoritism. City officials told The Arab American News that the city spent about $400,000 on Christmas and New Year decorations in 2025 and 2026, including a Nativity display, and holds Easter events. They said Ramadan decorations cost no more than $6,500 over the same period.

These claims have not been decided by a court. The lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief and damages; no merits ruling is reported in the sources reviewed.

Sources: Fox News report; case filing summary; Dearborn’s response, reported by The Arab American News; federal docket listing.