By AP
DETROIT –
A federal court says it was illegal to bar a Christian evangelist from passing leaflets inside an Arab-American street festival in Dearborn last year.
The appeals court ruled 2-1 Thursday in the case of George Saieg of Anaheim, Calif. The decision comes less than a month before this year's festival.
The court says Dearborn's restriction on where Saieg could pass leaflets was not reasonable and violated his First Amendment rights.
The festival had offered Saieg a free booth, but he prefers to roam Warren Avenue sidewalks because he believes some Muslims may be afraid to approach him.
A message seeking comment was left with a Dearborn spokeswoman.
Saieg's attorney says he and his followers plan to attend the next festival on June 17.