In 2005, Imam Mohammad Islam began to lead his congregation through soft-spoken prayers in Doraville. Now in his ’90s, the imam in Covington has worked for years to meet the zoning requirements to build a cemetery and mosque for Muslim worshipers to honor their deceased family members in the area. A few weeks ago, the firestorm began when the county placed a moratorium on the mosque project and residents of Newton County came forward with their concerns about the project.
This situation begs the obvious question: “How do we, as Georgians, find the middle ground in an era of extremism and fear throughout the United States?” The answer, I believe, permits Georgia’s residents, such as myself, to provide an answer, and light, to a national debate. As a Georgian, I choose to be an example.
Civil rights groups are denouncing opposing citizens for being racist and Islamophobic. Others are describing the people opposing the mosque as acting out of fear. County Commissioner John Douglas expressed angst that the mosque placement would make the community an “attractive place” for the Refugee Resettlement program.
While concerns about the spread of Islamist extremism and anti-American sentiment are absolutely valid (as it’s been argued in the “Stop the Mosque” Facebook page that Newton County residents constructed), and may certainly arise when new mosques are built in a community, we must also realize that building a religious center, like a mosque, represents the cornerstone of American freedom and democracy.
Federal laws like the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act protect religious freedoms; and protect institutions from discriminatory land-use regulations. This country was founded on basic principles of unalienable rights inherent to all people of all faiths. Among those basic rights is the freedom of expression and ability to practice one’s religion free from government restriction.
As for commissioner Douglas’ fear of refugees, the Refugee Act of 1980, states that locations are selected based on factors such as family members who live in the area, “availability of employment opportunities,” affordable housing, and resources such as education, healthcare, and mental health services. The law also discusses that the federal government must consult and discuss placement locations with local leaders to address concerns and prepare the area before determining whether refugees will be sent there.
Even with our broad religious freedom allowances, no group is protected from breaking U.S. criminal law. Anyone can be subject to investigation or prosecution of (even) “religious” speech or practices that directly incite illegal activity (Bradenburg v. Ohio 1969) or actively break criminal laws (Employment Division v. Smith 1990).
The concerns in Newton County should not be dealt with by enacting further restrictions on the freedom of religion in the United States. Rather, we should support and encourage our government to uphold the laws we have in place and investigate real instances of extremism when there is ample evidence.
In 2011 it was reported that more than 60 percent of American Muslims fear Islamist extremism (as compared to 67 percent of the general public). Most of the victims of Islamic extremist violence have been other Muslims who neither adhered to a jihadist worldview of violence nor followed extremist Islamic ideology.
As Americans, our only solution must not be to infringe on religious liberties. Even if out of fear, we must not prevent any religious group from experiencing the freedoms that our nation’s founders procured for us. By embracing those that understand the source of our “Islamist extremism” fears, it is possible that we can unify and understand the threats we all face and, in turn, our law enforcement will be better prepared with partners in the Muslim community that feel accepted by their fellow neighbors. After all, Muslim informants have been instrumental in foiling numerous violent acts over the past several years.
Conversely, for those organizations calling for federal probes into Newton County’s decision, we must remember to not silence the voices of anti-extremism, with terms like “bigots” and “Islamophobia.” It is this perpetuated “mud-slinging” game that causes us to fail to prevent violence on U.S. soil, like the policies that led the FBI to drop investigations of suspected extremists, or caused the San Bernardino neighbors to keep silent about troubling activities for fear of being called racist.
Georgians have the unique opportunity to find the middle ground and become an example to all U.S. states in how to deal with fear, misunderstanding, and angst by taking part in honest, open dialogue in order to effectuate positive change.
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