American Taliban oppose plan for TN mosque

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A plan to build an Islamic community center in the middle-Tennessee town of Murfreesboro sparked an eruption of ugly criticism on Thursday from some residents who don't want a mosque built in their backyard.

More than 600 people turned out for a meeting of the Rutherford County Commission Thursday night, with some sharing their opposition in public comments that at times turned intolerant.

"We have a duty to investigate anyone under the banner of Islam," Allen Jackson, the pastor of World Outreach Church, said at the meeting.

...

The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro's plans call for a 52,000-sq. ft. facility that would include a pool, gym, and school in addition to a mosque. The center has had a facility in Murfreesboro since 1997, but says that with over 250 Islamic families in the community, it needs more space.

"It is not a huge mosque as they are saying," said Imam Ossama Bahloul. "This place is too small for us and we have to move."

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The plan was approved by the commission last month, but that hasn't dampened the outrage from some residents who said they had no idea it was even under consideration.

"I found out when the sign came up," said Murfreesboro resident Mark Walker, whose home is near the site of the proposed mosque. "We are fighting these people, for crying out loud, we should not be promoting this."

"They seem to be against everything I believe in, and so I don't want them necessarily in my neighborhood," said local resident Stan Whiteway.

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Despite the outrage, county officials said Thursday that the plan will go ahead. They defended their decision by noting that the mosque plan met zoning requirements and it is illegal to reject a project for religious reasons.

http://abcnews.go.com/m/screen?id=10956381

[IndigoSkies 168]

Despite the outrage, county officials said Thursday that the plan will go ahead. They defended their decision by noting that the mosque plan met zoning requirements and it is illegal to reject a project for religious reasons.

Exactly. This is a non-issue then. Move on.

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Exactly. This is a non-issue then. Move on.

The fact that an extremely vocal and increasingly militant lunatic fringe exists in this country is not a non issue. You ignore the 'Nazis' of contemporary America at your own risk.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

It is backwoods Tennessee. What more could you really expect?

In all seriousness though, let the people build their damn church.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

"We have a duty to investigate anyone under the banner of Islam," Allen Jackson, the pastor of World Outreach Church, said at the meeting.

Some outreach right there...