USA (MNN) — The Detroit Free Press reports that a Muslim attorney
organized a rally supporting four Christian missionaries on the eve of today's
court date.
The attorney was concerned that the incident violated their
constitutional right to free speech and that the arrests were damaging to the
image of Muslims in Dearborn.
A group was accused of disturbing the peace at the Arab
International Festival in Dearborn, Michigan on June 19. Dr. Nabeel Qureshi, 29, of Virginia; Negeen
Mayel, 18, of California; David Wood, 34, of New York; and Paul Rezkalla, 18, also
of New York, face fines of up to $500 each and up to 93 days in jail. If the
case goes to trial, it would begin September 20.
The group, from Acts 17 Apologetics, claimed they were
trying to share the Gospel. Others claimed they were trying to provoke
people. Dearborn Mayor John O'Reilly Jr.
issued a statement on the city's Web site stating that he thinks the group's
intent was to disrupt the festival.
Last year, a similar incident occurred with Acts 17 Apologetics. In response, the mayor met with the Dearborn
Area Ministerial Association to talk about the experience of Christian groups
at the 2009 Arab Festival.
According to the city's report, in the wake of that meeting, members of Dearborn's
evangelical Christian community tried repeatedly to contact members from the
group, and but they received no response.
Eventually, Dearborn's
evangelical Christian community issued a statement saying they believe in
the right to spread the message of Christianity but criticized the tactics and
behavior of members of Acts 17 Apologetics, saying they did not reflect a
Christian spirit.
The evangelists pleaded not guilty. Keep praying for
truth.
