Federal officials are investigating a suspected case of Arson at the site of a mosque being constructed in the Nashville, Tennessee suburban city of Murfreesboro. In the late hours of Friday night and early Saturday morning, someone allegedly set fire to construction equipment at the controversial site using gas as their weapon of choice. The ATF, FBI, and Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department have all confirmed that the fire is being attributed to Arson.
Ben Goodwin of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department confirmed to CBS Affiliate WTVF that the fire, which burned construction equipment at the future site of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, is being ruled as arson.
Special Agent Andy Anderson of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told CBS News that the fire destroyed one piece of construction equipment and damaged three others. Gas was poured over the equipment to start the fire, Anderson said.
The ATF, FBI and Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office are conducting a joint investigation into the fire, Anderson said.
WTVF reports firefighters were alerted by a passerby who saw flames at the site. One large earth hauler was set on fire before the suspect or suspects left the scene.
The chair of the center’s planning committee, Essim Fathy, said he drove to the site at around 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning after he was contacted by the sheriff’s department.
“Our people and community are so worried of what else can happen,” said Fathy. “They are so scared.”
The fire was smoldering by the time Fathy and the center’s imam, Ossama Bahloul, had arrived. Fathy was told that responders had smelled gasoline near the fire.
Fathy was later contacted by members of the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, who told him the incident was under investigation and to remain calm.
Digging had begun at the site, which was planned as a place of worship for the approximately 250 Muslim families in the Murfreesboro area, but no structure had been built yet, according to Saleh Sbenaty, a member of the planning committee and a professor of engineering technology at Middle Tennessee State University. Read More…
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I wrote briefly about this “controversy” last week and I regret to see that the matter has escalated to this extremely dangerous level. In case you missed that post or simply haven’t been following this story, the construction site at the center of this apparent act of Arson is one of two proposed mosques planned in the Greater Nashville area. This mosque – in Murfreesboro, Tennessee – has been the focus of much debate and its construction has generated an unusual amount of hate and vitriol - which has apparently now manifested itself in the form of Arson.
As this debate evolved – before it turned to criminal violence and mayhem – it was hijacked by misguided, ignorant, and frankly – disrespectful – individuals who have attempted to capture the passion of the Ground Zero mosque debate and infuse that public sentiment into a conversation regarding unrelated mosque construction 900 miles away. Sadly, and most regrettably, it has been “right-wingers” at the front of the pack – trying to play big boy politics with a religious issue acting morally, socially, and self-righteously indignant all the way – damaging conservatism, making a mockery of the Republican Party, emboldening the Left, shedding a horrible light on Tennesseans, and trampling on the First Amendment in the process.
I have written to several prominent conservative political figures and pundits imploring them to speak out against the opposition to these mosques in Tennessee because I do believe national opposition to the Ground Zero mosque has been presupposed upon ALL mosque construction by many in the Volunteer State in an ill-conceived manner and is now being carried out in the name of the political Right – real, perceived, or otherwise. I have yet to hear back from any of them ( no real shocker there) as I do believe they 1) hope this little “small town” distraction goes away and 2) worry that their speaking out against opposing mosques everywhere diminishes their position in NYC. I think they fail to see that doing so would not chip away at the collective opposition to the Ground Zero mosque – it would only strengthen such an argument. The opposition to the Ground Zero mosque is not about the Right to build there but whether it is right to actually build there. The matter in Tennessee has no similar reason for opposition. Cow pastures and vacant movie theaters hardly rise to the level of significance as the hallowed ground of Lower Manhattan where terrorists carried out the most heinous crime on American civilians in our nation’s history. The issue is Tennessee is that a small percentage of ignorant and misguided individuals want to live a life free of Islamic worship. That is a Constitutional issue folks anyway you shape it.
It is time for the political and ideological Right to denounce this opposition and to take back the moral high ground on the Ground Zero debate. Our silence has emboldened our enemies and the actions of this weekend will only add fuel to their fire. Talking point of the week for August 30th and on… ”Ground Zero sentiment spreads and Islamophobia takes a violent turn.” Get ahead of the news-cycle my fellow Right Wingers. Make clear the distinction. Denounce this act of violence. Shed a true light on the Ground Zero debate. Do not let the racist, bigoted, and misguided beliefs and actions of a few paint us all in an unfavorable and unreflective light.
