INTERNACIONAL
Swing state mayor sued as city’s Muslim holiday displays ignite religious-favoritism fight
A federal lawsuit filed Thursday alleges the city of Dearborn spent thousands of taxpayer dollars on public displays celebrating Muslim holidays while ignoring a Christian resident’s repeated requests for Easter and Passover recognition.
Margot Cleveland, a journalist with The Federalist, filed a civil rights lawsuit with the American Freedom Law Center (AFLC) against the city of Dearborn and Democratic Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, alleging the city violated her First and Fourteenth Amendment rights, including protections involving religious establishment, free speech and equal protection.
«The City of Dearborn spent taxpayer money to light up its streets and parks for Ramadan while stonewalling a resident who simply asked that Easter, Passover, and other Christian and Jewish holy days be treated the same way,» Robert J. Muise, AFLC co-founder and senior counsel, said in a statement. «That is a straightforward Establishment Clause violation, and the retaliation our client faced for speaking up about it only compounds the constitutional harm.»
PASTOR UNLEASHES ON DEARBORN AS RELIGIOUS TENSIONS ERUPT AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING: ‘ENOUGH IS ENOUGH’
Dearborn is home to one of the largest Arab American communities in the country. The city had 109,976 residents in the 2020 Census, and 54.5% reported Middle Eastern or North African ancestry. Michigan Avenue, the city’s main thoroughfare, is lined with businesses featuring Arabic-script signs and Middle Eastern cuisine. There are ten mosques within the city limits, according to an online directory.
Hammoud was first elected mayor in November 2021, becoming the first Muslim and Arab American to lead the city of Dearborn.
«What makes this case especially troubling is that City officials, up to and including the Mayor, responded to a citizen’s respectful request for equal treatment with silence, stonewalling, and outright hostility — including the Mayor’s own words telling a Christian resident he is ‘not welcome’ in his own city,» David Yerushalmi, an attorney on the case, said. «Our client is simply asking the City to treat Christians and Jews as equal citizens.»
Lawyers for Cleveland pointed to a September exchange between Hammoud and Christian pastor Ted Barham as evidence of what they allege is the city’s hostility toward Christians. Barham had raised concerns during a City Council meeting over the city’s decision to rename a street after Usama Siblani, publisher of The Arab American News, who has made statements expressing support for Hezbollah.
TRUMP INAUGURATION PASTOR SAYS DEARBORN CHRISTIANS ‘AFRAID’ TO SPEAK OUT IN MUSLIM-MAJORITY CITY
In the exchange, Hammoud called Barham a «bigot» and an «Islamophobe.»
«And although you live here, I want you to know as mayor, you are not welcome here,» Hammoud told the Christian pastor. «And the day you move out of the city will be the day that I launch a parade celebrating the fact that you moved out of the city… because you are not somebody who believes in coexistence.»
But Cleveland’s lawsuit alleges that city leaders ignored her requests for the city to also recognize Christian and Jewish holidays after she began seeing «Ramadan Kareem» banners and large crescent moons displayed across the city in spring 2025. A FOIA request revealed that the city had spent $1,500 on Ramadan banners and $5,000 on the crescent-moon display. The Dearborn Police Department was also selling Ramadan-themed T-shirts.
In emails to the city, Cleveland said she did not want the city to stop celebrating Muslim holidays but wanted equal recognition for Christian and Jewish holy days.
«I much prefer to ensure equality of faith traditions, as opposed to a challenge to the display,» Cleveland wrote in an email.
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Not only did the city allegedly ignore Cleveland’s requests, but in February 2026, it expanded its Ramadan displays, commissioning crescent-and-star lights that were displayed on municipal streetlights across the city.
«This initiative reflects who we are as a city,» Hammoud said in a statement.
Tensions between Cleveland and city officials continued in April, when Cleveland alleges she was told she could attend a community meeting as a resident but not as a journalist. The lawsuit also alleges Hammoud made what it describes as a «snide comment» about residents who criticize the city on social media to monetize their posts.
The lawsuit also alleges that in February 2026, the city expanded its Ramadan displays, commissioning crescent-and-star lights for municipal streetlights across the city.
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Cleveland pushed back, according to the lawsuit, saying she was simply «a concerned resident who was ignored when I asked for the City to treat Christians and Jews equally.»
