During a private meeting with a diverse denomination of religious leaders on Saturday at the Dearborn Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, members of Port Huron-based Order of the Dragon announced the group canceled its controversial “anti-shari’a” protest on April 22.

Florida Pastor Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center who was expected to protest with the group is still planning to demonstrate in Dearborn on Good Friday, one of the most important religious holidays observed by Christians. Interfaith leaders have planned prayer vigils in response on Thursday and Friday against Jones.

The meeting was attended by interfaith leaders, Order of the Dragon President Frank Fiorello and the group’s Vice President Jammie Bothwell. Dearborn Mayor Jack O’ Reilly, and Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad organized the event at the request of Fiorello to discuss his concerns over Muslim influence in Dearborn and the issue of shari’a law in the community.

O’Reilly says the history of Muslim participation over 80 years in Dearborn has been discussed with Fiorello, who was also assured that Islamic religious law is not applied to any civil activities or legal discussions in the city. O’Reilly has said numerous times that shari’a is not an issue in Dearborn on various media programs.

At the meeting with a number of faith leaders, Fiorello distributed copies of an anti-shari’a law bill he plans on bringing specifically to Michigan . “I don’t believe that shari’a law is implemented here or anywhere else.  I’m just worried about the future, and that is why we passed out this bill today,” Fiorello said.

“It’s not like we’re saying we don’t want just the Muslims. We don’t want the Catholics running us. We don’t want the Baptist running us. This is what this bill entails. No other law has jurisdiction in the U.S. besides the constitution,” Bothwell said. They said their draft of the bill includes language against all foreign law being potentially implemented in the U.S.

The 15 member group was started in 2008. Two additional chapters were launched this year in Florida and Texas . Bothwell says the group is non-violent, and board members represent different religions.

Fiorello along with other group members say they’re not affiliated with Jones, and he contacted them asking to participate in the protest after learning about it from Facebook.

He said Jones has the right to burn the Qur’an, but it’s not something the group would do. The group focuses on a number of topics they feel are issues in America . The next item on its agenda is fighting for the rehabilitation of former prisoners. Fiorello says they can’t vote, and are denied other basic rights after being released, including obtaining food stamps.

 According to Fiorello, the group receives more than 1,000 hits a week on its website from people who are concerned about issues it addresses.  

 “My honest opinion is that he’s going to hate gays, he’s going to hate Jews, he’s going to hate Muslims, he’s going to hate anybody until somebody realizes what he’s saying and they focus on it, then he’s going to do it all the more,” Fiorello said, adding that he read a deposition from Jones that contained what he called anti-Semitic comments as well.

The Fordson High School late night football practices during Ramadan are among the things that pushed the group to schedule the protest, Fiorello said. The practices are held to accommodate those fasting during the day for the holy month.

The group initially planned to protest outside the Islamic Center of America because it’s the largest mosque in North America. The protest was moved to Dearborn City Hall, a free speech zone. “As not a very good practicing Christian at all, I didn’t know it was Good Friday, and when it was brought to light we decided to review our alternatives,” Fiorello said.

The group said the protest was being held to promote open dialogue. Fiorello said he agreed to meet with faith leaders instead of having a protest.  “Now that we have a dialogue going, we can start moving along to make sure America stays the way it is…,” Bothwell said.  

O’Reilly says the assumption that women are deprived equal rights in America is among the excuses used to defend anti-shari’a bill proposals.

 “In this community if you’re familiar Muslim women are in all kinds of professional careers. They live in very modern lifestyles if they choose. And they are able to achieve and do anything they want. They’re active in every element of life from academic, sports, leadership, everything,” he said.