Local Muslims react to violence overseas - WSMV Channel 4
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Four Americans were killed in Libya, dozens were hurt during violent protests in Egypt and Yemen, and in Iran demonstrators shouted "death to America."
The world has been watching fearful of yet another attack, and in Murfreesboro on the quiet campus of the city's new Islamic Center, Muslim community members were worried as well.
"We hope that it will never happen, but we always, with such a tragic event, have to embrace for a backlash," said MTSU professor Dr. Saleh Sbenaty.
Already, the center has received more than a dozen threatening calls with people angry at local Muslims for what's happening overseas.
"It's an understandable reaction, but I want to say that the people who did this in Libya were not good people, like the one who did this in Colorado was not a good guy, like the one that did what he did in Oklahoma City was not a good guy, like the one who did it to the mosque in Missouri was not a good guy, like the ones who did Sept. 11th they were not good guys. All of those people, regardless of their religion or practice, they share one thing. They are crazy. That's it," said the Imam of the Islamic Center, Ossama Bahloul.
Leaders at the center acted swiftly, posting a statement on their website condemning the violence and offering condolences to those who were hurt and killed.
"Our heart goes out to his family and his kids and it is too sad," Bahloul said.
They also condemn the anti-Islamist video which instigated the attacks and the Americans who made it.
"People have the right to be angry. The movie was a mess itself," Bahloul said.
They vow to respond locally with peace and hope to encourage others to do the same.
"I want to ask all of the people to work together. Let us be against violence of any kind. Let us be against any radicalism coming from the Muslim community or the non-Muslim community. Radicalism does not have a religion," Bahloul said.
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