---
title: "A Mosque in the Middle"
description: "The proposed construction of a mosque in the middle of Tennessee has produced a sharp exchange of words between candidates for an open congressional seat. In May, the Rutherford County Regional Planning Commission approved the construction of a 52,000-square-foot facility to house a mosque and Islamic center in Murfreesboro. More than 600 residents turned out […]"
date: "2010-07-13"
authors:
  - name: "Benjamin Wormald"
    job_title: "Senior Engineer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/benjamin-wormald/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2010/07/13/a-mosque-in-the-middle/"
categories:
  - "Election 2010"
  - "Religion"
---

# A Mosque in the Middle

The proposed construction of a mosque in the middle of Tennessee has produced a sharp exchange of words between candidates for an open congressional seat.

In May, the Rutherford County Regional Planning Commission approved the construction of a 52,000-square-foot facility to house a mosque and Islamic center in Murfreesboro. More than 600 residents turned out at a county commission meeting in mid-June to protest the construction plans, ABC's[*World News *reported](http://abcnews.go.com/WN/murfreesboro-tennessee-mosque-plan-draws-criticism-residents/story?id=10956381).

Candidates looking to represent Tennessee's 6th congressional district, which includes Murfreesboro, were quick to take sides. According to [*The Tennessean*](http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100621/NEWS06/6210329/Mosque-expansion-proposal-in-Murfreesboro-spotlights-fear-shame), self-described "tea party Democrat" George Erdel declared that "Islam is a system of government. Islam is a system of justice.... I'm afraid we'll have a training facility in Rutherford County."

Republican candidate Lou Ann Zelenik took a similar stand in a [press release](http://www.votelouann.com/news-room/news-details.php?PRKey=60), saying, "This 'Islamic Center' is not part of a religious movement; it is a political movement designed to fracture the moral and political foundation of Middle Tennessee." A [local television news station reported](http://www.newschannel5.com/global/story.asp?s=12723643) that Zelenik soon afterward received death threats. Most recently, Zelenik [claimed](http://conventions.nationaljournal.com/hotline/po_20100715_4257.php) the center has a "radical agenda" and [called for an investigation](http://www.dnj.com/article/20100712/NEWS01/100712029/Zelenik-campaign-calls-for-answers-concerning-Islamic-Center). A board member of the Islamic center [has been suspended](http://www.dnj.com/article/20100713/NEWS01/100713031/Islamic-Center-suspends-board-member-after-Zelenik-accusation) as a result of Zelenik's accusations.

Ben Leming, a Marine and Iraq combat veteran who is also running as a Democrat for the 6th district seat, countered Zelenik's views in [statements](http://www.benleming.com/fullarticledisplay.php?articleid=58)covered by the local [*Daily News Journal*](http://www.dnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010306300041) and NashvillePost.com's* "*[Post Politics](http://politics.nashvillepost.com/2010/06/25/leming-is-bewildered-by-zelenik/)" blog. "The Americans that want to build this mosque are already our neighbors. They live next to us and they are a part of our community. They are not the enemy," he said.

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