Christian Taunts and Violence Mar Arab Festival in Michigan

Flaring tensions led to violence and an arrest in Michigan this weekend as members of Christian missionary groups turned up to protest at the largest public gathering of Arab-Americans in the U.S.

Christian protesters traveled across the country to Dearborn, Mich., where they taunted attendees and even held a severed pig's head for three days at the annual Arab International Festival. The protests turned violent Sunday, and by the end of the day as many as 10 people facing disorderly conduct or assault charges, according to ABC News Detroit affiliate WXYZ.

"You're going to burn in hell," a missionary reportedly yelled at a group of Arab-American boys, while other protesters held anti-Muslim signs that made bigoted remarks about Islam and its prophet Mohammed, including "Islam is a religion of blood and murder" and "Muhammad (Islam's prophet) is a … liar, false prophet, murderer, child molesting pervert."

Young festival attendees later threw soda cans at the protesters and yelled, "Allah-U-Akbar" [God is the greatest], the Detroit Free Press reported.

Violence eventually broke out between festival goers and protesters, prompting Dearborn police to arrest a protest they claim incited the violence. Some protesters say that they were attacked first.

"And they [police] arrest one of our guys. I don't know if they know what they're doing," protest organizer Ruben Israel said. "When we go back and report what happened, next year there could be a hundred of us out here."

Kaseeem Allie with the Islamic Center of America said he thinks it's unfortunate that a festival designed to bring people together saw such chaos.

"I think that our community has done a good job in not reacting in the way that they wanted, outside of a few minor incidents," Allie told WXYZ. "This festival is designed for people to have fun, to celebrate and enjoy their background and cultures. And for someone to come in and make something negative out of it is very unfortunate."

Dearborn has the highest concentration of Arab-Americans in the country, compromising nearly 42 percent of the city's population, according to the 2010 census. This has made the city a flashpoint for conflict amongst Christian grounds and Arab-Americans.

As a Christian I am sincerely sorry to any Muslim who was hurt or got the wrong idea. These Christians are a minority much like terrorists are a minority of Muslims. These Christians don't represent the Biblical teachings of Christ. Even if they consider Muslims to be enemies the Bible says "Love your enemies do good to those that hurt you" not grab pitch forks and go down town screaming yelling and being filled with hate.

I am so sad when I hear how the Southern Christian bastardizes our faith. Burning Qurans screaming hate filled statements, yes we don't agree and yes we believe each other are going to hell.

But if anything we should have compassion for those who we view as going to hell?

I mean shouldn't we? If someone is going to burn for eternity is it a nice thing to sit their screaming and yelling at them "Your going to burn" sorry that's horrible and unforgivable!

I personally attend the Canadian Religious Peace Conference, each year I love to talk with the Imams representing the Islamic faith. Why? Because we respect each other and yes I believe he is misled and he believes I am but we respect and love one another.

These hate filled people are destroying the world. Whether its these hate filled Christians or the hate filled Muslims.

Lets stop the endless cycle of hatred shall we. I mean seriously why cant we love each other and respect each others choices? Do we not all have the right to freely choose our beliefs?

Again I am so sorry to anyone who had to put up with this! Its not Christian!

My Pastor preached about this just weeks ago.
The sermon was called "Can a Christian hate" in which he specifically mentioned the pastor in the US who burnt a Quran and a pastor who called for gays to be put in a concentration camp. He said how can they call themselves Christian? A Christian is supposed to love all and hate no one "They will know we are Christians by our love"!!

Also just so you know I am not a supporter of Gay Marriage I'm not a hippy I'm not a United Church member.

I don't condone sin, but I'm not going to persecute those who are stuck in it. I'm not going to inflict pain and hate anyone I view as lost or misguided. Because it is wrong how can I honestly say I love my neighbour as myself and then stand their screaming and yelling and physically attacking him?

So sorry their are good Christians out there too! I hope nobody judges us because a few bad apples do horrific things like this. Much in the same way if your Muslim you don't want others seeing a guy blowing up woman and children representing your faith!

You realize this event was put together by the American offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood right? They are a terrorist orginization with strong links to Al Qaeda, The Taliban, TTP, Haqquini Network, EIJ, Hamas, Hezbullah and many other terrorist orginizations who's goal is the complete islamification of the United States of America.

As a Christian I am sincerely sorry to any Muslim who was hurt or got the wrong idea. These Christians are a minority much like terrorists are a minority of Muslims. These Christians don't represent the Biblical teachings of Christ. Even if they consider Muslims to be enemies the Bible says "Love your enemies do good to those that hurt you" not grab pitch forks and go down town screaming yelling and being filled with hate.

I am so sad when I hear how the Southern Christian bastardizes our faith. Burning Qurans screaming hate filled statements, yes we don't agree and yes we believe each other are going to hell.

But if anything we should have compassion for those who we view as going to hell?

I mean shouldn't we? If someone is going to burn for eternity is it a nice thing to sit their screaming and yelling at them "Your going to burn" sorry that's horrible and unforgivable!

I personally attend the Canadian Religious Peace Conference, each year I love to talk with the Imams representing the Islamic faith. Why? Because we respect each other and yes I believe he is misled and he believes I am but we respect and love one another.

