*****Click here for a complete summary of our experience in Dearborn.*****
Flags were at half-mast in Dearborn today when four out of five charges against the Dearborn Four were dropped. Defendants Qureshi, Wood, Rezkalla and Mayel were all found not guilty of their "Breach of Peace" charges, but defendant Mayel was found guilty of the charge "Willfully Disobeying the Lawful Order of a Police Officer." She was sentenced to one day of jail, which had already been served in June. The credit was applied, and all four were free to go. The judge sent them on their way saying "You are welcome in Dearborn." Clearly.
Even though the person who complained against Negeen, Roger Williams, was effectively shown to be a compulsive liar, and even though the police officer who arrested her admitted that she had done nothing illegal before he detained her for questioning, she was still found guilty. Is there no justice in Dearborn?
The trial process has been tasking in many ways. We've spent a week away from work, school, and our families. We've had a grueling week of preparing for court day after day, without break or diversion. And emotionally we are spent. But we've got so much to be thankful for.
First and foremost, thank you to all those who have supported and prayed for us throughout this ordeal. We saw prayers visibly answered, by God's grace. Negeen still needs your prayers, as the appeal process will be beginning shortly.
To our friends who flew to Dearborn to testify on our behalf, especially those who waited for a week in the hotel only to be told by the court that their testimony would not be allowed: we cannot thank you enough for your show of support and willingness to sacrifice for us. We only hope we can express our sincere gratitude as wonderfully as you have expressed your love.
To those who supported us financially: we could not have done it without you! When we came to Dearborn a week ago, we had hoped to be done with the trial by Wednesday. By Thursday morning, the prosecution was still not done presenting its case, and so the defense still hadn't started! Our expenditures skyrocketed because we had to unexpectedly extend our rental car, hotel rooms, and rearrange our flights. Your support has sustained us financially, and the love of Christ shines through your self-sacrificial attitudes. We cannot thank you enough!
Also, a million thanks go out to the Thomas More Law Center, without whom we would have been unable to defend ourselves from the persecution of the City of Dearborn. Robert Muise was not only our attorney and counsel, but he was fully invested in this issue with us, sharing our emotional burden and investing more time into the issue than even us. The way he approached the case, he might as well have been handcuffed and in jail with us 3 months ago. Truly our brother in Christ, we would have had to take pleas of guilty had it not been for him and his diligence.
And I guess I might as well thank the city of Dearborn. They have fueled in us a fire to see justice restored in this great nation, to expose corrupt police officers, to defend the rights of little Christian girls like Negeen Mayel, and to spread the Gospel no matter what the cost. Because of this city, the nation knows the danger of indifference to the spread of Islam, and the need for loving Christians to focus their efforts on sharing Christ with Muslims. So thank you, Dearborn, for waking up the nation.
We praise the Lord for our acquittals. We praise the Lord for Negeen's verdict of guilty; she shares the honor of falsely being found guilty with our Lord Jesus. And we praise the Lord for Negeen's anticipated appeal and acquittal. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, praise the Lord!
Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever! Amen.