Resident tells Dearborn council he’s been defamed, urges discussion of call-to-prayer and Iran-related concerns

During the public-comment period at the Feb. 24 Dearborn City Council meeting, resident Ted Baram told the council that local coverage and social media had 'portrayed' him in ways that he said amounted to defamation and that the accusations have affected his ability to move freely in the community.

Baram identified himself as a Dearborn resident and said that an article in the Arab-American News and reporting in other outlets suggested he frequented parks 'to preach Christianity to children and hand out gifts.' Baram said those portrayals were false and that social-media commenters have labeled him a pedophile; he said that recent months have made it 'quite difficult living in Dearborn.'

Baram also referenced comments reportedly made by a local figure he named (Osama Sablani in the record) and said, 'What I would like is to be able to speak out about all the people in Iran who have been killed because they protested, including my fellow Christians. Am I supposed to just be silent about that?'

He asked the council and mayor to 'try to have discussions about these important topics' and to take action beyond discussion where possible. No council member offered a substantive response on the record during the public-comment period; the clerk closed public comment at 7:33 p.m.

The council did not take further action during the meeting to investigate or respond to Baram’s allegations; the record shows no staff report or referral was made during the session.