These hate filled people are destroying the world. Whether its these hate filled Christians or the hate filled Muslims.

Lets stop the endless cycle of hatred shall we. I mean seriously why cant we love each other and respect each others choices? Do we not all have the right to freely choose our beliefs?

Again I am so sorry to anyone who had to put up with this! Its not Christian!

My Pastor preached about this just weeks ago.
The sermon was called "Can a Christian hate" in which he specifically mentioned the pastor in the US who burnt a Quran and a pastor who called for gays to be put in a concentration camp. He said how can they call themselves Christian? A Christian is supposed to love all and hate no one "They will know we are Christians by our love"!!

Also just so you know I am not a supporter of Gay Marriage I'm not a hippy I'm not a United Church member.

I don't condone sin, but I'm not going to persecute those who are stuck in it. I'm not going to inflict pain and hate anyone I view as lost or misguided. Because it is wrong how can I honestly say I love my neighbour as myself and then stand their screaming and yelling and physically attacking him?

So sorry their are good Christians out there too! I hope nobody judges us because a few bad apples do horrific things like this. Much in the same way if your Muslim you don't want others seeing a guy blowing up woman and children representing your faith!

Al Qaeda is dead. Everyone knows it was invented by the CIA. Stop perpetrating the myth.

Lpdon have you ever read the Quran? I have!!!
Alot of the rhetoric and hate spewed isn't in the Quran itself but other holy texts or so called holy texts. Much like Christianity Islam is not a single belief. Their are several different denominations each with their own prophets and scriptures.

Now I have read several of those other scriptures and they are horrible. But they are not all in the Quran.

Also have you read the Old Testament at all? If you call yourself a Christian then you must have! Now wasn't the Old Testament the word of God? If you say no then you are not a Christian!

But wait why don't we stone Homosexuals in the streets? Because Jesus came and died for our sins he shed his blood for our sins, hence the existence of the Gospels.

But now wait Muslims don't believe Jesus came, they don't believe he died for our sins? They don't believe in the gospels.

So now compare their Quran to our Old Testament!

Now can you honestly tell me that their Quran is worse then our Old Testament?

One last fact Muslims believe in our God. They believe in the God of Abraham they believe in the Bible and old testament. They are misguided of course but they are not evil.

Lastly yes I am very aware that most events like this are being funded and held by the terror groups and their supporters.

Ask yourself why?

Because by holding these events they can manipulate innocent Muslims.

Osama once said President Bush was his hero for bringing America to the Middle East.

Osama and these terror groups want to turn the innocent Islamic believers into terrorists. But in order to do that they need an enemy.

What better way to breed hatred then get a ton of ignorant idiotic Christians to persecute innocent Muslims?

Do you think burning a Quran helped in any way stop hatred? Do you think it did anything to stop the terrorists?

Ask yourself the terrorist groups use the "The crusaders are persecuting and killing our brothers we must slaughter the infidel" now do you think the best way to stop that group is "Lets totally persecute these aholes maybe if we hurt them enough they'll stop".

I know several amazing Muslims.

Story a Canadian Forces unit in Afghanistan got hit by an IED and were strayed they were immobile and taking heavy fire. They had no back up and air support was 15 minutes out. A Muslim farmer came out of his home to the group of Christian and Atheist soldiers and called them into his house to shelter them and give them a chance to fight back. He then gave them food and shelter for the day as they fought for their lives. The man asked our soldiers to remember that the Taliban are not Muslims and always remember him when they got back.

It was because of that brave man and his family who selflessly sheltered a group of Christian and Atheist soldiers that our brave men and women came home.

He saved their lives if he hadn't offered them shelter they would have all been killed. Some were injured I believe one came home without his legs. But that brave Muslim man put his own life and that of his family in danger to help a group of Canadian soldiers.

So when you stereotype all Muslims as terrorists and their whole faith as evil terrorist faith. Maybe you should just shut up, you spreading hate like that is what the terrorist groups want!

Also read the Quran and study Islamic theology a bit before opening your mouth about it.
Jihad is intended to defend your faith not to persecute others, study Islamic history a bit too. In the early Church Christians and Muslims were both being persecuted and Christians helped Muslims and Muslims helped Christians.

We lived side by side in peace!

So please learn a bit about the Islamic faith before opening your mouth and spewing hatred. Also a good knowledge of the Old Testament could benefit you as well.

Well Jeanie sorry there I have to disagree. I have in the past personally ministered to Al-Qaeda members and as a journalist I did talk with them online. They are very much real and they are in no way a fabrication of the Government.

Sorry its not that the US hasn't covered some stuff up in the past. As has every Government but Al-Qaeda is very much real as are many of the terrorist groups!

Al Qaeda may or may not be dead.

Muslims are still killing christians.

"Islam is a religion of blood and murder" and "Muhammad (Islam's prophet) is a … liar, false prophet, murderer, child molesting pervert." What's not true?

I don't advocate violence unless it's in self defense.

When Muslims start wanting blood here, I suggest cutting off the head, literally, of their leader. Without the head, the body dies or tries to grow a new one.