Extremist Christians harass Muslims in Dearborn, are arrested by police
Posted: June 19, 2010 Filed under: The News, Violent extremism 41 Comments »Extremist Christians David Wood and Nabeel Qureshi, who organise hate campaigns against Muslims and Islam were thrown in jail last night after being arrested by Dearborn Police.
“We did make four arrests for disorderly conduct,” Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad said today. “They did cause a stir.”
Qureshi, a recent convert to Christianity, caused controversy last year after he and Wood produced a video posted on You Tube that shows them getting into a dispute with people and security at last year’s Arab festival. Local residents and city officials say the video was selectively edited and gave a slanted, negative view of Dearborn.
The group was criticized by the city and residents for aggressively putting video cameras in the faces of people at a festival that draws thousands of families over Father’s Day weekend.
The Free Press reported last year on the growing number of evangelical Christians targeting Dearborn to convert Muslims. Some Christians have criticized Wood and Qureshi for their behavior.
Wood and Qureshi, who repeatedly claim that Islam is violent, said they were being harassed.
But the Rev. Haytham Abi Haydar, a Christian evangelical convert with Arabic Alliance Church in Dearborn, said that Acts 17 Apologetics caused problems at last year’s Arab festival.
“They put cameras in their faces and were very antagonistic, ” Abi Haydar told the Free Press.
Read the full story here 4 arrested at Dearborn festival
Haha that’s hilarious they’re Christian extremists you are soooo right. Cause one of them is a youth pastor for my church and is definitely not creating hate campaigns in his free time.
Hi Ryan, maybe you are unaware of the extremist activities of your youth pastor (Nabeel I assume):
see here: Bigotry, Christian style, http://bloggingtheology.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/464/
and: http://bloggingtheology.wordpress.com/2010/03/16/instructive-parallels-between-the-early-churchs-hostility-to-the-jews-and-contemporary-evangelical-attacks-on-islam/
Well Paul, the accused are getting their video cameras and mics back. Who knows if the video will have been erased or whatever but, this will prove you wrong once it is released.
Thank God for men like Nabeel!!!!! He is a kind and gentle man who has been at our church for a year. He knows more of the Christian faith than most other christians. It is shameful that in our country founded on the chrisitan faith that we have stooped to take the Muslim faith rights over chrisitians. J
as for Nabeel being a kind and gentle man, yes, he can be charming etc. I have met him several times here in London. But that is not the issue here. This youth pastor was arrested for ‘disorderly conduct’ by the police, spent the night in jail, and has been severely criticised by evangelical leaders for his aggressive evangelism (see article above). I’m not sure I would want my kids looked after by a man with that kind of track record…
You say that Nabeel ‘knows more of the Christian faith than most other christians’. Most other Christians in your neighbourhood perhaps, but I did not find him particularly well informed about the Bible or New Testament studies when I met him a year ago. He appeared to me be trapped in an extreme form of fundamentalism he picked up from his mentor David Wood.
You say, ‘It is shameful that in our country founded on the chrisitan faith that we have stooped to take the Muslim faith rights over chrisitians’. What a load of rubbish. I recommend you read American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America by Chris Hedges for the real story.
Also another of the Christian extremists arrested by the police is a convicted felon who has served time for attempted murder…
He was walking around and conversing with people at the festival, yes he had a jesus loves you shirt on, but besides the point there were many other christians there that had nothing to do with Nabeel. People came up to him and asked him about christianity some didn’t because they recognized him from last year. Besides the fact he wasn’t shoving the gospel in their faces there was absolutely no “disorderly conduct” involved. Did you know they also arrested an 18 yr. old w/ a video camera that was more than 100 ft. away from Nabeel and David at the time of the arrest? Yes, she was with them, but how did they know that? Then when they surrounded her she yelled to get attention from Nabeel and they pressed another charge for “resisting arrest”. In the video on the link you had posted Nabeel was stating the facts and he actually lived in the U.K he wasn’t just there for a short while. These evangelical leaders you talk about weren’t even there, they were told by people, and people lie they are humans. You’re right about one thing though one of the “Christian Extremists” served time for convicted murder of his father. His name his David Wood. He in his early years had a horrible mental state and hit his Dad over the head with a ball-peen hammer several times. He was convicted and put in a mental institution. Later, he was converted from Atheism to Christianity. There is no bigotry involved in this situation. Someone honestly needs to get there facts straight.
