Murfreesboro Mosque

Larry P sent me an email that had the following link embedded in it.

The link opens to an article that raises some interesting questions:


"Why is it such a big deal that a Muslim community is simply trying to build a house of worship?

Let’s start with a little math. Murfreesboro, TN has just over 100,000 residents. According to estimates provided by the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, there are 200 to 300 Muslim families living in the area. When they announced their plans to build a 53,000 square foot mega mosque, a lot of questions came up. One subject of concern was why they needed such a huge compound for so few families. What is particularly disconcerting is that, according to their own documents (attached 2009 annual report) the ICM only has 45 active paying member families. Naturally this begs another question – who is paying for this massive compound?

And, what will it really cost to build something that looks like this, per square foot, at 53,000 square feet, when the project is completed? How many millions of dollars will these “45 active members” be coming up with – and where is all this money coming from?"

That is a good question, and my answer is:

From someplace and somebody else.

Now before you start waving the First Amendment let me point out religious buildings are subject to the same zoning laws as everyone else.

In this case the mosque members went to the county Planning Commission and received approval.

But then we found out that the meeting where approval was given was not properly advertised. A judge said that but didn't halt construction.

Some people aren't subject to the same rules as others.

But let's go back. Where is the money coming from? Obviously from the same place all the Muslim school money is coming from. From Muslim sources outside the country.

Does the First Amendment say that people are free to practice their religion by building religious buildings all over the country using money from outside the country?

"But the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro says it’s just a place of worship, right?

According to a passage on the ICM website from 2008, since scrubbed from the web, but preserved in the attached documents, here is what the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro website used to say about an objective of their presence, in Tennessee (before they scrubbed this from the web):

“The main focus is to insure the masjid (mosque) stronghold on our community and to expand beyond religious teachings… We must work hard so that the ICM have a prominent role in the development and progression of not only Mufreesboro, but of Middle Tennessee.”


No. The First Amendment doesn't protect "....(mosque) stronghold on our community and to expand beyond religious teachings......."

Here's the link. Be warned that it is not PC so don't complain. You don't have to read it.

Link


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