A Murfreesboro mosque opened its doors to the community in the hopes of opening minds about a new 52,000 square foot worship center in the works.

Muslims, Baptists, Catholics, Jews, Agnostics and others checked their religious difference along with their shoes at the door of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro.

“We feel like the reason for opposition is because maybe they are misinformed; or its something they don’t know about,” Mosque spokeswoman Camie Ayash said. “So what we decided to do was open the doors and allow them to come in and get to know us.”

Around 100 people mingled and ate traditional Muslim foods inside the current worship center on Middle Tennessee Boulevard.  250 families currently worship at the center.

Liz Sodergren wore a blue pin Mosque members gave out to visitors. It said Freedom of Religion for Everyone. “I really love this button because it really summarizes what I believe as an American is important,” she said.

WKRN, 27 June 2010

See also The Tennessean, 27 June 2010

Angry Sheepshead Bay residents came out in a show of force on Sunday to protest a planned mosque and Muslim community center in their neighborhood.

“If they build a mosque there, I’m going to bomb the mosque,” said one outraged resident who lives across the street from the proposed house of worship between East 28th and East 29th streets on Voorhies Avenue. The resident, who refused to give his name, identified himself as a former Israeli soldier who had lived on Voorhies Avenue for eight years. “I will give them a lot of trouble,” he added. “They’re not going to stay here alive.”

Such comments were certainly the most violent, though intolerance was common at the rally, which was organized by the group Bay People. Political correctness was shoved aside as members of the group put out its agenda: We don’t want a mosque here.

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“The rabid Islamophobia displayed by individuals like Pamela Geller, Robert Spencer, and many individuals who have made alarming statements about Islam and Muslims is filtering down through American society.”

Over at The American Muslim Sheila Musaji expresses concerns about the mainstreaming of anti-Muslim bigotry in the US.

Via CAIR

News Hounds has the details.

In the middle of the Rutherford County courthouse lobby, more than two dozen people formed a prayer circle in support of a controversial new mosque.

The prayer vigil was held one week after nearly 650 filled the same courthouse to make it known they did not want the Muslim community building a new Islamic Center on Veals Road.

“We most overcome this ignorance, this cloud of racial darkness that is over our community. We must overcome it,” said vigil organizer Darrell Bouldin.

Those who attended the vigil said they came to show there is tolerance within the Murfreesboro community for people of different religions. “Freedom of religion. That’s my basic reason for being here, my belief in freedom of religion,” Beverly Yousef Zadeh said after the vigil ended.

Pastor Mike Williams led the group in prayer and meditation Thursday night. “Be present as you meditate on peace, tolerance and compassion,” Williams told the crowd.

As they stood in silent meditation, someone who opposed the mosque broke that silence. “You folks can do all your meditating you’d like. These people are coming here to take over the United States,” the man said.

News Channel 5, 25 June 2010

A Tennessee Republican candidate for Congress says plans to build a mosque in a Nashville suburb pose a threat to her state’s moral and political foundation.

In a Thursday evening statement, 6th District candidate Lou Ann Zelenik said she stands with those who oppose building what she calls “an Islamic training center.” She says the center is not part of a religious movement, but a political one “designed to fracture the moral and political foundation of Middle Tennessee.”

“Until the American Muslim community find it in their hearts to separate themselves from their evil, radical counterparts, to condemn those who want to destroy our civilization and will fight against them, we are not obligated to open our society to any of them,” Zelenik says in the statement.

Zelenik, who calls herself a leader in the Middle Tennessee tea party movement, hopes to replace U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon, who is retiring after 13 terms.

Associated Press, 24 June 2010

See also Murfreesboro Post, 24 June 2010

Update:  See “Ask GOP to repudiate anti-mosque Tenn. candidate”, CAIR action alert, 25 June 2010