Save Craig and Muslim whoopers
March 14, 2003 1:43 p.m.

"Right now there is a protest going on with what appear to be muslim people.The only problem is that their signs are in Arabic so no one knows why they are protesting, they are just blocking traffic, could it be that they don't like the limited time only Western Whopper at Burger King?"

Evil Street Preachers
March 14, 2003 1:41 p.m.

Public Safety breaks up out-of-hand evangelism at Dede Fountain

ISU police had to break up a confrontation Wednesday between Muslim students and street preachers who were criticizing the Muslim faith.

ISU student Batool Al-Alawi speaks to other students in response to accusations against he religion.

More than 100 students gathered at Dede Plaza to witness the religious battle between freshman clinical laboratory science major Batool Al-Alawi and street preacher Brother Jed Smock.

Smock paced the steps surrounding Dede Fountain with a Bible in one hand and the Koran in the other. He read from both, all the while decrying the Muslim faith.

"All Muslims are going to hell," Smock shouted, claiming Allah is a false god.

To justify his words about Muslims, Smock said that God gave him the right to preach about this.

As the crowd grew larger and began to include Public Safety community service officers and ISU police, three Muslim students passed by the fountain and heard Smock preaching.

Al-Alawi, a Muslim, charged the steps in outrage,pointing her finger at Smock.

Dawson asks Brother Jed Smock to leave Dede Plaza.

"You have no right," she said. Al-Alawi stood in front of the crowd defending her faith and her fellow Muslims.

Brother Larry Faulkner approached Al-Alawi while she was preaching and told her to shut up because she was a woman.

Hearing this, Al-Alawi and the two men who were with her turned to Faulkner.

One of the men charged the steps to Faulkner in defense of Al-Alawi.

At this point, Faulkner raised his fist in defense before being pulled back by a student.

Faulkner continued to yell at the two men who accompanied Al-Alawi, calling them "doggies on a leash" and claiming they were letting "their" woman speak for them.

When Al-Alawi attempted to explain her point to Faulkner, he replied that he didn't have to listen to her because she's not his wife.

Smock continued preaching, saying, "Muslims are children of the devil."

ISU police broke up the argument and forced both Smock and Faulkner to leave campus.

"It's over," Lt. Earl Dawson said, separating Smock and Al-Alawi.

Dawson stopped the confrontation because of conflict-of-interest, he said.

Smock said, "You Muslims are going to hell," while raising the Koran in the air and walking toward Fifth Street.

Faulkner, however, wasn't as willing to leave, insisting that Al-Alawi had started the conflict.

After continuing insistence from ISU police officers, Faulkner put on his and began to walk away with Preacher Dan.

"The Muslims started the conflict of interest," he said.

Several students followed Faulkner, Preacher Dan and two ISU police officers as they headed east away from the fountain.

"You raised your fist at a Muslim," a student shouted at Faulkner, who responded by saying that he was "being charged by an ugly Muslim."

A crowd of students surrounded al-Alawi, thanking her and congratulating her for standing up for her faith.

"Batool stands for Virgin Mary," she said to the crowd, explaining that the Muslims accept the Christian faith.

"Brother Larry has harassed me several times," she said.

"I was defending my religion," Al-Alawi said. "I'm proud to be a Muslim just as you are proud to be Christian."

Most students said they were outraged at Faulkner and Smock for their comments.

"I think it's bullshit," Richard Moothery, junior graphic design major said. "I think they have a right to freedom of speech, but I think they're doing more harm than help."

Eric Tompkins, junior biology major, agreed that the street preachers crossed the line when they brought up the Koran.

"I think the man and woman were fine until they started talking about the Koran," Tompkins said, referring to Smock and his wife. "They were fine talking about sex, but not about other people's religion.

"They should've just stuck to masturbation and sorority sluts," Tompkins said.

Lindsay Desrocher, sophomore interior design major, said the preachers had a right to be there, but said she didn't feel they would influence anyone.

"This is a public campus," she said. "People can believe whatever they want to believe."