JONATHAN HERRMANN, Post Staff Writer
Posted: Sunday, August 8, 2010 5:59 am

Local filmmaker Eric Allen Bell is producing a full-length documentary about the controversy surrounding the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro. Photo provided.

Controversy continues to build around the future of an Islamic Center of Murfreesboro with individuals on both sides vocal about their stance.

Murfreesboro resident and filmmaker, Eric Allen Bell, is producing a full-length documentary about the Islamic Center, a film he hopes will illustrate his view points on the subject.

“I am biased,” Bell said. “People have wrongly assumed I’m making an unbiased documentary and get mad when I take a stand. “

Bell believes there are two main reasons for the number of people opposed to the building of the center.

“People have very legitimate concerns,” Bell said. “They don’t know these people or what they’re up to…they don’t have enough information and are captured by fears. There are political opportunists fanning flames.”

His second reason was his belief that many people “think that their religion is superior,” an issue Bell says frightens him.

“It seems like some of these people are part of a radical movement to make America into a theocracy,” he said. “I find it ironic that it’s socially acceptable in evangelical circles to reclaim America for Christ, but it’s not OK in a small town with 200 churches to build one mosque.”

Kevin Fisher, a former candidate for Murfreesboro City School Board, has been vocal against the building and assures religion has nothing to do with the issue.

“People have the right to freedom of religion,” Fisher said. “How they choose to worship is their choice. What’s our concern is does that infringe on the rights of others?”

Fisher presented a list of four questions to the Rutherford County Public Works and Panning Committee Tuesday, Aug. 3. The questions were as follows:

• Did Doug Demosi, the planning director, have legal or constitutional right to grant permission for a body to be buried on the property on Veals Road? If so, what gave Assistant Planning Director Elizabeth Emslie authority to grant this conditional permit since it’s her name which appears on this permit?

• Why was the public not informed about potential risks to the environment, for example, water supply, soil contamination and adequate notice?

• County guidelines call for letters to be sent notifying local residents of upcoming events at this site. No resident claims to have received a letter. Why?

• What about sinkholes? This ground appears to sit below street level. Will this flood, and because the bodies are unvaulted and with no coffin, should not an environmental study be done to make sure these bodies won’t wash away or become unearthed?

Emslie said the center has an approved site and the committee has no intention of stopping it. Emslie also would look into and provide answers for the questions at the next Public Works Committee meeting in September.

“The whole point is about getting information,” Fisher said. “This is about quality of life for the residents.  Once these questions are answered we can move on.”

Another outspoken opponent to the center has been Republican Congressional Candidate Lou Ann Zelenik. Zelenik could not be reached for comment, but has made past statements against the building.

“We Americans pride ourselves on being a tolerant people, but tolerance does not require naivete,” Zelenik said in an earlier statement. “Our nation is at war with Islamic extremists.

“Yes, we are tolerant, but our nation was founded on the tenets of the Judeo-Christian tradition; we have a right to defend that tradition,” Zelenik continued. “Until the American Muslim community find(s) it in their hearts to separate themselves from their evil, radical counterparts, to condemn those who want to destroy our civilization and will fight against them, we are not obligated to open our society to any of them.”

Bell has been critical of Zelenik’s comments and believes she is simply playing up to the fears of the public.

“Lou Ann Zelenik has called this an ‘Islamic Training Center,’” Bell said. “I have as much evidence that it isn’t as she does that it is. She knows better, she’s just playing people. I understand their concerns, but is that happening in Murfreesboro.

“It’s dangerous when we confuse our worst fears with facts,” Bell continued. “I want to separate people’s worst fears from what’s happening.”

Bell said while he understands there is disagreement on what the issue at hand is, he hopes that everyone can come to the same solution.

“As a community and a nation we can solve this problem and we have to solve this problem,” Bell said. “A willingness on all sides to suspend belief for a moment and really listen to what each other is saying.”

To take part in Bell’s documentary, contact him at Eric@BellMedia.org.

Jonathan Herrmann can be contacted at intern@murfreesboropost.com.