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Federal officials are investigating a fire that started overnight at the site of a new Islamic center in a Nashville suburb.

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.

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. this 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, but would not say it was caused by arson.

"They didn't say that," said Fathy. "But of course it looks like somebody did that."

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.

"This is a shock," said Sbenaty. "We've had small act of vandals. But this is going to be a crime and whoever did it, they should be punished to the full extent of the law."

The center had operated for years out of a small business suite. Planning members said the new building, which was being constructed next to a church, would help accommodate the area's growing Muslim community.

"We unfortunately did not experience hostilities for the 30 years we've been here and have only seen the hostility since approval of the site plan for the new center," said Sbenaty.

Opponents of a new Islamic center say they believe the mosque will be more than a place of prayer; they are afraid the 15-acre site that was once farmland will be turned into a terrorist training ground for Muslim militants bent on overthrowing the U.S. government.

"They are not a religion. They are a political, militaristic group," Bob Shelton, a 76-year-old retiree who lives in the area, told The Associated Press.

Shelton was among several hundred demonstrators who recently wore "Vote for Jesus" T-shirts and carried signs that said "No Sharia law for USA!," referring to the Islamic code of law.

Others took their opposition further, spray painting a sign announcing the "Future site of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro" and tearing it up.

Earlier this summer opponents criticized the planned mosque at hearings held by the Rutherford County Commission, as supporters held prayer vigils.

At one such prayer vigil, WTVF reported opponents speaking out against construction.

"No mosque in Murfreesboro. I don't want it. I don't want them here," Evy Summers said to WTVF. "Go start their own country overseas somewhere. This is a Christian country. It was based on Christianity."

Skjellyfetti wrote:

Federal officials are investigating a fire that started overnight at the site of a new Islamic center in a Nashville suburb.

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.

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. this 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, but would not say it was caused by arson.

"They didn't say that," said Fathy. "But of course it looks like somebody did that."

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.

"This is a shock," said Sbenaty. "We've had small act of vandals. But this is going to be a crime and whoever did it, they should be punished to the full extent of the law."

The center had operated for years out of a small business suite. Planning members said the new building, which was being constructed next to a church, would help accommodate the area's growing Muslim community.

"We unfortunately did not experience hostilities for the 30 years we've been here and have only seen the hostility since approval of the site plan for the new center," said Sbenaty.

Opponents of a new Islamic center say they believe the mosque will be more than a place of prayer; they are afraid the 15-acre site that was once farmland will be turned into a terrorist training ground for Muslim militants bent on overthrowing the U.S. government.

"They are not a religion. They are a political, militaristic group," Bob Shelton, a 76-year-old retiree who lives in the area, told The Associated Press.

Shelton was among several hundred demonstrators who recently wore "Vote for Jesus" T-shirts and carried signs that said "No Sharia law for USA!," referring to the Islamic code of law.

Others took their opposition further, spray painting a sign announcing the "Future site of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro" and tearing it up.

Earlier this summer opponents criticized the planned mosque at hearings held by the Rutherford County Commission, as supporters held prayer vigils.

At one such prayer vigil, WTVF reported opponents speaking out against construction.

"No mosque in Murfreesboro. I don't want it. I don't want them here," Evy Summers said to WTVF. "Go start their own country overseas somewhere. This is a Christian country. It was based on Christianity."

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blueballs wrote:I wonder if the muslims in Nashville- and in New York- are as concerned about the rights of Christians and Jews in the middle east, particularly Saudi Arabia, where THERE IS NOT A SINGLE church or synagogue and people of the Christian or Jewish faith aren't allowed on the grounds of Mecca; as they are about their buildings.

mrklean wrote:

Skjellyfetti wrote:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/08/ ... 4690.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What Christian LOVE she is showing. What WOuld Jesus DO or Say? WTF!!!!!! This is what happens when yo have a bunch of backwards azz country hicks running a muck in your community.

Skjellyfetti wrote:

blueballs wrote:I wonder if the muslims in Nashville- and in New York- are as concerned about the rights of Christians and Jews in the middle east, particularly Saudi Arabia, where THERE IS NOT A SINGLE church or synagogue and people of the Christian or Jewish faith aren't allowed on the grounds of Mecca; as they are about their buildings.

Our country has freedom of religion as a central tenant. The countries you mention are theocracies. Not really comparable, imo.


Though it does seem like those on the religious right want to turn us into a theocracy.

mrklean wrote: What Christian LOVE she is showing. What WOuld Jesus DO or Say? WTF!!!!!! This is what happens when yo have a bunch of backwards azz country hicks running a muck in your community.

blueballs wrote:I wonder if the muslims in Nashville- and in New York- are as concerned about the rights of Christians and Jews in the middle east, particularly Saudi Arabia, where THERE IS NOT A SINGLE church or synagogue and people of the Christian or Jewish faith aren't allowed on the grounds of Mecca; as they are about their buildings.

