Community Residents Oppose Muslim Cemetery

FARMERSVILLE, Texas (AP) — Residents of a North Texas community who oppose plans for a Muslim cemetery are criticizing Muslim burial practices that they say would pose threats to public health.

A standing-room-only crowd gathered Tuesday in Farmersville, northeast of Dallas, where officials tried to allay concerns about the cemetery.

Some residents questioned Muslim burial practices and said decomposing bodies would contaminate ground and water.

Khalil Abdur-Rashid with the Islamic Association of Collin County told the crowd that caskets and concrete vaults would be used and state regulations followed.

The Dallas Morning News reports that he told the audience at one point that, "American Muslims are not your enemies."

But one resident told the paper that she doesn't trust Muslims and that their goal is to populate the U.S. and take it over.