ABC affiliate WKRP Channel 2 in Nashville did a story on the Former Muslims United ad placed on a Lamar Advertising digital billboard near the Stone’s River Mall in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. FMU colleague and executive director Nonie Darwish was interviewed as were a cross section of the community who had viewed the ad. Darwish said:
I have no problem with religious aspects of Islam but Islam is majority a political system,” she told News 2. We are trying to alert the public. I don’t want to see it because they’re aiming at the Bible belt.
Watch the WKRP news video. The WKRP news report, follows:
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The controversy over plans to expand the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro and construction a new mosque in Rutherford County continues.
The latest outburst against the mosque is an electronic billboard near the Stones River Mall.
The billboard, paid for by former Muslims, reads, “Stop the Murfreesboro mosque” and lists the Web site of Former Muslims United, an organization made up of people who used to be Muslim, sharing their opposition to Islam.
Nonie Darwish is a member of the California-based organization.
“I have no problem with religious aspects of Islam but Islam is majority a political system,” she told News 2. “We are trying to alert the public.”
The green background represents the Saudi National flag with the Muslim profession of faith on it.
According to Former Muslims United, the children on the billboard represent the target of the threat.
Darwish said, “I don’t want to see it because they’re aiming at the Bible belt.”
The billboard is the latest in the controversy that began weeks ago when the Rutherford County Planning Commission approved the project.
Mosque protestors are planning to present a petition to the Rutherford County Commission at the commission’s next meeting in August.
Because county officials already approved the proposal, it is solely up to them whether the project will continue.