Cluck U wrote:

mrklean wrote: What Christian LOVE she is showing. What WOuld Jesus DO or Say? WTF!!!!!! This is what happens when yo have a bunch of backwards azz country hicks running a muck in your community.

Speaking of backwards azz people "running a muck" in your community, klean, you were conspicuously absent from the Iowa race thead where the local black posse was enjoying their "beat whitey" night.

Too tired to post from a night of fun?

mrklean wrote: REPUKE Side Step II

What the hell does this have to do with the 1st Amendment? What happened in Iowa was and is wrong and the local Police will handle it!

WHEN FACED WITH THE TRUTH, THE REPUKE WILL SIDE STEP THE QUESTION!

Cluck U wrote:

mrklean wrote: REPUKE Side Step II

What the hell does this have to do with the 1st Amendment? What happened in Iowa was and is wrong and the local Police will handle it!

WHEN FACED WITH THE TRUTH, THE REPUKE WILL SIDE STEP THE QUESTION!

Not sure what question was side stepped here, but I am sure you will enlighten me...what was this thread's question again?

Now, in reference to the Iowa thread, glad you decided to chime in on that here since you decided to not dive into the discussion over there. Silence is an interesting sound from someone so vocal about race issues. Oh, and if the shoe were on the other foot, you would be happy to let the local police handle things? Glad to hear...I'll be looking for that consistency in the future...it is a sign of an educated mind.

mrklean wrote:Like all repukes, he still has answered the first question!

bobbythekidd wrote:

mrklean wrote:Like all repukes, he still has answered the first question!

Is the question "what would Jesus do/say?"

mrklean wrote:

bobbythekidd wrote:
Is the question "what would Jesus do/say?"

NO, my first question is what does the actions of a group of people in the middle East have to do with an America's 1st Amendment rights???

mrklean wrote:

bobbythekidd wrote:
Is the question "what would Jesus do/say?"

YES?

Cluck U wrote:

mrklean wrote: YES?

Oh, I thought you meant there was a real question in this thread.

But feel free to get on the hotline to JC and let me know what the man would say and do. And let me know what JC would think about someone using the term "repukes", because I am sure he would appreciate the irony of someone using that term while asking what Jesus would do or say.

You do understand your double standards, don't you?

mrklean wrote:

Cluck U wrote:
Oh, I thought you meant there was a real question in this thread.

But feel free to get on the hotline to JC and let me know what the man would say and do. And let me know what JC would think about someone using the term "repukes", because I am sure he would appreciate the irony of someone using that term while asking what Jesus would do or say.

You do understand your double standards, don't you?

And he still side steps the real question

Cluck U wrote:

mrklean wrote: And he still side steps the real question

OK, I'll play along with your evasiveness. What happens in the Middle East should have no bearing on the practice of First Amendment rights here in the states.

Boy, that wasn't hard at all, even though you never asked that question.

And now you are stuck with the other **** you brought up (and didn't, in the Iowa thread). Good luck with that.

blueballs wrote:I wonder if the muslims in Nashville- and in New York- are as concerned about the rights of Christians and Jews in the middle east, particularly Saudi Arabia, where THERE IS NOT A SINGLE church or synagogue and people of the Christian or Jewish faith aren't allowed on the grounds of Mecca; as they are about their buildings.

blueballs wrote:I wonder if the muslims in Nashville- and in New York- are as concerned about the rights of Christians and Jews in the middle east, particularly Saudi Arabia, where THERE IS NOT A SINGLE church or synagogue and people of the Christian or Jewish faith aren't allowed on the grounds of Mecca; as they are about their buildings.

∞∞∞ wrote:

blueballs wrote:I wonder if the muslims in Nashville- and in New York- are as concerned about the rights of Christians and Jews in the middle east, particularly Saudi Arabia, where THERE IS NOT A SINGLE church or synagogue and people of the Christian or Jewish faith aren't allowed on the grounds of Mecca; as they are about their buildings.

This has nothing to do with anything. If you CHOOSE to go to Theocratic state, then you CHOOSE to follow the country's laws...just like anywhere else in the world. Second, in Saudi Arabia, you can pray in a Mosque as a non-Muslim as long as it's not in Medina or Mecca (which non-Muslims can't enter anyways), as long as you have permission from the imam, and as long as you take the shoes off and wash up before hand. Most every other Middle Eastern country has churches. Even Iran has churches. As for Mecca and Medina, Mecca is like the Vatican, and I'm pretty positive you can't worship (or enter?) as a non-Christian into the Vatican. Medina is the sight of the tomb of the prophet Mo and is considered sacred ground as well.

The beautiful think about the US is that we're not theocratic and can't compare to Saudi Arabia in terms of our government. We don't hold the bible, torah, quran, or anything else sacred...but we do the Constitution (well not anymore really ).