>> they can claim religion all they want. but it don't mean you're going to come in here and do this in rutherford county. >> it's my right as an american citizen, to have a place of worship. >> murfeesboro is kind of a small-big town. it's a beautiful place where a family can live and grow and be a part of a community. very loving community. >> we love murfeesboro, and we love it for the most part, the way it is, and the way it has been. >> it doesn't matter what religion you are or what race you are, whatever, the people here are so welcoming. >> talk to the residents of people of murfeesboro, tennessee and they will tell you the strength of their city lies in its close-knit community and strong religious faith. the city has 104,000 people. more than 140 churches and one mosque. >> for decades, muslims have lived and prayed alongside their neighbors. but in june 2010, their place in the community was questioned, exposing a growing fear of islam in america, ten years after the attacks of 9/11. >> we as citizens, we have families and children in this community. we're trying to look out for our future. >> we thank you for your love and your joy. >> kevin fisher has lived here 20 years. he's a corrections officer and a single father. in may of 2010, kevin was stunned to discover local officials had approved plans for a 53,000 square foot islamic center in his hometown. >> neighbors were outraged that so muching this nature was being basically shoved down our throats. we didn't know anything about it. >> a month later, the typically sleepy county commission meeting was anything but. >> so many people turned up for the public hearing, authorities wouldn't let them all in. >> i'm very happy to see this many people here really standing up. >> a few residents complained about the lack of notice of the mosque plan. >> i would respectfully ask for an expanded hearing again. >> virtually everyone else spoke out against the threat of islam. >> everybody knows who's trying to kill us. it's like we can't say it. >> i would encourage the boycott of any contractor associated with the project. thank you. >> our country was founded through the founding fathers, through the true god, the father in jesus christ. >> i'm sorry but they seem to be against everything i believe in. i don't want them necessarily in our neighborhood. >> that concludes our public comment period. thank you very much. >> local officials refused to consider their anonymous approval of the plan. ♪ god bless america whew! >> we decided to hold a march so that america, the whole world, everybody could see these people didn't get notice. so that's what we did. >> ignore their intolerance. we know why we're here. >> under surya law, there is no freedom of peace. >> among those marching against the mosque plan was prominent local resident and real estate developer, sally wall. >> my fourth great-grandmother was the first woman buried in a marked grave in rutherford county. that's how long we've been here. i think that has quite a bit to do with how you feel about what happens here in the community. >> also marching, sally's husband, howard wall, a local powerbroker and former republican county chairman. >> i always thought other people marched. i didn't have to march. who am i not to march? i wanted to show my interest in my community and my country. >> here is this anonymous building, which is going to be occupied by people who are of the same religion that the people are who we're fighting in afghanistan, who we have been fighting in iraq. >> why are they building a mosque nearly 53,000 square feet? that is a lot of square footage, and it's going to be a very expensive thing. now, are 200 families, or 200 muslims, however many there are, how are they going to pay for it? i know wn we expanded our church, we're still paying for it. >> other residents opposed to the mosque plan included ronald todd. for 93 years todd's family owned the land sold at auction to them in mir reece borrow. he says his ancestors are turning over in their grave with the land being used for a mosque. >> they worship another god than i was raised to do. i heard they worship other than what i learned in tennessee and my law in the united states of america. >> several local politicians seized on the issue. like luann zel nick who ran for congress in tennessee. >> we are joining with so many who feel they're concerned because it is not the christian, it is not the jews that flew airplanes into the buildings. >> a strange place for a huge mosque. >> even televangelist, pat robertson weighed in on the proposed mosque. >> you mark my words forever they start bringing thousands and thousands of muslims into that relatively rural area, the next thing you know they will take over the city council. >> more suspicions after the founders posted this, a terrorist group on my space page and was suspended from the mosque for two months. >> post 9/11, we should be suspicious of any group trying to locate to this community. >> but many in murfeesboro supported the mosque plan. the protest march that june day drew hundreds of people of different faiths rallying in support of religious freedom. >> we organized this rally in order to show support for the first amendment right of murfeesboro residents to worship the way they see fit. >> i think we all should be free to practice our religion. >> among the mosque supporters, an 18-year-old muslim in murfeesboro. >> you could just see their -- like in their eye, you could see that hate. >> i didn't say to hate them, i'm just saying we don't need them here. >> you hear that? 