Organizers and residents urge clearer rules, city partnership to protect Dearborn’s Arba'in procession

The Dearborn City Council heard more than an hour of public comment July 14 from organizers and residents urging the city to protect the Arba'in (peace) procession while improving safety planning and communication.

Residents and organizers said the annual procession, which they described as one of the largest commemorations of its kind outside the Middle East, depends on longstanding traditions such as free food distribution. ‘‘Restricting cooking and food distribution would not simply change the events logistics, it would fundamentally alter one of the defining traditions,’’ an 18‑year‑old speaker said, asking the council to ‘‘find practical solutions rather than broad restrictions.’’ (Speaker: unidentified youth; public comment.)

At the meeting, Hamid El Ziyadi, who gave his name and address for the record, told the council the event has been stewarded by the city and the community for more than 20 years and recommended formalized channels—town halls, Q&A sessions and a planning committee—to reduce confusion and misinformation about what is allowed during the procession. ‘‘What I would love is that the organizers get on the same page with the city,’’ El Ziyadi said, urging continued collaboration.

Mohammed Elthe Habawi and other organizers echoed that request and emphasized the event’s service‑oriented traditions. ‘‘This march represents peace, unity, sacrifice. Providing free food and water is not just a tradition,’’ Habawi said, adding that volunteers provide food and water ‘‘from our pockets’’ and that the procession brings people from across the region.

Council members and city recreation staff responded that the event is approved and that sharper communication was needed. A recreation deputy said the administration had been communicating with the person who submits approval paperwork but that organizers appeared short‑staffed; the city planned to form a committee to coordinate months in advance and reduce last‑minute issues.

The council’s response focused on safety and compliance: speakers noted the city cannot sponsor religious activities but can work with organizers to ensure the procession follows public‑safety and traffic rules. Council members asked organizers to avoid blocking hydrants and driveways and to follow permitting steps so the city can help with logistics and neighborhood impacts.

What happens next: city staff said they would follow up with organizers and create a planning committee to address logistics, food distribution questions and safety measures before the next procession. The council did not vote on changes to policy at the meeting.