By Associated Press - Wednesday, April 30, 2014

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - The Arab International Festival in suburban Detroit has been canceled for the second year in a row.

The Detroit Free Press reports (https://on.freep.com/1fxq2pd ) the American Arab Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the Dearborn event, says it’s looking at how to move forward.

Until last year, the festival took place each June for nearly two decades. It was designed to enhance cultural awareness and promote businesses in the area. Dearborn has large Arab and Muslim populations.

Christian missionaries picketed the festival, leading to concerns about tensions and insurance costs for the event. The city paid $300,000 in a settlement with Christian missionaries arrested in 2010 at the festival. The missionaries said their rights were violated. They were later acquitted.

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Information from: Detroit Free Press, https://www.freep.com

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