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>> read the koran, all infidels must die. >> to have people come out and say we are against this religion is very shocking. >> it's a mosque they're trying to build, all it is, is a training center. >> i don't want anybody there in creating something that can be used to attack us. >> i know they're afraid for their country, but to label all the muslims and the community in murfreesboro terrorists, this is nonsense. >> he has lived in murfreesboro for 20 years. it's where he and his wife raised their two daughters, lima and dima, and their son, saline. >> do you feel not welcome? >> no. >> to the contrary, actually. this is one of the most beautiful cities in the united states. the people in the united states are extremely hospitable and nice. how do we control two -- >> he is an engineering professor at middle tennessee state university in murfreesboro. he was born in syria. >> i'm banking on lab to save my grade in that class. >> his daughters are students at mtsu. both his daughters are valedictorians. they say they've always felt welcome in murfreesboro, even after 9/11. >> two days afterward, people who we did not know, stopped us and said, please don't be afraid. we are the same, we are going to treat you in the same way. >> reporter: professor spinadi arrived in tennessee in 1980. only 10 muslim families lived in murfreesboro then. their mosque was a small one bedroom apartment. today, there are 250 muslim families living in murfreesboro. the current mosque is often packed beyond capacity. >> there is really no place for us to pray or eat or -- >> do activities with the kids. >> people are usually playing on the sidewalk and in the parking lot. >> but they know it can be assembled if we all do it together. >> pushed by the center's imam, the congregation pooled their money in 2009 to purchase a 15 acre parcel of land on the outskirts of town. it would be land for their new islamic center. >> where would you get money from? >> we had the fund-raising and raised $320,000 for the land. >> in one fund-raising? >> yes. >> here in murfreesboro? >> yes, here. >> when you first walked the land, describe that feeling for me. >> it's exactly like homeless, who has found the most beautiful home. it's a long journey. a lot of pain to get there, a lot of effort, and then finally you are about to sit down and say, wow. it fls good. their vision was to build the new facility in stages. there'd be a school, a gym, a swimming pool, a cemetery and a 10,000 square foot mosque. for the younger generation of muslims in murfreesboro, the plans represented progress. >> when you first heard about the new building being built, what was your reaction? >> we went from a one bedroom apartment that was divided by a sheet to, you know, having this piece of 15 acre land. >> i hate to be cliche but it was a dream come true. >> in november 2009, the congregation put up a sign announcing the future site of the islamic center. then, it was vandalized, with a simple but disturbing message, "not welcome." >> what do you feel like when that sign had "not welcome." for someone who had lived here her whole life pretty much. >> it hit hard. they had the words "not welcome" there. that's a very clear sign. >> we thought this individual act. the sign company say we will make you a new sign for free. >> a second sign put up at the sit was cut in half eight months later. a disturbing preview of the days and months ahead, as fear and suspicion would threaten to derail the mosque project. and turn neighbor against neighbor. >> we're asking for those individuals who know who may be responsible for this crime, to come forward with that information. i'm done. i'm going to... drink this... on the porch! ♪ give me just a little more time ♪ [ fema announcer ] mops can be a hassle, but swiffer wetjet's spray cleaner and absorbent pads can clean better in half the time so you don't miss a thing. swiffer. better clean in half the time. or your money back. and for dry messes big and small try swiffer sweeper vac. olaf's pizza palace gets the most rewards of any small business credit card! pizza!!!!! 