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With the controversy over the construction of a mosque near Ground Zero in New York reaching unforeseen heights, the debate over new mosque construction has spilled across state lines and is taking root in many communities great distances from the site of the worst terror attack in American history. A recent Rasmussen poll showed that 85% of Americans are following the story and 62% oppose the mosque’s construction. Why are Americans separated by countless miles from the site of the 911 attack so emotionally dedicated to this story when most of them will never go within 100 miles of the proposed structure? What is the debate really about? Opposing a “victory mosque” near Ground Zero? Sympathy for 911 victims’ families? Freedom of religion? Or freedom from Islam?
Two communities in Tennessee are tackling that very question. Nearly 900 miles from Lower Manhattan and Ground Zero, the central focus of that debate has been thrust upon whether or not Tennesseans want mosques in their neighborhoods either. There are seemingly no strong ties to the September 11th, 2001 attack aside from a shared collective American conscience; there are no surviving families of victims who lost their lives; and their are no sacred plots of land needing to be protected. The debate is simple, and yet so unbelievably complex that it has left communities divided; familiar foes on unfamiliar sides of a First Amendment debate….
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For me, the debate surrounding the mosque at Ground Zero is a matter of common sense and common decency. The First Amendment gives all Americans the right to worship as they choose and to construct places of worship accordingly. Nestled in the power of that same Amendment is the Right to Free Speech, and I applaud all New Yorkers who are exercising that Right inopposition to the Park 51 Project. While words like “sensitivity”, “compassion”, and “sympathy” are typically reserved for arguments made from the Left, they are the only weapons at our disposal in this fight. While the all-knowing Liberal elite appear to be ignoring their typical calling cards, those who oppose the mosque’s construction have been forced to rely upon the traditional tools of the Left as their last line of defense. They understand that organizers have a Right to build at that location. They simply hope that said organizers understand that just because they have the right to build there doesn’t mean it is the right thing to do.
If the true objective of the project is the stated one – to increase inter-cultural understanding – its organizers must recognize that continuing with the project as planned only leads to the opposite end. Its divisive, its insensitive, and its shedding an unfavorable light upon a whole population of Muslims in this country that may be completely unwarranted.
Such is the case in the aforementioned communities in suburban Nashville, Tennessee. The stain of resentment, poor taste, and a complete lack of sensitivity being exercised by the Ground Zero mosque organizers has been transferred to Muslims far removed from the Empire State. Opposition to the construction of proposed mosques in communities there is equally as passionate as it is in NYC, even in spite of the lack of a similar connection to a horrific tragedy such as 911.
Two proposed mosques - one in Metro Nashville and one just south of town in Murfreesboro – have been blocked, stalled, stayed, and interfered with by any and all means necessary. Televangelist Pat Robertson of the 700 Club even weighed in on the matter this week implying that local officials could be “bribed” by Muslims. Creative zoning tricks and legal maneuvers have successfully slowed construction and will likely force the places of worship elsewhere – only passing the controversy on for the next community to oppose.
Watching these events play out and unfold, I cannot help but ask the question of why? Why is there such great opposition to the construction of a place of worship? As a proud Tennessean, I know there are but two constants in the fine state I have called home much of my life – maybe three if you count UT Football – support for the Second Amendment and protection of the First. Having traveled much of this great country I can sincerely tell you that Tennesseans are among the most God-fearing, deeply religious, people you will find anywhere. Religion wraps itself in politics in this fine state with an ease that would make our Founders’ heads spin, but the lone resonating consequence is that religion is protected; it is catered to; and it typically rules the day. So why the change of tone? Why the great deviation? Why is religion – of this particular persuasion – suddenly such a vile creature; such a collective enemy of all?
