Christian Group Sues to Gain Access to Arab Festival

By Jacqueline L. Salmon

A Christian group is suing Dearborn, Mich., alleging the city violated its rights by restricting access to an Arab festival.

The group, Arabic Christian Perspective, is unusual in that it has been public about its mission to convert Muslims to Christianity. Most Christian groups working on Muslim conversions operate below the radar screen.

Not Arabic Christian Perspective. It was founded in 2003 by a California minister. The group believes that Islam is not a religion of peace and that suicide bombers "are not fringe fanatics on the outskirts of Islam, they are actually the faithful and true who obey the teachings of Islam" according to a press release.

It has led proselytizing efforts at mosques and festivals across the country and have been a presence at the Dearborn festival for several years. Dearborn is home to one of the largest Arab communities in the country. The group passes out portions of the New Testament and DVDs about the life of Jesus.

In Dearborn, it claims its members will be restricted to one area of the Dearborn Arab International Festival and that it violates its religious and free-speech rights and wants its 90 volunteers to have unlimited access to this weekend's festival.

The executive director of the executive director for the American Arab Chamber of Commerce said it would be a safety issue to have large numbers of people passing out fliers during the festival.

By Jacqueline L. Salmon  |  June 18, 2009; 11:50 AM ET  | Category:  God in Government
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Posted by: Nosmanic | June 19, 2009 4:37 PM
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