Small Texas town warned radical Muslims are 'at war' with it over Islamic cemetery plans

One man suggested residents ‘take and dump pig’s blood’ on the land

A family gathers in prayer as they visit a family member buried in the Islamic Garden at Restland Cemetery in Dallas (AP)

A small town in Texas has been warned radical Muslims are “at war” with it amid a backlash against plans to build an Islamic cemetery.

The people of Farmersville, in Collin County, Texas, have made the threats in a bid to derail proposals for a 70-acre burial ground by the county’s Islamic Association.

Although the plan’s concept was approved by officials in May, it is yet to go before the city council.

And residents from across the county – home to an estimated 22,000 Muslims - made sure their views were heard at a meeting of the town council earlier this month, despite the issue not even being on the agenda,” CBS Dallas Forth-Worth reported.

One man featured in a report by the television station said: “Take and dump pig’s blood and pigs head on a post so they won’t buy the land.”

Khalil Abdur-Rashid, a spokesman for the Islamic Association, told the Dallas Morning News that it “didn’t think there would be this much concern about burying the dead”.

A proposal to bring a Muslim cemetery to Farmersville has stoked fears among residents who are vehemently trying to convince community leaders to block the project (AP)

“There will be no type of religious services at the cemetery. We’re forbidden from saying prayers on a grave or a cemetery,” he said.

But he believes concerns stem from “valid concerns about extremism".

“We’re at a time when hate has become a million-dollar industry," he said.

“This is an opportunity to have a good interfaith dialogue and inter-community dialogue.”

Pastor David Meeks, of the Bethlehem Baptist Church, is reported to have addressed the meeting in Farmersville, where more than 80 per cent of the population of 3,000 are white.

“The Islamic faith bases their beliefs on the Koran,” Pastor Meeks said according to the Farmersville Times.

“’O ye who believe, take not Jews or Christians as friends. They are friends one to another’.”

He reportedly went on to say: “Our history is full of Islamic problems. They’re at war with us.”

Other residents were just as vehement in their opposition.

Rebecca James, who lives next to the land, told the packed meeting it was reported: “As a resident and a tax- paying citizen it is appalling to me that we would even consider bringing this in to our community.”

Gwen Kakaska said residents of the city should “use their battle against us, against them. I do not want my child indoctrinated toward their religion. We do not want this to be a Muslim dumping ground,” , she allegedly said.

According to the Dallas Morning News, Farmersville City Manager Ben White has met Islamic Association officials and is confident their plans do not include a mosque or a madrassa, a type of Islamic school.

The newspaper reports that there is already a Buddhist meditation centre on the outskirts of Farmersville and a Mormon church recently opened.

In May, two men were killed after opening fire at a conference centre near Dallas where cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad were being exhibited.

Farmersville was home to America’s most decorated soldier of World War Two, Audie Murphy. Tex Watson – a murderer and member of the Manson family, best known for his involvement in the murder of Sharon Tate and her unborn child - also went to school there.