Were you there when the four were arrested Ryan?
You claim “there was absolutely no “disorderly conduct” involved.”
You obviously know better than the Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad who said ‘We did make four arrests for disorderly conduct”. I suggest you take up your complaint with the police, Ryan.
Also you claim, “These evangelical leaders you talk about weren’t even there, they were told by people, and people lie they are humans.
But the Rev. Haytham Abi Haydar of the Arabic Alliance Church in Dearborn said that Wood and Nabeel caused problems at last year’s Arab festival. “They put cameras in their faces and were very antagonistic” Abi Haydar told reporters. I suggest you take up your complaint with the Arabic Alliance Church in Dearborn.
This shows how desperate you are, Ryan, accusing Evangelical church leaders of lying about Nabeel and Wood! What possible motivation would they have for telling lies against other evangelical believers? Clearly the more moderate church pastors have had enough of the hate filed militancy of a tiny minority and wish to live in peace with their Muslim neighbours.
On David Wood’s blog a fellow evangelical Christian who witnessed the events posted a comment:
Spiffy the Basset said…
‘This is a complete and total lie and David and Nabeel should be ashamed of themselves. Tonight, just as last night, there were dozens of Christians and former muslims at the festival witnessing to muslims. None of them had problems with people. None of the other several dozen “Christian preachers” were arrested. Lies, lies, and more lies.
The same happened last night. I saw Nabeel and David showboating and trying to cause a scene and know they were not only expecting to be arrested, but to some degree, trying to get arrested.
They care more about their hatred for islam than their love for muslims. I have evangelized in many continents and in places far more hostile than the dearborn festival, but can say with experience that they did not at all suffer for the cross, they suffered for their egos.’
June 19, 2010 10:52 PM
Just because he’s a police chief doesn’t mean what he says is true, same with the evangelical pastor. Anyone can lie, people don’t even have to have a motive either. I know Nabeel and David, and they didn’t do that. Also why would they confiscate the videos, do they have something to hide? I mean i’m sure there were about 300 other people there with cameras it’s called a festival.
With the name of God, Peace be unto those who follow the guidance from their Lord.
First off I want to say to brother Paul Williams mash’Allah for a very excellent site and I know it’s a bit over due but welcome home brother
However the comment on David Wood still has me doing a double take.
Wait a minute! Hold the phone! The man who uses a samuri as an avatar on his site about a movie in which the man hero is a closet homosexual who has only recently come out actually was arrested for attempted murder and put into a mental institution?
Seriously? Ryan brother Paul if either of you have links or more information on this I (and I am sure other) inquiring minds want to know.
Thank you! As salamu ‘alikum wr wb.
With the name of God… correction above.
“movie in which the man hero” should be movie in which the MAIN hero
Ryan: I know Nabeel and David, and they didn’t do that.
I know Nabeel and David, having debated them numerous times on their blog, and I say they are guilty of being provocation (as well as deceit). His supporters are no different-bigoted fundamentalists. You probably are one of them.
I remember one guy called Semper Paratus who once commented how he would like to see Christians invade Muslim gatherings in order to test their patience. Christian Taliban anyone?
Whether Muslim, Jew or Christian, all extremists are idiots.
Ryan,
“Just because he’s a police chief doesn’t mean what he says is true, same with the evangelical pastor. Anyone can lie” – Ryan
I have one question for you, can David Wood and Nabeel Qureishi lie?
I think you are backing the wrong side Ryan. Its very desperate to reject the combined testimony of Christian ministers and police officers just because you happen to be buddies with Wood and Nabeel.
Wood and his colleagues represent all that is odious about the Christian Right in the USA: intolerant, bigoted, fundamentalist and self-righteous. Thankfully, most Christians reject their aggressive approach. I hope you will too!
With the name of God, Peace be unto those who follow the guidance from their Lord.
Let me try this again directed at both Paul and Ryan. There were some statments made above.
“Also another of the Christian extremists arrested by the police is a convicted felon who has served time for attempted murder…” < This was made by you Paul.
"You’re right about one thing though one of the “Christian Extremists” served time for convicted murder of his father. His name his David Wood. He in his early years had a horrible mental state and hit his Dad over the head with a ball-peen hammer several times. He was convicted and put in a mental institution. Later, he was converted from Atheism to Christianity." < This was made by you Ryan.
