Dearborn, USA - A Virginia man at the heart of a court battle involving free speech, religion and public safety issues is confident he'll beat the charges against him.
"I have faith in our system. I have faith in our nation. I have no worries at all," said Nabeel Qureshi, 27, one of four arrested for disturbing the peace at the June 18 Arab International Festival. City officials and police say Qureshi, along with Negeen Mayel, 18, of California, and Paul Rezkalla, 18, and David Wood, 34, both of New York, were arrested after what police said was a public safety issue.
Robert Muise, an attorney with the Thomas More Law Center who is representing the four, sought to have the case dismissed at a hearing lasting more than two hours Monday at 19th District Court.
"They should not have to stand trial for essentially exercising their First Amendment rights," Muise said.
Judge Mark Somers asked the attorneys for clarification on some issues, postponing any decision. The cases are set for trial Sept. 20. Each defendant faces fines of up to $500 and up to 93 days in jail.
Qureshi, who with Wood formed a Christian organization called the Acts 17 Apologetics, said they were looking to discuss Christianity with those who wanted to talk religion at the festival.
But their activities were allegedly creating a disturbance at the festival. One festival volunteer had complained that he felt threatened by the Christian group, said William DeBiasi, Dearborn assistant city attorney.
Police were getting ready to evacuate the festival around 8:30 p.m. because of an incoming storm when members of the missionary group were observed arguing with a crowd that had gathered, Debiasi said.
"You had the 'straw that broke the camel's back' scenario," DeBiasi said. "(Police) knew who was inciting the disturbances at the festival."
But, Muise argued, police can't arrest individuals just because their words aren't popular and cause a group to form.
"If you need to move the crowd along, you move the crowd along," Muise said.
State Rep. Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills, was at Monday's hearing.
"It seems to me they are trying to silence Christians -- not the citizens of Dearborn, some officials," McMillin said. "There's nothing that warrants this persecution by the city of Dearborn."