A prominent black pastor has sounded the alarm over the growing influence of Islam in Dearborn, Michigan, declaring that the city is operating under "Sharia law" rather than American law.

Pastor Lorenzo Sewell of 180 Church delivered the explosive warning during a Dearborn City Council meeting Tuesday.

Sewell, who spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention, accused city leaders of applying the law unequally and giving preferential treatment to Dearborn’s large Muslim population.

His comments followed a violent confrontation at the city’s annual Arbaeen March earlier this month, where right-wing activist Jake Lang was attacked by counterprotesters.

"America, we have lost this city," Sewell told the council.

"This is a city that is no longer up under American laws; we are up under Sharia law.

"We will not have it anymore."

Sewell also issued a direct challenge over the growing political influence of Islam in the United States.

"You are only 1% of this nation," Sewell said.

"We are not a nation of Muslims."

Activist Attacked at Muslim Religious March

The controversy erupted after Lang attended Dearborn’s Arbaeen March, a Shia Muslim religious commemoration, carrying a sign that read, "deport 100 million, save America."

During the confrontation, counterprotesters punched Lang from behind and chased him toward his vehicle.

At least one person also attempted to strike Lang with a rock.

Dearborn Police arrested one person following the violence.

The suspect was being held without bond while the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office considered charges.

Police also appealed to the public for assistance identifying other individuals involved in unlawful conduct.

Sewell nevertheless argued that the response was inadequate and accused authorities of operating under different standards.

"You are not up under American law," Sewell told the meeting.

"You are up under Sharia law.

"That is the reason why you have made no arrests."

Police did, however, make at least one arrest, meaning Sewell’s statement did not accurately describe the entire law-enforcement response.

His broader accusation was that authorities were failing to hold everyone responsible for the violence accountable.

Dearborn Mayor Fires Back

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud rejected Sewell’s characterization of the city.

"When people portray Dearborn as some place that has been overtaken by Muslims, they aren’t simply attacking our Muslim and Arab communities," Hammoud said.

"They’re also trying to erase our Christian brothers and sisters who have contributed immeasurably to the city and folks of other faiths."

Hammoud argued that the criticism represented an attack on something broader than Dearborn’s Muslim population.

"Ultimately, they’re attacking something much larger than any one faith or community," the mayor said.

"They are attacking the idea that all of us can belong to America at the same time."

However, those remarks did not directly address Sewell’s central complaint over whether the city is enforcing its laws equally following the attack on Lang.

Dearborn has become a major flashpoint in the national debate over Islamic political influence.

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, approximately 54.5% of Dearborn residents reported Middle Eastern or North African ancestry.

Lang’s Inflammatory Rhetoric Draws Scrutiny

Lang himself has generated controversy with inflammatory rhetoric surrounding Islam.

In one social media post, Lang wrote: "I don’t know about you, but I am ready to load up CRUISE SHIPS with f—ing AMERICAN GUNS & go and LIBERATE SPAIN from the Muslim hords.

"If the Democrats take power in 2028, I’ll be at the Southern Border laying these animals down by the HUNDREDS!!!!!"

Following the Dearborn confrontation, Lang claimed that "3 BARBARIC Muslims" had picked up rocks to "STONE me to death!!!

"For preaching the NAME OF JESUS!!!"

He has also appeared in videos conducting baptisms while wearing military-style clothing and body armor.

However provocative Lang’s rhetoric may be, it does not give anyone the right to physically attack him.

The controversy therefore leaves Dearborn authorities facing a straightforward law-and-order question: whether everyone involved in violence at the march will face the same consequences regardless of religion or politics.

Sewell Demands Equal Enforcement

Several questions surrounding the confrontation remain unanswered.

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has not announced what charges will be brought against the person arrested, and authorities have sought assistance identifying other participants accused of unlawful conduct.

Sewell’s intervention has now dramatically increased scrutiny on the city’s handling of the case.

The pastor gained national attention when he addressed the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July 2024.

Now, he is accusing officials in one of America’s most heavily Arab communities of allowing religious and political considerations to interfere with equal enforcement of the law.

Hammoud insists Dearborn’s diversity demonstrates that Americans of different religions can belong to the same community.

Sewell argues that belonging isn’t the issue.

His warning is that American law must remain supreme and must be enforced equally against everyone.