I have no reason to doubt the truthfulness of either of you gentleman. I was simply asking for some links or further information. You are making some very fantastic claims with absolutely no proof.
I would ask you gentleman to provide proof of your statements or simply retract them.
May Allah guide us to what he loves.
Jonathan
you are jumping the gun by saying that I am making ‘fantastic claims’ about Wood without proof. I am not. About a year ago I moderated a debate at Westbourne Park Baptist Church (my old church here in London), between Wood and a Muslim. In front of an audience of probably one hundred people, mostly Christians, Wood told the audience of some of the more disturbing aspects of his past including his unspeakable attack on his own father with a hammer. Happily his father did not die (though Wood says he really wanted to kill him). His father is permanently disabled however. Wood spent time in a mental institution.
The entire debate at Westborne Park Baptist Church was filmed by the Christians who promised to share a copy with us. Despite repeated requests the film has never materialised. I wonder why!
It is my guess that Wood’s current aggression against the ‘enemy’ ie Islam and Muslims is not unrelated to the aggression he demonstrated towards his father, it has just been redirected to a more ‘acceptable’ target (acceptable in the context of the Christian Right that is).
If I am right in my assessment, then we will see further aggression from Wood in the future involving the authorities and ultimately see his re-incarceration on serious charges. I hope I am wrong. What I find additionally sad is the influence his dominating personality is having over weaker Christians who look up to him.
I have written this on Paul’s blog and decided to share it her:
Its interesting to read Christians saying the the US Constitution is based on the Bible. Perhaps the have not read the First Amendment of the Constitution:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Also, quite a few of the Founding Fathers were Deists, not Christian. Here a a few interesting quotes from Thoms Jefferson himself on what he thinks of Christianity:
http://www.worldfuturefund.org/wffmaster/Reading/Religion/Jefferson.htm
With the name of God, As salamu ‘alikum wr wb.
Paul thank you for that information. However, I would encourage you to be a little less crass when someone is simply asking information.
You said, “Jonathan
you are jumping the gun by saying that I am making ‘fantastic claims’ about Wood without proof. I am not. ”
Where did I say that you were making fantastic claims about David Wood?
I know full well what you said and I quoted it back to you. “Also another of the Christian extremists arrested by the police”
Following logic and the rules of English grammar this would allow for the statement to be (David, Nabeel, Paul Rezkallah, or Negeen).
It doesn’t follow that I “jumped the gun” by making an inquiry.
Subhan’Allah I mean I’m your Muslim brother and simply making an inquiry. I would take your word, and a Muslim brother I do not treat you with unfairness.
However, if one wants to get technical about things you have no proof based upon your statement,
“he entire debate at Westborne Park Baptist Church was filmed by the Christians who promised to share a copy with us. Despite repeated requests the film has never MATERIALISED. I wonder why!
I hope that we could be more cordial towards one another in the future. This is usually the part where I get censored and am no longer allow to comment in the future.
Allah knows best.
As salamu ‘alikum wr wb respected brother.
Jonathan, I have been perfectly respectful towards you, so there is no need to take offence.
you say:
“However, if one wants to get technical about things you have no proof based upon your statement,“he entire debate at Westborne Park Baptist Church was filmed by the Christians who promised to share a copy with us. Despite repeated requests the film has never MATERIALISED. I wonder why!”
A hundred plus witnesses is more than enough proof for me. I stand by what I said, after all I was there.
If you want written confirmation, then I suggest you email Wood directly, though I suspect he is a little busy with the police at the moment!
Paul: In front of an audience of probably one hundred people, mostly Christians, Wood told the audience of some of the more disturbing aspects of his past including his unspeakable attack on his own father with a hammer.
It is amusing how Wood’s supporters cast doubt on the authenticity of Muhammad(saw)’s mission because he allegedly committed atrocities, yet their own mentor is guilty of almost murdering his father!
What you probably don’t know Paul is that Wood also admitted in the course of one our exchanges that he had once put a person in a sleeper hold, suffocating him. He says he did that because his wife was being threatened, but I doubt that’s the case.
