Islam Debate Returns to Garland with Muhammad Art Event

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GARLAND, TX - The Curtis Culwell Center in Garland will be the center of controversy again on Sunday.  A group called the American Freedom Defense Initiative prepares to host a "Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest."

It's the second time this year the CCC has been the center of an Islam-related conflict.

Back in January, protesters gathered there to voice their disapproval for a Muslim-run event called "Stand with the Prophet Against Terror and Hate."  This time, those protesters will be holding their own event.

This one's especially controversial because it will be centered around depictions of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad -- depictions that are considered offensive to Muslims.

"There are two ways to show the freedom of speech," said Dr. Jari Khan, spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. "One is you can spread hate by speaking what you can speak, the other one is to spread love."

Earlier this year, a French satire magazine called Charlie Hebdo published cartoons depicting the Prophet.  Terrorist attacks that followed left 12 people dead.

"We cannot be responsible for other people. We cannot control that," Dr. Khan said. "As far as Prophet Muhammad's teaching goes, we know that all the prophets did not respond with aggression."

The center will have beefed up security.  Let's hope they don't need it.