«Despite the repeated requests, they treated her as if she were an outsider and not a full member of the political community,» Muise told Digital.
The lawsuit comes during Michigan’s closely watched 2026 U.S. Senate race, with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, who is Muslim and the son of Egyptian immigrants, facing Republican nominee Mike Rogers for the state’s open Senate seat. Religion and antisemitism have become points of dispute in the race, with Republicans and some Democrats criticizing El-Sayed over his association with streamer Hasan Piker, who said the U.S. was worse than al Qaeda «pound for pound, as far as the number of deaths,» while arguing that U.S. military actions that kill civilians can amount to acts of terror.
At the same time, El-Sayed and his supporters have accused opponents of targeting him with anti-Muslim rhetoric.
Digital reached out to Hammoud’s office and Cleveland’s attorneys for comment.
first amendment religion us, controversies, religion, controversies state and local, michigan, local
INTERNACIONAL
Massive 7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes Panama as officials investigate potential tsunami threat
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A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck off Panama’s southern coast Friday, shaking the country’s capital as officials investigated a potential tsunami threat.
The U.S. Geological Survey initially measured the earthquake at magnitude 8.0 before lowering its estimate to 7.6. The quake struck at 1:56 p.m. ET, approximately 6 miles beneath the surface, near Pitaloza Arriba, Panama.
This is a developing story; check back later for updates.
earthquakes, tsunami, world, natural disasters
INTERNACIONAL
Marco Rubio announces sweeping financial sanctions against the International Criminal Court
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Friday that the Trump administration is imposing sweeping financial sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), a body the president has sought to dismantle throughout his second term.
To date, the administration has sanctioned 17 individuals with ties to the ICC, including judges and prosecutors. The latest move marks the first time the U.S. has gone after the institution itself.
«Our message is clear: The United States and the American people are not subject to the jurisdiction of this fake ICC,» Rubio said in a pre-recorded video message released Friday morning. «Both parties agree on this, but only President Trump has the resolve to take the action needed to end this threat once and for all.»
This comes hours after this year’s Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Navanethem «Navi» Pillay, a former ICC judge.
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In a statement Friday, the Netherlands-based court strongly condemned the U.S. sanctions as «an assault on the rule of law and on the very foundations of the international legal order.»
«This measure targets an independent judicial institution, created by treaty and entrusted by 125 States Parties with investigating and prosecuting genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression,» the ICC added.
«It is an attempt to obstruct the course of justice and to prevent the Court from doing what it was created to do.»
ICC President Tomoko Akane, who was personally sanctioned by the Trump administration in August, said the court will continue to operate despite the new penalties.
In announcing the sanctions, Rubio argued the ICC believes it has the authority to prosecute American service members operating overseas and even U.S. Border Patrol agents. There is no evidence the court has sought to investigate or prosecute Border Patrol agents, though Rubio previously raised that possibility in July.
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The administration’s concerns about U.S. personnel are not entirely hypothetical. In 2017, an ICC prosecutor sought authorization to investigate alleged war crimes committed by U.S. military and intelligence personnel in Afghanistan.
ICC judges initially rejected the request, but that decision was overturned on appeal in 2020, allowing the investigation to proceed. The court’s prosecutor later de-prioritized alleged crimes involving U.S. personnel to focus on alleged crimes committed by the Taliban and ISIS-K.
Under the new sanctions, any ICC assets subject to U.S. jurisdiction will be frozen, while Americans, U.S. businesses and banks are generally barred from conducting transactions with the court.
The sanctions will not go into effect immediately. The Treasury Department has given the ICC a 180-day general license to maintain its operations, giving the court time to address U.S. concerns.
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«Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC. And we expect our allies, many of whom are part of the ICC and that rely on American service members for their defense, to rein in this rogue court,» Rubio said.
«If they do not, the United States will continue its campaign to dismantle the ICC piece by piece until Americans are threatened no longer.»
One of the other major grievances the administration has with the ICC is its decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in 2024.
The ICC argued both officials were responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians in Gaza during Israel’s military response to the Hamas-led Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in 2023. Both men have denied wrongdoing.
In a February 2025 executive order authorizing sanctions against ICC officials, President Donald Trump called the arrest warrants «baseless» and said the court overstepped its authority since Israel was not an ICC member.
