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Christian Group Sues For Free Access To Arab Festival In Michigan

By Howard M. Friedman

Arabic Christian Perspective, a group whose goal is to convert Muslims to Christianity, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Dearborn (MI) police department which has told the group that its members cannot pass out handbills by walking freely through the 4 to 5 block Dearborn Arab International Festival that will be held this weekend. Yesterday's Detroit News reported that the group wanted its 90 volunteers to have unlimited access. Organizers of the Festival say that the group is welcome to rent a booth, but that safety is impaired if large numbers of people move throughout the festival handing out flyers. Arabic Christian Perspective says that it has a constitutional right to use public sidewalks in the Festival area to give out the flyers.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on June 18, 2009 (boomark / email).