American Islamic Center Mosque in Dearborn, Michigan (Associated Press)

Washington -

An opinion article published the day before yesterday, Saturday, by the Wall Street Journal, known for its conservative tendencies, sparked widespread anger among American Muslims and many Democratic politicians at the same time.

The newspaper published an opinion article entitled “Welcome to Dearborn, the American Capital of Jihad,” in which the writer incited against the Muslims of Michigan in one of the most important and influential American newspapers.

Following the publication of the article, which was inflammatory par excellence, the Mayor of Dearborn, Michigan, Abdullah Hammoud, ordered the intensification of police patrols near places of worship and major infrastructure sites in the city.

Americans know that blaming a group of people based on the words of a small few is wrong.

That's exactly what can lead to Islamophobia and anti-Arab hate, and it shouldn't happen to the residents of Dearborn – or any American town.

We must continue to condemn hate in all forms.

— President Biden (@POTUS) February 4, 2024

President Joe Biden also entered into the controversy over the article, and said in a tweet on the X website, “Americans know that blaming a group of people based on the words of a small few is wrong. This is exactly what can lead to Islamophobia and anti-Arab hatred, and it should not.” "If this happens to the people of Dearborn or any American town, we must continue to condemn hate in all its forms." The city of Dearborn is located in Wayne County, Michigan, and is an extension of the city of Detroit, where the headquarters of the Ford automobile manufacturer is located.

The city is home to one of the largest communities of Middle Eastern origins, as the city has the largest Arab community in the United States in terms of number, and also in terms of their proportion to the population, as the city’s population of Arab origins is about 40 thousand, and their percentage is approximately 40% of the population. Total city population.

Controversial record

The Wall Street Journal article claimed that thousands of city residents support the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). The article written by Stephen Stalinsky, Executive Director of MEMRI, the Middle East Media Research Institute, stated that imams and politicians in the city, which has a large Arab and Islamic community, stand with Hamas against Israel, and with Iran against... United State.

The record of the institute, which the writer heads, raises many questions, as it is widely known for its closeness to Israeli government circles, even though it is officially registered in Washington as an American non-governmental organization that was founded in 1998 by Colonel Yigal Kamron, a former intelligence officer in the Israeli army. He worked as a counter-terrorism security advisor to both Israeli Prime Ministers Yitzhak Shamir and Yitzhak Rabin.

The institute periodically publishes translations of a number of videos and parts of articles in which Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian media figures, politicians, and activists attack the United States or the West, and sends them to a mailing list of several thousand people interested in Middle Eastern affairs inside and outside the United States.

However, the content published by the Institute focuses on everything that offends Arabs, Palestinians, and Muslims, including media materials, political statements, or societal scandals, with the aim of distorting the image of Arabs and the Islamic religion, and branding them with terrorism and extremism.

Dearborn's population of Arab origins is about 40,000, making up approximately 40% of the city's total population (Reuters)

inflammatory allegations

“Thousands are demonstrating in support of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran,” Stalinsky wrote. “The demonstrators, many of them wearing keffiyehs, are chanting Intifada, Intifada, and from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, and America is a terrorist state. Local imams are giving fiery anti-Semitic speeches, and this does not happen in the East.” Middle East, but in a suburb of Detroit in Dearborn, Michigan.”

After the writer attacked the city’s mayor and a number of the imams of the city’s mosques for what he saw as support for Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, he says at the end of his article that “public support for Hamas is spreading. Since October 7, similar protests have occurred in American cities.” "The major included pictures, chants, and slogans in support of the jihadists. The marches now also express their support for the Iran-backed Houthis, who are firing missiles at Israel and trying to sink commercial ships in the Red Sea."

The writer urged law enforcement agencies to intervene, and said, "What is happening in Dearborn is not just a political problem for Democrats. Rather, it is likely a national security issue that affects all Americans, and counterterrorism agencies at all levels should pay close attention to what is going on."

Dearborn is a vibrant community full of Michiganders who contribute day in and day out to our state. Islamophobia and all forms of hate have no place in Michigan, or anywhere. Period.

— Gretchen Whitmer (@gretchenwhitmer) February 4, 2024

Anger and reaction

“In response to a blatantly anti-Islamic, anti-Arab and racist opinion article published by the Wall Street Journal today, we have increased our law enforcement presence throughout Dearborn,” Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said in a statement.

"Dearborn Police continue to monitor social media for threats. This is more than just irresponsible journalism. Publishing such inflammatory writings puts our residents at increased risk of harm," he added.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer also expressed her anger, saying in a tweet on the X website, “Dearborn is a vibrant city full of citizens who contribute day after day to building our state. Islamophobia and all forms of hatred have no place in Michigan, or anywhere.” .

In a statement issued by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Dawud Walid, director of the Michigan branch of the largest Islamic organization in the United States, said that he “welcomes the intensification of police patrols,” and added, “We welcome the proactive approach taken by Mayor Hammoud to protect the Muslim community from a possible attack based on the allegations.” "The lies in this inaccurate and inflammatory article."

It is worth noting that during his visit to the state of Michigan on Thursday, President Joe Biden was met with protests opposing his position on supporting the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, and Biden’s visit did not include any meetings with Arab American leaders.

Hammoud wrote on the X platform during the visit, saying, “The lives of Palestinians are not measured by opinion poll numbers. When elected officials view the atrocities in Gaza as only an electoral problem, they reduce our untold pain to narrow political calculations.”

Democratic Congressman from California, Roy Hanna, also tweeted in support of the city and its mayor, saying, “Not only is Dearborn a center for innovation in America in partnership with Silicon Valley, but its mayor is one of the most dynamic mayors! He has provided the working and middle class with more From what the Wall Street Journal Board of Directors recommends is empty policies!

Source: Al Jazeera