June 21, 2010 – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

Tennessee Mosque Plans Under Protest

In the small town of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 650 residents came out to speak out about the plans to build an new Islamic mosque, to replace the existing facility. The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro already has an existing facility, but according to ABC, it seeks to develop a larger facility for its 250 family membership. The Murfreesboro, TN population is estimated at around 100,000, and it is 30 miles from Nashville.

During the meeting on the proposed new mosque and Islamic facility, ABC reported that residents displayed “ugly criticism” that “some sharing their opposition in public comments… [made comments] that at times turned intolerant.” The Tennessean reported that “Plans for a new Islamic center south of Murfreesboro have some residents denouncing the Muslim religion and others calling the dispute one of the ugliest displays of religious intolerance in the county’s history… Many saw the event as an embarrassing black eye for Rutherford County over a lack of religious tolerance, while dozens reiterated their fears and charges that the mosque needs to be held to high scrutiny and regarded with heavy suspicion.”

News Channel 5 reported that “The area the Islamic Center purchased land already had the correct zoning for a church, therefore did not need a public hearing before it was approved. That fact upset many people who came to Thursday night’s meeting.”

Video Clip from Tennessee Mosque Protest (Photo: News Channel 5)

Another report stated that “Dozens spoke for an allotted 3 minutes each during the two hour public portion of the meeting. None spoke in favor of the mosque.”

In January 2010, WKRN reported on vandalism of a sign for the planned new mosque, with the graffiti ” Not Welcome.”

In Tennessee, vandalism and violence has been seen against mosques. In February 2010, the Al-Farooq Mosque was vandalized with “Christian” graffiti and the message “Muslims go home.” In Columbia, Tennessee, a mosque was burned down by Neo-Nazi White Supremacists.

Murfreesboro, Tennessee: Vandalism of Sign for Planned Mosque

ABC video

Tennessee News Channel 5 Video:

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Responsible for Equality and Liberty (R.E.A.L.) supports our universal human rights to freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience for all people of all faiths. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”

We urge those who promote hate and intolerance to unburden the hate from their hearts.

We urge all to Choose Love, Not Hate. Love Wins.

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List of Media Reports:

ABC News: “Plan for Mosque in Tennessee Town Draws Criticism from Residents
Murfreesboro Mosque Sparks Debate That at Times Turns Ugly”

Tennessee News Channel 5: Proposed Islamic Center Stirs Up Controversy In Murfreesboro
— Channel 5 Video Link

The Tennessean: Mosque expansion proposal in Murfreesboro spotlights fear, shame

The Tennessean: Murfreesboro mosque opponents pack commission meeting

January 18, 2010: WKRN: Vandals spray paint Murfreesboro Islamic Center sign

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R.E.A.L. Reports:

Tennessee: White Supremacist Nazi Gets 4 Years in Prison for Mosque Firebombing

Tennessee Man Sentenced to 183 Months in Prison for Burning Islamic Center

Tennessee: Vandalism Against Mosque

Russia: Bombing of Jewish Synagogue

Media sources report that a Jewish synagogue in the central Russian city of Tver was damaged by a “homemade bomb” in the middle of the night, but no one was hurt.

— ITAR-TASS reports: “The explosion hit the synagogue at about 02:00 a.m. Moscow time , damaging its entryway and breaking out window glasses in nearby houses, said Igor Elgardt, the chairman of the regional organization Jewish National and Cultural Autonomy.”
— “‘This is not the first vandalism case here,’ he said. ‘Previously, anti-Semitic writings appeared on the synagogue’s wall. There are reports that anti-Semitic leaflets are circulated in the city.'”

— ITAR-TASS also reports: “Anti-Semitic writings have appeared on the walls of the synagogue, anti-Semitic leaflets have been circulated in the city and some 140 graves were vandalized in the Jewish part of the local cemetery in 2009, the statement said.”

