People in Hamtramck, Detroit welcomed the New Year 2022 with a historic celebration in which the city’s first Muslim mayor and an all-Muslim city council were sworn in on Sunday, January 2.
“Hamtramck continues to be an example of the American dream, big and small,” former Mayor Karen Majewski said during the swearing-in ceremony for the new city leaders, Detroit News reported.
Amer Ghalib, a 42-year-old health care worker made history in November elections, becoming the first non-Polish mayor of the city in 100 years.
Ghalib was sworn in alongside three newly elected members of the City Council, Adam Albarmaki, Amanda Jaczkowski, and Khalil Refai, who are Muslim themselves.
“What could be more American than having our residents, our immigrant families, venture into local politics,” Kathleen Angerer, Hamtramck’s city manager, said during the ceremony Sunday.
“Today, we are witness to the reality of the American dream. We are witness to the opportunity of living in a country where anyone can achieve their dreams.”
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Council member Amanda Jaczkowski
Celebrating Diversity
Sunday’s ceremony was also a celebration of Hamtramck’s diverse backgrounds. It began with a performance by Anamika Roy, a recording artist from Bangladesh, while Majewski introduced the city’s new leaders in a variety of languages.
The national anthem was also sung by 14-year-old Maria Saad, a Yemeni-American student from Dearborn.
In his introductory remarks, the city’s new mayor did not focus on the history made but instead on what he expects to come in the future.
“It’s time to focus on the problems at hand,” Ghalib said. “I hope you all maintain the energy displayed during the election season. Never be afraid to call our your leaders if they aren’t serving your best interests.”
Council Member Mohammed Hassan spoke about the significance of the Hamtramck’s mayor and council all being Muslim, Hassan said the city’s leaders would simply focus on continuing to do “what is good for Hamtramck.”
“Inside city hall, we are all citizens of the United States of America,” he said.
“There is no religion inside city hall. Religion should be at the church, the mosque, the temple. After that, we’re all Hamtramck residents. We’re one community, we’re brother and sister, and nothing will be changed.”
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Newly elected council member Khalil Refai
Muslim Majority
The percentage of Muslim residents in Hamtramck is not clear since the US census does not ask about religion.
But estimates based on census ancestry data suggest that about half are Muslim. About 25% of the city is of Arab descent, most of them Yemeni, and an additional 27% is of Asian ancestry, most of them Bangladeshi, according to 2019 census data.
Almost all Yemenis are Muslim, while Bangladeshi Americans in Hamtramck are a mix of Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian.
Hamtramck drew attention in 2015 when it elected its first Muslim-majority City Council. The city’s population has spiked 27% over the past decade.