This proud state that usually champions the Freedom of Religion to the point that it presupposes its place in government (yes I understand the paradox there – move to Tennessee and you will also) is now willing to exert its collective will upon a religious congregation and tell them that they have no place in the Volunteer State?
Having deliberated over the matter for some time, I have come to a simple conclusion. The matter is not really about the First Amendment. Its not about the Establishment Clause or the Free Exercise Clause. This debate, as it relates to Tennesseans, is aboutFreedom from Islam. Just as Tennessee uniquely entangles its religion and its government in an effort to keep the two apart, it is once again creating a special exception to the US Constitution as it deems fit and proper.
Knowing that it is inconsistent and absolutely unconscionable to speak openly about the real issue at play, those who oppose suburban Nashville mosques are simply calling upon public sentiment and animosity toward the Park 51 Project to bolster their argument 900 miles away. References to terrorist funding and sponsorship of radical Islam are not just part of everyday conversation, they even became part of Congressional primary campaigns. Freedom from Islam – peaceful or otherwise – became not only a talking point, but a requisite stump speech for any and all seeking public office.
While politics tend to cater to public sentiment and politicians feed on public hostility toward an issue, it is strikingly odd to me that the deeply religious people of Tennessee have so easily abandoned their posts as the last line of defense for religious freedom. In matters such as this, people often talk of slippery slopes; and while such statements may seem cliche, I cannot for the life of me think of a place more appropriate for such an argument than at the center of this debate. If a community can prevent a Muslim mosque from being constructed, what is next – A Buddhist Temple? A synagogue? A Catholic Church?
The short of it is this. Mosque construction in suburban Nashville, Tennessee is not the same as Project 51 in Lower Manhattan. From a legal perspective, both cases for opposition are equally lacking, but what distinguishes the two however, is the fact that residents of Murfreesboro and Nashville were never the victims of a terrorist attack perpetrated by Muslim extremists; they have no sacred plots of land to protect; and they have no families of innocent victims to shield from future sorrow. Their opposition is masked by faulty logic and non-existent connections to 911 – an opposition that disrespects the battle being fought 900 miles to the North. This is not about Freedom of Religion or freedom from terror, it is about wanting to live in a society Free from Islam altogether.
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More on this Story… Its Already Starting Folks…
Associated Press, The Moderate Voice, Talking Points Memo, Gawker, Raw Story,Washington Monthly, Outside the Beltway, The Mahablog and Suburban Guerrilla
via memeorandum, Memeorandum and Memeorandum
This is a travesty. These people should be ashamed of themselves. I can’t help but think this is going to turn out to be a gang of teenagers with too much time on their hands acting out. I hope it is not tied to the KKK like many are rumoring about. You are right. This will be the talking point of the week for the Ground Zero fight and Olbermamnn Maddow types that will call this a sign of violent Tea Party people burning churches.
Tim. I hope you are right – both about this being the work of ignorant teenagers and that it isn’t tied to the Klan. I would much prefer to find out that this was something stupid – yet dangerous and equally offensive – than a well-planned malicious attack by someone with a message or intending to send one. Stupidity, ignorance, and bigotry come in many forms, so I have no idea who will emerge as being behind this. I only hope its not someone with a Palin bumber sticker and a Tea Party T-Shirt or this story could really find some legs. NO – and I mean NO legitimate conservative, Republican, Libertarian, or otherwise political institution actually supports actions such as this and I hope that the culprit doesn’t give the MSM ammunition for speculating that they do.
Again, the story illustrates one resounding point… Republicans and conservatives MUST come forward to condemn these actions and to call for the opposition to the two mosques in Tennessee to stop immediately – or at least discard their cloaks of Conservative Republican cover before they damage the national platform as well as impact the Ground Zero debate negatively.
Thanks for the comment Tim
This story should strike fear for all who oppose the 911 victory mosque in New York City. This action by one sick individual will cause the entire debate to take on a different tone. Thank you ignorant bastard(s) for allowing radical Islam to win this fight through your ignorance and insensitivity.
We can only hope they bring this person to justice swiftly and that reports of gunfire at the site last evening prove to be false.
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