Muslims ponder implications of prisoners from Guantanamo

The nation's focus on the village of Thomson, Ill., is giving pause to Muslims in the neighboring community of Clinton.

The Obama administration last week announced that the nearly vacant maximum security Thomson Correctional Center was considered a “top contender” in the contest to become the federal prison that would house 75 to 150 terrorism suspects from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Area economic officials bubbled with joy when considering the benefits - 2,500 new jobs, a 50 percent slash in unemployment and an estimated

$1 billion economic boost to the region struggling in the recession's wake.

Yet the 50 families belonging to the Islamic Society of Clinton County wonder what the effect would be on their friends and neighbors as the nation considers moving terrorists practically next door.

“I refuse to believe their reaction would be one of hatred,” said Dr. Anis Ansari, the group's president. “But perhaps it could be a reaction stemming from fear.”

Residents in Clinton and other communities near Thomson would welcome the economic boost.

Only a handful of cars park in the Thomson Correctional Center employee parking lot. The $140 million facility built to house 1,600 inmates only holds 200 due to state budget problems.

“To let it just sit empty is a plain waste,” said Jo Dooley of Clinton.

Susan Ingersoll of Savanna, Ill., agreed, even though she knew it meant terrorist suspects living 15 miles away.

“I don't think terrorists are any worse than the regular rapists and murders,”' Ingersoll said. “In fact, we feel safer about having the terrorists there, because there will be better security.”

Sean Coburn of Clinton said he supports the government pursuing the facility to house suspected terrorists, but wonders if he would be as accepting if the economy were soaring.

“If times were good financially, I guess I would probably be asking if there was a safer place for them to be,” he said.

For now, Ansari said he trusts the community to know that he and his organization have no connection with the suspected terrorists.

“The biggest misunderstanding is that all Muslims are Jihadists who want to clash with the Western world,” he said. “This is not true. Islam can coexist. We are here to prove that we can live in harmony with the local community.”

Ansari views the proposed federal facility as more than an economic opportunity.

“This is an opportunity for us to continue the peaceful discussion of who we are,” he said.