If the argument is that a violent person is unlikely to be a man of God (prophet, priest, whatever), then what does that make Wood? Moreover, if a person is a shady past cannot be taken seriously when he claims to be a person of God, an argument which Christians frequently use against Muhammad(saw) (saying that he came from a pagan background and therefore cannot be taken seriously), then why do they take Wood seriously?
Debating with arrogant bigots is simply a waste of time. As Allah says in the Quran, even if all the Signs were shown to them, they would still not believe. It is for this reason that I discontinued participating at answeringmuslim.com.
With the name of God, Peace be unto those who follow the guidance from their Lord.
Well, Paul your crass attitude indicates otherwise. ” perfectly respectful”.
I should give you the benefit of the doubt since I do not know where you stand as a Muslim given our myriad sects and divisions. Last I knew the four Sunni schools of jurisprudence said that returning the salam of another Muslim was the least one could do to show erudition and culture in the basics of Islam.
Again I see you a person above correction. Hopefully your interaction with others will not shield the divine working through your otherwise informative entries.
What really amuses me is that Christian polemicist James White is trying to paint Nabeel and David as brave Christian martyrs being oppressed by the Roman Legions at the behest of the Pharisee-like Muslim hordes:
—————————————————–
David and Nabeel have reported on their experience here, having been released after spending the night in the Dearborn jail (they will never deal with the stories of the persecution of the early church in the same way again, I assure you). I do hope proper legal representation will lead to a meaningful civil action that will re-establish the rule of law (not Sharia) in Dearborn. As long as their cameras are not tampered with or destroyed, that should be the result, if justice prevails.
But I ask my readers to consider well what would have happened had the situation been reversed. What if Muslims were dragged away in handcuffs to the jeering chants of “Hallelujah!”? What kind of response would have come from such an event? Would not CNN and all the rest be on the spot? How much violence would you expect to see? One wonders
————————————————–
Its not a good day to be an anti-Islamic Christian apologist. Now we can add David and Nabeel to the growing list of discredited anti-Islamic Christian apologists like Jimmy Swaggart (being with prostitutes), Anis Shorrosh (arson and tax fraud), Sam Shamoun (lying, filthy mouth), James White (fabricating references) and Ergun Caner (lying about his past).
Not very exalted company, I think.
I can tell you all that they’re right there is Sharia Law in Dearborn, Michigan.
Yeah, yeah, I get the drill: There is Shariah in America, Obama is a Mooooozlim, they hate us for our freedoms, The Constitution is based on the Bible, etc, etc
Rinse and repeat
Very witty Zaytoon!
Lol, I’m going to use that when the next time I’m told Sharia is taking over the US, God willing.
Nazam is a Muslim who attended the infamous debate when Wood confessed to his crime. Nazam emailed me today:
‘Yes, Arab Christian Arabic Christian Perspective recorded the debate and Yahya [another Muslim] had an agreement with them that he should received a copy of the debate. So far they have not.
These were a whole series of debates with Wood and White which ACP recorded. White now possess the unedited versions of these debates. It’s a shame we didn’t record that debate as Wood alluded to his past criminal record and only the Christians side have a copy of that debate.’
Nazam
Yeh, they were plenty of attendees to the debate back in November 2008 who heard David make those claims regarding him prior to becoming Christian
Hmmm, it does not seem that these Arabic Christian Perspective fellows are trustworthy. They have yet to release Shabir Ally’s 2008 London Debate with James White.
Inshallah, this will motivate Muslims to take a more proactive role in not relying on the recordings of their opponents.
With the name of God, Peace be unto those who follow the guidance from their Lord.
I made a recent post about the information that brother Nazam and Paul made above here: http://thegrandverbalizer19.blogspot.com/2010/06/james-white-withholds-debate-videos.html#comments
James White was not too happy about that and he made a reply on his AOMIN web site here:http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php?itemid=3996
I’m a guy who believes in cracking the whip a little to get things done!
But note James disclaimer..”5) The tapes are a MESS. Very poorly recorded, in a different format than our equipment uses requiring difficult conversion, etc”
“Part of the delay once we got the tapes has been the huge amount of time it takes to try to salvage anything from the other camera angle and then to splice that into the “good” footage while matching the less-than-sterling audio track.”
Yeah I bet! “Splice that into “good” footage” Indeed James!
James and I go way back. He is not too happy about me calling him out for backing out of debates with Dan Corner and Bob Ross.
