Residents rally to show support for Islamic Center of Murfreesboro

Freedom of religion badgeA 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

What kind of America is this? Hate-filled rally to stop mosque

Sheepshead Bay anti-mosque protestAngry 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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Defeating ‘universal jihad’ in Tennessee

Vijay Kumar billboard

What is it with Republicans in Tennessee? Lou Ann Zelenik, who is standing as a Republican candidate for Congress in Tennessee’s 6th District, has just denounced the plan to build a new Islamic centre in Murfreesboro as part of “a political movement designed to fracture the moral and political foundation of Middle Tennessee”. Another Republican candidate, Vijay Kumar, who has in the past been boosted by David Horowitz’s FrontPage Magazine, is standing in Tennessee’s 5th District – under the slogan “Defeat Universal Jihad Now!”.

In a recent interview, Kumar explained:

“My position is clear and unequivocal: Islam’s Universal Jihad and Sharia law pose a clear and present existential threat to the very existence of the United States, and to every liberty, freedom, and human right that this nation was founded upon.

“… if the American people do not awake to the nature and seriousness of this threat, if we do not take swift and effective action to protect our republic from it, if we do not openly and candidly name the enemies of freedom and human liberty – in short, if Islam is allowed to realize its goals – then one day there will be no 5th District of Tennessee, nor will there be any Tennessee, nor will there be a United States of America, and the Quran will be the only constitution ruling this land that we cherish.”

Prayer vigil in Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro prayer vigilIn 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