The ICC maintains that it can exercise jurisdiction over nationals of non-member states when they are accused of qualifying crimes committed on the territory of a state that has accepted the court’s jurisdiction.
sanctions, world, foreign policy, international law, politics
INTERNACIONAL
Conciliaciones entre comercios y consumidores resuelven reclamos por más de $12.5 millones en Panamá
La Autoridad de Protección al Consumidor y Defensa de la Competencia (Acodeco) impulsa la conciliación como una vía para resolver diferencias entre consumidores y comercios sin extender los conflictos hacia instancias más complejas.
Durante el periodo de enero a agosto de este año, la institución de protección al consumidor registró 1.332 conciliaciones entre clientes y agentes económicos.
Los acuerdos alcanzados involucraron un total de $12.539.194,52.
Estos resultados reflejan que muchas reclamaciones pueden resolverse cuando las empresas escuchan el planteamiento de sus clientes, revisan cada caso y ofrecen una respuesta dentro de sus posibilidades, según la entidad.
La conciliación permite que consumidores y comercios busquen un entendimiento para atender desacuerdos vinculados con compras, servicios u otras relaciones de consumo.
Cuando existe disposición de ambas partes, el proceso puede evitar mayores trámites, costos y demoras.
La institución señaló que una atención responsable también ayuda a preservar la confianza entre quienes venden un producto o servicio y quienes lo adquieren.
Alega que una respuesta oportuna puede impedir que un reclamo sencillo se transforme en una disputa prolongada.
Para la Autoridad de Protección al Consumidor y Defensa de la Competencia, la voluntad de diálogo por parte de los agentes económicos forma parte de la protección efectiva de los derechos de los consumidores.
Sostiene que la resolución de un problema no depende únicamente de la intervención institucional, sino también de la actitud que adopte el comercio frente a la situación planteada.
La entidad recomendó a los consumidores conservar las facturas, los comprobantes de pago, los contratos, las garantías y otros documentos relacionados con sus adquisiciones.
Estos respaldos son necesarios para sustentar una reclamación y facilitar la intervención de la institución cuando sea requerida.
Voceros de la Autoridad de Protección al Consumidor y Defensa de la Competencia manifiestan que continuarán promoviendo relaciones de consumo en las que consumidores y agentes económicos conozcan sus derechos y obligaciones.
Atender un inconveniente cuando existe una solución posible constituye una forma de prevenir conflictos y proteger a ambas partes, aduce la Autoridad de Protección al Consumidor y Defensa de la Competencia.
Durante las actividades que realiza se explica a los proveedores cuáles son sus principales responsabilidades frente a los consumidores, haciendo énfasis en aspectos como precios visibles, información clara y veraz, garantías, condiciones de venta y calidad de los productos ofrecidos.
Se indica que la educación y prevención forman parte de las acciones de protección al consumidor, por lo que continuará fortaleciendo el contacto directo con los agentes económicos en las diferentes provincias del país.
Asimismo, la entidad recuerda a los consumidores que tienen derecho a recibir información clara sobre los productos y servicios que adquieren y que, ante cualquier posible incumplimiento, pueden presentar sus denuncias o quejas a través de los canales oficiales.
A través de sus diferentes administraciones regionales, la institución mantiene de manera permanente las jornadas de orientación y educación dirigidas a los agentes económicos, con el propósito de fortalecer el cumplimiento de las normas de protección al consumidor y prevenir situaciones que puedan generar reclamos o denuncias.
Entre los temas abordados se destaca la necesidad de mantener los precios de los productos claramente visibles para los consumidores, revisar periódicamente las fechas de vencimiento, garantizar el correcto funcionamiento y mantenimiento de las balanzas, cumplir con las garantías ofrecidas y respetar las demás disposiciones establecidas en la legislación de protección al consumidor.
Como parte de estas acciones preventivas, verificadores de la entidad visitaron en la provincia de Coclé 50 locales comerciales, ubicados en El Copé (27) y Río Grande (23). Durante estas visitas se informó que se brindó orientación a los responsables de los establecimientos sobre aspectos fundamentales de sus obligaciones como proveedores.
factura,comercio minorista,caja registradora,derechos del consumidor
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