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>> this architect built so many mosques around the area. >> despite strong opposition, by late summer, imam osama and the other leaders of the congregation decided to go forward with the first phase of their project, grading and leveling the land. >> we did not have any celebration. >> why not? you could have done a ground breaking, how these things usually go. >> we did not want to aggravate people. >> the low-key beginning did little to silence opponents who felt their concerns weren't being heard. >> i think they have a right to expand. but i think that the public has a right to say, wait a minute, there's some concerns here. >> kevin fisher, who had led the protest march against the planned islamic center said terrific was a big concern. >> by their own admission, they're going to draw people from all over the county. you are going to put a whole lot of new drivers in the back roads of tennessee. >> concerns were also raised about the cemetery on the site. already, one elderly muslim had been buried there. >> you have well water out there. you have people who will be drawing off the same source. according to their tradition, they don't bury with a casket, they don't bury with a vault. >> you're telling me the casket protecting a body will change the quality of the water versus a body not in a casket? >> it could, absolutely. >> how much of this is also you just don't want a mosque in that neighborhood? >> not one person i know of or friends of mine for people who have read anything i have written have ever said they don't have a right to worship. they have a right to worship however they see fit. >> i feel like what they're doing is taking things and throwing them at the wall and seeing what sticks. it hasn't really stuck very well. i think they're still trying. >> you feel like people are in a war with islam? >> yes. no doubt. >> do you feel like people here are in a war with islam? >> some of them, yes. no doubt. i am very comfortable to say this. >> you saved some of the messages? >> i did. >> there were disturbing voice mails. >> tuesday, 6:27 a.m. >> [ bleep ] like the rest of you [ bleep ] >> so, what did you think when you heard that the first time? >> i couldn't believe i heard this. and i -- and i was shocked, i would say, yes. i don't like the term "go back home." if we are american, i guess, this is our home. and everyone has to realize this. >> in late august 2010, construction was barely under way when members of the congregation received the disturbing news. a fire in the middle of the night had damaged equipment at the construction site. >> looked at the site and tears started to come down, you know. it's why? you know, what did we do? >> leaders of the congregation came to assess the damage. >> it's a natural growth to our community. we are growing. >> suddenly, our interview was interrupted by the sound of gunfire. >> there's some shots fired. >> yes. >> oh. >> you hear that? >> murfreesboro, tennessee prince -- police department. >> fear had replaced concern. >> qun there's understanding here, i don't know. >> scared. >> that's what they're trying to do. it's a terrorist act. >> i heard very loud shots coming from this way. >> hang on. we will go up there and check for you. >> it could very well be hunters. we are growing to check it out. we have plenty of guys in the area. >> thank you. >> we will make sure we document your concerns and looking into it. >> thank you. i appreciate it. we're grateful. >> this whole issue upset. >> let's hope it's a hunter and it's not something that was done intentional because i know this community, it's a good community. >> people don't have to be squared like this in america. this is america. what is this? people can disagree with each other kindly but violence like this is nonsense. this is violent for children to be scared in the mosque, it's bad, for all the people to be worried that -- about their safety, this is sad. this is sad. this is too much. this is enough, i guess enough. enough. >> days of the suspicious fire, imam osama addressed his congregation. >> i believe those people are poisoning this project they do not understand the con soecht what they are doing. they are damaging the kids! while they are damaging the image of this country. >> protest, vandalism and now a suspicious fire. >> let's go! >> yet the fight over the planned islamic center of murfreesboro was just beginning. >> what we're saying to the court is they can claim religion all they want but it don't mean you will come in here and do this in rutherfordbahloul. with a $20,000 reward being offered for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of a person or persons responsible for committing -- >> a suspicious fire had damaged equipment at the construction site of a new mosque in murfreesboro, tennessee. days later, the fbi confirmed the muslim community's worst fears. it was arson. >> somebody knows something. >> we must speak up for the freedom and liberty of every person. >> while many in the communitiga thered, some opponents had a different take. >> it didn't make sense to me. >> influential real estate developer, sally wall had her doubts. >> so you think it was fate? >> honestly,i do. of course, i might be wrong. >> to what end? why would someone fake their own -- >> i don't know. now, now, here's one of those they say things, i'm told, that they do that everywhere they go, to make people think everybody's against us. now, i'm not saying i think that is true. it could be. >> i think it was premature to automatically assume that it was a hate crime. but i'll tell you this, i disagree with violence. when you start having to rely on intimidating people to get your point across, i think you lose all your validity. >> testing, 1, 2, 3. >> for months, kevin fisher and other opponents had tried everything to halt the construction of the 53,000 square foot islamic center. >> hey