He is not happy that I pointed out that his degrees are unaccredited wind mill degrees that come with a free prize with every purchase of a ‘Jack in the Box’.
James is not happy that I have called him out on numerous inconsistencies.
Any way brother Paul or anyone here for that matter my apologies if I ‘rubbed’ anyone the wrong way. Insh’Allah we are ultimately striving for truth.
Your servant and slave of Allah.
As salamu ‘alikum wr wb.
With the name of God, Peace be unto those who follow the guidance from their Lord.
By the way I also intend a blog entry in the future taking fellow Muslims to task for not giving me copies of the Shabir Ally/Robert Morey and Jamal Badawi/Robert Morey debates.
Especially since a certain someone close to Dr. Tabbasum (may Allah bless us all with her knowledge) promised that to me.
Fair is fair. We should all hold one another to consistent standards regardless if we are Muslims or Christians.
Exposing David Wood: Of Mosques and Men, Pt. 1
http://www.loonwatch.com/2010/06/exposing-david-wood-of-mosques-and-men-pt-1/
thanks for the link IbnAbuTalib, I’ve posted it on the front page of this blog
I’m curious to know if anyone has been able to confirm whether the alleged video tapes from the festival are actually in the custody of the Dearborn Police.
I’ve been digging around the internet and can’t find much other than post after post repeating the claims of the Acts 17 group as proof that they were arrested “simply for being Christian”. (yes, I know better)
Any leads would be appreciated.
David Wood and Nabeel Qureishi can never lie – I mean they wouldnt would they
[...] Williams, of the Muslim Debate Initiative has also stated that David Wood told him during a debate, in front of an audience of a hundred or more, that he attempted to murder his father and that he [...]
This is not about personalities. This is about facts. And there are very little facts here for anyone to conclude justification for the arrests let alone confiscation of video recording equipment of witnesses [which is why people are bringing in personality/outside information].
The guy, regardless of who he is, has every right to where a Jesus loves everybody (or similar language) t-shirt to a Muslim festival; just as a muslim has every right, in this country at least, to where a “Allah loves everybody” or “Allah is great” or even more to a Christian festival; just as anyone, regardless of who they are, has the right to wear a Slayer t-shirt to a Christian or Muslim event or a Che Gueverra [sic] or Lenin shirt to a Tea Party rally; a Michigan shirt to an Ohio State game, etc.
It is amazing to me that this is not clear to people. Such right does not change, because you are a jerk or in the past made insulting remarks, etc.
Similarly, this is a country of free speech. People have a right to talk about religious issues, including their religion … even at the event of another. How is that not clear to anyone that understands what free speech means.
That does not justify arrest. That other people, lack maturity and civility, and will react hostile and take offense that a person is a Christian or wears a shirt with a simple affirmative Christian message, again does not justify arrest. You don’t think there are people that would react hostile or find offensive an “Allah is great” t shirt? Lenin t-shirt? Michigan t-shirt at an Ohio State game?
So we arrest the Allah is great wearer? The Lenin wearer? The Go Wolverines wearer? That’s the country people think this is?
Just because people will react idiotically and childishly or take offense does not justify the arrest.
Maybe the people actually did something disturbing the peace, but what that was has not been stated. What has been stated is not disturbing the peace. What has been stated is an arrest over free speech.
David, I think you might benefit from reading this article:
“Arrests at Arab Fest a matter of public safety“
It contains a letter from Dearborn Mayor O’Reilly, a Note from Dearborn Chief of Police Ronald Haddad, and damning criticisms from leading Dearborn evangelical pastors – all explaining what really happened that day (not the hyped up pseudo-Christian persecution fantasy coming from Wood and his hate-gang).
Paul Williams you are a Christian right?
So then you believe that Jesus is God the son, the second personage of the trinity. And you believe in the Holy Trinity don`t you?
Hi Andy
I do try and follow Jesus who I believe to be the Messiah, but I do not accept that the historical Jesus was God or thought he was divine in any way. I also believe that God has sent messengers and prophets to all nations and people groups (not just Israel).
Hey Paul, Nabeel here –
Thanks for the cordial remarks, you’re too kind. I’m wondering, when will you be posting the fact that an impartial jury of random Dearborn citizens, including at least one Muslim, has found us not guilty after reviewing the footage and arguments from the city prosecutor?
Cheers,
-Nabeel