Dearborn MI Cancels First Amendment To Observe Sharia

In many parts of Europe, there are areas that are essentially 'no go' areas for non-Muslims, where sharia is the de facto law of the land. The Michigan city of Dearborn, the center of America's Muslim population that aptly merits the nickname 'Dearbornistan' seems to be headed in that direction.

Terry Jones, the Florida pastor of Qu'ran burning fame lawfully requested a permit to hold a demonstration outside the Islamic Center of America on Good Friday, that specifically did not involve a Qu'ran bar-b-cue...and was denied by the Dearborn City Council.

Jones could be facing arrest if he goes ahead with the protest outside the mosque without a permit, according to city spokeswoman Mary Laundroche. She added that the permit had been denied for "public safety reasons."

Originally the city said Jones could demonstrate at one of two "free speech zones," including City Hall providing he posted a "peace bond" to cover police costs, but they've apparently changed their minds. A Wayne county prosecutor, citing her fears that the protest will spark a riot, has also filed a petition with the local court to issue an injunction to prevent Jones from protesting at all.

Needless to say, the denial and the injunction are both an egregious violation of the First Amendment. The City of Dearborn and the county prosecutor aren't saying that Jones is going to commit any violence. Instead, they are restricting his constitutional and legal rights in the clear expectation that the adherents of the Religion of Peace in Dearborn will start a violent riot and break the law and attack Jones and his followers in accordance with what it says in the Qu'ran, so the city and county are simply placing sharia ahead of the Constitution.

Jones is behaving in an entirely lawful manner. What the city of Dearborn and Wayne County are afraid of is the anticipated unlawful behavior of Dearborn's Muslim population.

Jones claims that he plans to demonstrate outside the Ford Road mosque with or without a permit, and said the mosque is the ideal site for his protest against "radical Islam" and Sharia, or Islamic, law.

"There is no place better than there to present this message," said Jones. He also said he is planning to bring a pistol to protect himself in case of violence and his followers will be armed, but again emphasized that he has no plans to burn a Qu'ran.

"We are coming there totally in peace," said Jones, who said he will be joined by several other people including a rabbi.

We'll see what happens.

UPDATE: A jury is still deliberating in th e19th District Court on whether Pastor Jones can be issued a permit to protest and whether he has topost a 'peace bond.' Interestingly enough, the The American Civil Liberties Union submitted a filing in the Dearborn case in Jones' favor.

"It is unconstitutional for the government to put a price on free speech in anticipation of what others may do," said Rana Elmir, a spokeswoman for the ACLU of Michigan.

The ACLU also argues that the 1846 law under which a so-called peace bond can be ordered is illegal, Ms. Elmir said.

Jones says he will delay his protest by one week to allow the trial to finish. "We'll do it today at 5 or we'll come back next week," Jones said in an interview with the Detroit Free Press.

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