WAYNE COUNTY
Dearborn food regulations not changed, but will be enforced at Arbaeen procession
Max BryanJulia CardiThe Detroit News
July 28, 2026, 4:15 p.m. ET
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With a major religious festival planned for Dearborn this weekend that involves handing out food, city officials say food safety rules have not changed, though existing regulations will be enforced
This year’s Arbaeen procession, an Iraqi tradition commemorating a religious holiday for Shia Muslims, is scheduled to start Sunday and could draw an estimated 10,000 people, according to a Dearborn Parks and Recreation memo. The march will begin at the Karbala Islamic Education Center and end at Ford Woods Park. The permit for the march was approved by Dearborn City Council July 14
Organizers traditionally hand food out to the marchers at the end of the parade — an aspect that is regulated by city ordinance
Councilman Mustapha Hammoud said the city’s intention was to approve holding the event as long as the organizers complied with existing city rules, because that caused some issues last year. It’s been necessary to have tighter organization as the festival has grown, he said, and the city has been working with the event’s organizers this year to provide clarity about its ordinances
“As the scale gets bigger, they also need to start organizing more … and that’s why there’s just more need to make sure that there’s good communication and planning around how they’re going to follow ordinances, especially around food and fire safety,” said Hammoud
At the July 14 meeting, Council President Michael Sareini emphasized Dearborn’s ordinance that prohibits people from blocking fire hydrants at events like Arbaeen
City Spokesperson Hassan Abbas said people cooking food should only cook in the park’s “common area” designated for cooking
Hammoud said there’s been miscommunication surrounding the event. He said the administration working with organizers to make sure they adhere to city code “got twisted on social media into something much more sensational.”
Several people came to July 14 council meeting with concerns about food distribution being limited at the event. Ali Alsadi, a resident, said restricting cooking and food distribution “would fundamentally alter one of the defining traditions and diminish an important expression of our cultural and religious identity.”
But Alsadi also said he recognized the city’s responsibility to protect public safety
“I believe that that goal can be achieved without sacrificing our traditions,” said Alsadi, 18
Councilman Robert Abraham clarified that although the City Council gave the green light to hold the festival, the processes for organizing and approving the festival go through the city’s administrative agencies.
“This is an administrative responsibility, and the police, recreation, and mayor’s office are handling it appropriately,” he said.
Abbas said the organization of the march gives the city an opportunity to connect with the organizers
“We look forward to a successful march for peace and justice,” Abbas said in a prepared statement
jcardi@detroitnews.com
