The Starkville Police Department is currently investigating a threat made via Facebook to burn down the Islamic Center of Mississippi (the Mosque) located in Starkville, Mississippi.
After two arrests made last week at the Golden Triangle Airport (GTRA) of former Mississippi State University students Jaelyn DelShuan Young and Muhammad ‘Mo’ Dakhlalla for attempting to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL), law enforcement is closely monitoring any developments related to the arrests.
Father of Muhammad, Oda Dakhalla, is a member of the Islamic Center and participates in interfaith activities. The center is currently operating under normal hours.
SPD Captain Troy Outlaw said police patrol has been increased in areas near the Starkville Mosque since the initial report of the couple who attempted to join ISIL.
“We are doing a threat assessment on that situation. Right now there have been no arrests made,” Outlaw said.
Details of identity for who posted the threat on Facebook is still under investigation.
In light of the incident, some residents in Starkville are worried about a possible backlash on Muslims after the arrests at GTR airport.
A Muslim Starkville resident who insisted to be anonymous said she feels insecure going to public places with her hijab (head cover) on.
“In every community there are good people and there are people with extreme hateful ideologies and after such a threat to a holy place like a mosque, it is better to be safe than sorry. Hence I avoid wearing it.” she said.
 William Kallfelz, philosophy and religion professor at Mississippi State University and religion studies expert, said he believes radical militant cults and groups present the dark side of all forms of organized religion.
Kallfelz elaborated stating such groups are perversions, a deviance and an utter abomination in the face of beliefs and behaviors of the majority of the members of the particular religion who do not become seduced and brainwashed by the radicals’ pernicious propaganda.
“You have to look into the individual lives of Jaelyn DelShaun Young and Muhammad Oda Dakhlalla to see what were the particular factors both internal and external which lured them and attracted these otherwise very intellectually gifted and by all accounts successful young people to such a nihilistic and destructive organization,” Kallfelz said. “Obviously, that’s what the ongoing FBI investigation is trying to get to the bottom of.”
 Kallfelz also said it is wrong to consider that other Muslims in Starkville may be vulnerable to becoming part of ISIL propaganda.
“I am frankly more concerned that local Muslims may be more vulnerable to being stereotyped, profiled and even harassed,” he said.
Co-manager of Spruill Property Management and Starkville resident Lynn Spruill, said she hates to think the incident will have a negative impact on the Muslim population, but common sense says some people will assume the former students’ radicalization came from a source they can identify with.
“That identification is easier to see in someone across the street rather than an ocean away,” Spruill said. “Starkville through MSU is a diverse community, but I think the melting pot concept is no longer the appropriate metaphor for America.”
According to Ward 5 Alderman Scott Maynard, the arrests made at GTR airport serves as an educational opportunity to educate on different cultures.
“I was here in Starkville when Iran took hostages and we had a lot of Iranian students at the time,” Maynard said. “I think the university was very open and accepting of those students who were here. 9/11 is another example where I think there wasn’t blatant discrimination on campus. I just hope we can use this as an opportunity to engage dialogue.”
Suwaira Iqbal, international Muslim student from Pakistan, said she has never faced discrimination at MSU.
“The way I see MSU is that, it is a collection of different people and different cultures from all around the world together forming a very diverse but one family,” Iqbal said, “I strongly believe that after the recent arrests made at GTR airport other international students nor I face any discrimination based on stereotypes. It is however important to educate the community about the gifts that the existing diversity provides.”
Alderman Maynard said the city reacts appropriately anytime a threat like the one received about Starkville Mosque is reported.
“I have full confidence in the SPD Police chief and MSU Police Chief that they can handle and respond to any such threats and move forward,” he said.
If you see anything suspicious, please report it to the SPD at 662-323-4134 or MSU Police at 662-325-2121.
Editor’s Note: Oda Dakhlalla is not the Imam (leader) of Starkville’s Islamic Center. The center does not have an Imam, but rather a committee containing a president and other positions.