Christian minister Edward “Ted” Barham has stated that he will not retaliate with animosity after Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud announced during a contentious city council session that Barham was “not welcome.” The dispute, centered around a controversial honorary street sign naming, went viral.
In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Barham expressed how the incident has reinforced his dedication to advocating for freedom of speech and religious freedom.
Barham remarked, “I chose not to retaliate against the mayor with hatred. Instead, I said, God bless you,” emphasizing his commitment to Jesus’ teaching to “love your enemies, bless those who curse you.” He also noted that this incident was not an isolated one, referencing past confrontations with city officials regarding his public ministry.
Barham objected at the Sept. 9 council meeting to street signs honoring controversial Arab American News publisher Osama Siblani.
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud speaks during a City Council meeting in Dearborn, Mich., on Sept. 9, 2025. (City of Dearborn)
Barham shared with Fox News Digital how his diverse background shapes his view. He was born in Africa, resided in Pakistan, Lebanon, and Israel, and spent years ministering in England. He has been involved in producing Arabic-language Christian content and holds advanced degrees in biblical languages and theology from the University of Toronto, Oxford University, and other institutions. “I genuinely enjoy living in Dearborn,” Barham commented, mentioning that many of his friends are Muslim or former Muslims.
“I believe it’s wonderful to have a significant Muslim population in Western nations,” he added. “I would advise American Christians to convey Christ’s message of love, forgiveness, and loving one’s enemies in an appealing manner to their Muslim friends and neighbors.”
Barham also highlighted a recent project in Dearborn where his organization tested a Christian call to prayer in Arabic in public spaces, alongside those of local mosques, citing John 3:16 specifically.
NEW YORK CITY, UNITED STATES – JUNE 6: Muslims in Long Island City, Queens start to celebrate Eid al-Adha with Eid salah prayer on Friday, June 6th, 2025, in New York City, United States. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
He said the idea sprang from seeing how often the Islamic call to prayer is heard in neighborhoods and wanting Christian voices to have the same public presence. “One really inspiring thing about that for us is that we’re doing something here in Dearborn that our brothers and sisters and so many Muslim countries around the world are not allowed to do. And I do hand it to the city council and the mayor for allowing us to do that Christian call to prayer.”
At the same time, Barham said Muslim American leaders should use their influence to press for equal freedoms abroad. “My prayer is not just that we get more freedom here in Dearborn. My prayer is that people here in America, Muslim people, Muslim background people here in America will fight for the rights of oppressed Christian minorities in so many Muslim countries.”
He said he was shocked to hear Hammoud promise to “launch a parade” when he leaves town. “I mean, as you saw, the mayor treated me terribly last week, but I have actually, believe it or not, had some good personal interactions with him, not myself so much, but my family,” Barham added.
Barham says he will keep speaking anyway. “I want to stand up for a totally different message which is the message of love,” he said. “Disagreement is not hate. Faith can be expressed without fear.”
Barham’s ongoing Christian ministry in the Dearborn community can be followed on X at @DearbornDiscuss.
The Office of Mayor Abdullah Hammoud did not immediately return Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
