A Michigan city is facing a federal lawsuit alleging officials favored Islam over Christianity and Judaism by displaying decorations celebrating Muslim holidays while not providing similar recognition for Christian and Jewish observances.

The lawsuit, filed September 17 against the city of Dearborn and Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, alleges that the city’s religious displays violate the First Amendment and create the impression that Dearborn is “a hostile place for Christians and Jews.”

Margot Cleveland, senior legal correspondent for The Federalist, said she filed the lawsuit after noticing banners celebrating Ramadan and crescent-moon decorations throughout downtown Dearborn earlier this year.

Cleveland said she was picking up pizza when she spotted the displays, including banners reading “Ramadan Kareem,” a traditional greeting wishing Muslims a generous or blessed Ramadan.

“This was the fourth week of Lent. We had Easter coming up in two weeks, and Passover was a week away. I was shocked, and then I saw the display all by itself — again, the crescent moon,” Cleveland told Fox News Digital.

Cleveland said the city had publicly recognized Ramadan without offering comparable displays for Easter or Passover, two major religious observances for Christians and Jews.

Cleveland said she contacted the city’s attorney to ask whether Dearborn planned to recognize other faiths similarly, but received no response.

Cleveland later submitted public records requests to investigate the cost of the decorations. She also alleged that the Dearborn Police Department had sold Ramadan-themed T-shirts featuring the department’s official seal and a crescent moon.

After repeated attempts to contact city officials, Cleveland said she attended a city council meeting in May to request equal treatment for Christian and Jewish residents.

“I have not asked the city not to celebrate Ramadan,” Cleveland explained. “What I’ve asked is that the city treat Christians and Jews equally.”

She suggested the city install Easter and Passover banners, along with crosses, Stars of David and patriotic decorations representing the community’s diversity.

“Put up Passover banners, Easter banners, put up a Star of David, put up a cross, do something,” she said.

Cleveland alleges that the city expanded its Ramadan decorations after she raised concerns.

“After I was ignored, what happened? The mayor then went and bought more Ramadan displays,” she claimed.

Cleveland emphasized that her complaint is directed at city leadership, not Dearborn’s Muslim residents.

“My beef is with the mayor and the people running the city, who are discriminating against Christians and Jews,” she said. “The average people who live in Dearborn get along great.”

Dearborn, which has a substantial Muslim population, rejected the accusations.

In a statement following the lawsuit, city officials said Dearborn “has a longstanding commitment to serving all residents fairly and equitably, regardless of faith or background.”

The city said it would continue protecting the rights and dignity of every resident while maintaining equal treatment under the law.

The American Freedom Law Center filed the complaint on Cleveland’s behalf in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

The case raises broader questions about religious expression in public spaces and whether government-sponsored holiday displays should provide comparable recognition to different faiths.

For Cleveland, the issue isn’t whether Dearborn should celebrate Ramadan, but whether Christians and Jews should receive the same public recognition under the law.