Michigan city is on edge as Wall Street Journal article brands it ‘America’s jihad capital’ – with cops deployed to guard mosques and locals fearing Islamophobic revenge attacks

A Michigan suburb with the largest Muslim population in the US has stepped up security amid fears of hate attacks after being labeled America’s ‘jihad capital’.

The headline of an op-ed published Friday in the Wall Street Journal read “Welcome to Dearborn, America’s Jihad Capital” — a title the publication gave to the city because of the pro-Palestinian views of its residents.

The controversial article was written by Steven Stalinsky, a commentator on terrorism and since 1999 executive director of the Middle East Media Research Institute, based in Washington DC.

He warned in the story that Dearborn’s majority Arab population would have to be “closely watched” by counterterrorism forces after Oct. 7.

But his words have led the suburb’s mayor to increase police presence at mosques and other major civic centers as Islamophobic threats have been made to its predominantly Arab residents.

The WSJ op-ed has reportedly sparked an “alarming increase in bigoted and Islamophobic rhetoric” toward the approximately 110,000 local residents living in Dearborn.

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud wrote on

“This is a direct result of the inflammatory WSJ op-ed that has led to an alarming increase in bigoted and Islamophobic rhetoric online targeting the city of Dearborn. Stay vigilant.”

The Arab-American Muslim mayor, 33, added in a statement: “This is more than irresponsible journalism. Publishing such inflammatory writing places Dearborn residents at greater risk of harm.

“It’s 2024 and the WSJ is still putting out this kind of garbage. Reckless. Intolerant. Islamophobic. Dearborn is one of the largest American cities in our country.’

According to census figures, Dearborn is about 54 percent Arab-American, making it one of the most densely populated areas in the U.S. for people from the Middle East. It is home to the largest Muslim population in the US per capita, as well as the largest mosque in North America.

In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks on Israeli civilians, protests erupted in Dearborn, supporting Hamas and supporting the Palestinian side.

The WSJ headline also sparked outrage from other public figures online. Former Ohio State Sen. Nina Turner wrote, “This is blatant Islamophobia.”

Another person online wrote, “If this isn’t considered incitement to violence, I don’t know what is.”

And a third added: ‘Jesus. I can’t believe WSJ allowed an op-ed calling an American city the “Jihad Capitol of America.”

“Has it really not occurred to them that this kind of inflammatory rhetoric might be irresponsible? It is not Islamic extremism that we should worry about today, but the far right.’

Another wrote, “Dearborn residents are not scared or intimidated. Great and proud community!’

Wayne County Michigan’s Commissioner David Knezek wrote, “Like many in and around our community, I was deeply disturbed by this morning’s The Wall Street Journal and its characterization of the city of Dearborn.

“Rather than calling out the divisive and dangerous language of the WSJ, I wanted to remind people of the wonderful and beautiful city that I and countless others know the city of Dearborn to be.

‘It is a city where my family found a new home shortly after immigrating from Italy, a city whose children my family trained and raised for decades as teachers and lunch ladies, a city that changed the automotive industry forever, and a city whose diversity and inclusion continues to enrich the lives of all who visit. The list goes on.

“I am grateful for Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud, his leadership and the leadership of all of the city’s elected officials.

“I am equally grateful to call so many of Dearborn’s more than one hundred thousand residents my friends and will always stand strong in my support for our neighbors.”

The op-ed published by the WJ read: ‘Thousands march in support of Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. Protesters, many with kaffiyehs covering their faces, shout “Intifada, intifada,” “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” and “America is a terrorist state.”

‘Local imams deliver fiery anti-Semitic sermons. This is not the Middle East. It’s the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan.’

After September 11, he argues, Dearborn was branded as one “recruitment area and potential base of support for international terrorist groups,” the Justice Department said.

The writer claims that “many current or former Dearborn residents have been convicted of terror-related crimes in recent years.”

Stalinski then says that what’s happening in Dearborn is “potentially a matter of national security that affects all Americans.”

He warns: ‘Anti-terrorism organizations at all levels must pay close attention.’

On Wednesday evening, Arab Americans protested at a Dearborn high school against Joe Biden’s planned visit to the city next week.

Biden will hold an event at the UAW union in Michigan on Thursday.

Residents increasingly called on people not to vote for the president in the next elections because of his support for the Israeli attacks in Gaza.

Dearborn attorney Amer Zahr said, “We are not interested in talking to this campaign and this administration.

‘They must call for a ceasefire. He could call tomorrow and put an end to all this. He chose not to do that.

“President Biden, we say very clearly: you are not welcome in our community.”

Zahr told the crowd, “Are we going to forget?” To which he received the roaring answer: ‘No!’

The crowd chanted, “Biden, Biden, you can’t hide, we accuse you of genocide,” “Genocide Joe,” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

Nasser Beydoun, a Dearborn candidate for Senate, told the crowd this week, “The community has decided that Joe Biden is not our nominee.”