The Christian Post
May. 27 2011
Dearborn and its police department had sought to restrict
the areas where George Saieg could hand out flyers
during the Arab International Festival on
Saieg, an Arab-American from California,
was offered a free booth from which to distribute his literature but was
prohibited from walking freely around the sidewalks to hand out flyers.
The literature in question related to the conversion of
Muslims to Christianity.
The 6th
The 2-1 decision in the court means that the city and Police
Chief Ronald Haddad could be held liable for damages.
Mayor John B. O'Reilly, Jr. said in a statement: "Since
the festival chose to keep the sidewalks open for other business not related to
the festival, the court ruled that the sidewalks had to be available for the
material distribution: It is a narrow opinion, and one we will abide by."
The court’s decision overturns a ruling last year by a
federal judge in
"Everybody should be pleased," Saieg's
attorney, Robert Muise, was quoted as saying by The
Associated Press.
"
Muise said the evangelist plans to attend
the festival when it is held again June 17-19.
Also planning to make an appearance is inflammatory Florida
pastor the Rev. Terry Jones, who triggered a wave of violent protests across
the Middle East and parts of