Media Report Listing:

— ITAR-TASS: Explosion hits synagogue in Russia’s Tver, no one hurt
— ITAR-TASS: No injuries in synagogue bombing in Tver, Russia (updated)
— JTA: Bomb explodes near synagogue in Russia
— YWN: Shul Attacked in Russia
— IOL: Blast rocks Russian synagogue
— YouTube Video
— CFCA report
— CFCA photos

— Tver, Russia – Explosion Hits Synagogue, No One Hurt

DC Police to No Longer Arrest Muslim Women Praying in Mosque Main Hall

Selected Washington DC media outlets have been reporting on the story of controversies over the Islamic Center in Washington DC, and women who seek to pray in the main hall, rather than in a segregated room. Muslim women have been protesting over their segregated prayer facilities since February 2010. Muslim women state that they have had to be segregated in a small room with a 7 foot high wall. WAMU radio quoted one Muslim woman as stating that the segregated prayer room made her feel “Boxed in, stifling, suffocating and totally a second class citizen.”

The Islamic Center, 2551 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, D.C.

The protests seeking equal access to prayer facilities resulted in the Washington DC police being called to evict the Muslim women praying at the DC Islamic Center or threatening to arrest them, and reportedly similar police actions were taken on a related case in the DC Northern Virginia suburb of Falls Church. After Muslim women were evicted from the DC Islamic Center in February 2010, one report stated that the women prayed outside of the mosque, with one male onlooker commenting “build your own mosque.”

But now the practice of the DC police coming to evict or threaten arrest Muslim women as “trespassers” for praying in the main hall of the DC Islamic Center is coming to an end, according to the Washington Examiner. The Examiner reports that it has internal emails from the Washington DC metropolitan police providing guidance to police officers to no longer get involved in such disputes, stating that “We are not to get involved… Important that our officers not escort women out of there.”

WAMU-FM: "Fatima Thompson led a protest against women having to pray in an area other than the main prayer hall in a Northwest D.C. mosque." (Photo: WAMU/Kavitha Cardoza) — WAMU-FM: “Fatima Thompson led a protest against women having to pray in an area other than the main prayer hall in a Northwest D.C. mosque.” (Photo: WAMU/Kavitha Cardoza)

One of the protesters for Muslim women’s equality in worship, Fatima Thompson, has previously been quoted as stating “Wooden barriers have to be taken down and women have to be allowed to join, to pray behind the men in the main praying area. That’s our request. We are against gender segregation, against the fact that women are put aside or in a totally different room at the mosque. The general issue we are pushing is gender segregation and the ramifications it fosters. It’s not healthy, and not reflective of our society here. It’s very reflective of very restrictive, ultra orthodox societies.”

The Islamic Center reportedly has no comment on the Washington DC police decision to no longer evict or threaten to arrest Muslim women praying in the main hall.

The Washington Examiner reports that the police department decision to no longer evict or threaten to arrest women for praying in the main mosque hall has “raised the hackles” of a representative of the libertarian Cato Institute, Ilya Shapiro. Ilya Shapiro was quoted in the Examiner as stating “The religious angle is beside the point. This isn’t a lunch counter or a restaurant or a hotel.. Basically this is a private institution, and that’s what this turns on — private property rights. If you don’t want a trespasser on your lawn … you do rely on the police, ultimately, to eject people you don’t want.”

Cato Institute: Libertarian Ilya Shapiro Defends DC Islamic Center "Right" to Call Police on Muslim Women for Praying in Mosque's Main Hall — Cato Institute: Libertarian Ilya Shapiro Defends DC Islamic Center “Right” to Call Police on Muslim Women for Praying in Mosque’s Main Hall

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) stands in support of our universal human rights for all people, of all genders, equally, and in support of all faiths. Muslim women deserve equality and dignity in their worship like all other individuals. This is not a liberal or conservative issue, but is an issue of human rights and human dignity.

We support such inclusion of all those who seek freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience, as one of our most fundamental universal human rights.

Choose Love, Not Hate. Love Wins.

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List of Media Reports:

— Washington DC Examiner: D.C. police won’t intervene to remove women from mosques

— Washington DC Examiner: Muslim women protest separation at DC mosque

— WAMU: Muslim Women Protest Policies At Islamic Center Of Washington

— NBC Washington: Muslim Women Protest Policies At Islamic Center
— 7-foot-high wall separates women, men

— AFP: In US, Muslim women challenge mosque separation

— Blog: Washington DC Mosque – Muslim Women Demand End To Sex Segregation Again

— Blog: USA – Muslim Women Question Sex Segregation In Mosque Prayer Hall