Detroit Pastor Claims Christians Fear Showing Faith in Dearborn

A Detroit pastor who offered a prayer at President Donald Trump's inauguration claims that Christians living in Dearborn, Michigan, are too scared to show their faith openly. He says local leaders treat Muslim residents better under what he calls a "two-tiered justice system." Lorenzo Sewell, senior pastor of 180 Church in Detroit, told Fox News Digital on Monday about these private fears among his flock.

"Now, how do I know that?" Sewell asked when questioned about his source for this claim. "This is how I know that. Being a Black man in the city of Detroit, we go to Dearborn. We know that the police know how to enact justice in Dearborn. They know how to pull you over. They know that if they catch you shoplifting, we've had Black women that tried to elude the police and lost their lives in the city of Dearborn."

"So, as a Black man that has grown up around Arabs my entire life, I know that the Dearborn police can enact justice," he continued. "So, when someone is being assaulted and nothing happens, when someone's being assaulted and the police choose to look the other way, you can see clearly a two-tiered justice system."

"So, the city council, instead of them renouncing Sharia law, they are actually upholding Sharia law," Sewell added.

Sewell recently went viral after speaking at a Dearborn town hall where he declared, "America, we have lost this city. This is a city that is no longer up under American laws; we are up under Sharia law. We will not have it anymore."

CBS News reported last Wednesday that Dearborn police made 22 arrests following the "Christian Crusader March," led by conservative activist Jake Lang. Sewell attended the march, which happened near a regularly scheduled Dearborn City Council meeting where he later delivered his viral remarks. In a statement, Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin said officers handled the situation with professionalism while keeping everyone safe and protecting constitutional rights. He noted that they allowed the City Council to finish its business.

Sewell told Fox News Digital he is worried about what he calls Sharia law practices in the community growing stronger. "One of the examples that I see of Sharia law happening right here in the metro Detroit … in the city of Hamtramck, you are allowed right now to sacrifice animals, literally," Sewell said. "Number two, halal meat. If you go to a public school, you are literally eating meat that's sacrificed to idols, because, according to Sharia law, that's what, that's a lawful meat."

"And I believe the most concerning to me is the call to prayer," he added. "There is no other place in the world that you can go and tell that country, although you are a majority Christian country, you can't go anywhere else in the nation and tell that country they have to change the way they express their religious beliefs."

In January 2023, the Hamtramck City Council voted to allow animal sacrifice. The website for Dearborn Public Schools says, "Dearborn Public Schools ensures all meats served in our schools are certified Halal." The certificate for the halal meat, partially written in Arabic, reads in part, "We certify that the food processing facility of Saad Wholesale, Inc.

A facility in Detroit, Michigan, has passed inspection and received approval from an Islamic group to handle, pack, and label Halal meat and poultry. This clearance came after applying procedures that align with Islamic rites. Mike Sewell, speaking on the matter, argued that he sees city council actions as upholding Sharia law rather than American principles. He pointed to audible calls to prayer, the availability of halal meat, signs featuring more Arabic script than English, and a chief of police focused on protecting Islamic rules instead of the rights of all citizens.

Sewell stated that free speech invites attack in this environment. "So you can see clearly when someone speaks freely, they can be attacked, and it'd be justified," he said. He offered a chilling personal account to back his point about a two-tier justice system. His wife faced threats on her life. The group responsible had their numbers and addresses known to him. Despite having all the information, a lieutenant took no action. "So, that's how you can see a two-tier justice system," he added.

Fear has spread among local Christians since his story went viral. Sewell reported hearing from believers in Dearborn coming from every direction who are terrified to speak their faith. "I want you to think about this for a moment, America. Think about being in a Christian nation, being afraid to talk about Christ," he said. Many tell him they support his message but refuse to stand by his side because of fear. "I'm with you, but I'm afraid to say it," some have told him. Others add, "I'm with you, " before stopping themselves. Sewell believes this silence proves a divided system exists where Christians in the United States are too scared to be open about their religion.

The Department of Justice under President Trump has expanded protections for religious liberty following major Supreme Court rulings. Dearborn city council president Mike Sareini responded by calling Sewell's claims false. "The City of Dearborn is an American city governed by the U.S. Constitution, the laws of the State of Michigan, and the City of Dearborn Charter," Sareini told Fox News Digital. He insisted that these laws apply equally to every resident regardless of religion or background. Everyone receives the same treatment under his view.

"There is no evidence of preferential treatment for any religious group. These accusations are unfounded, and I challenge anyone to present evidence otherwise," Sareini continued. He noted that Dearborn currently holds approximately 30 churches alongside 10 mosques. Most recently, pastors from across the city gathered at a press conference. They publicly confirmed that people of different faiths live together peacefully there. The conflict alleged by critics does not match reality according to these statements. Fox News Digital attempted to reach out to Dearborn mayor Abdullah Hammoud and the Dearborn Police Department for comment but did not receive an immediate response.