Source: The Tennessean
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050814/NEWS01/508140377/1006/NEWS
On August 14, 2005 The Tennessean reported, "Local Muslim families took time yesterday to open their religious center to guests for shared prayers and conversations about one of the world's largest and most misunderstood faiths. Members of the Islamic Center of Nashville had an open house to introduce non-Muslims to the faith tradition, which was established more than 1,400 years ago in Arabia. Worldwide, there are about 1.3 billion adherents. Imam Abdul-Hakim Mohamed, one of the community's leaders or religious teachers, addressed misconceptions about the faith, including the perception that women are oppressed and sacred writings advocate killing the unarmed, women and children as well as non-Muslims... Nashville's Muslim population is estimated to be about 20,000 and consists of adherents whose roots range from Bangladesh to Bellevue. The community consists of families that represent the faith's diversity, including families who either emigrated from or have ancestors in countries such as Kurdistan, Lebanon, Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen."