The tension has been palpable around the world, and it was no different Tuesday evening, Jan. 13, when hundreds gathered at Church of the Ascension to hear several Muslim speakers talk about and explain their Islamic faith.

A Valley TV station’s van was parked outside the Catholic church, and hired Sheriff’s deputies were standing by just in case things got out of hand.

Social media chatter prior to the Fountain Hills Interfaith Alliance event was heated – talk of outright protests and more – and roughly 400 people packed the church.

While organizers said the forum had been scheduled months earlier, the recent deadly incidents in France, the rise of ISIS and widely-publicized beheadings of journalists and other citizens in the Mideast only heightened tensions going into the forum.

How to handle interfaith services and forums has caused consternation and division among the religious community and clergy within Fountain Hills.

Clearly a majority of the crowd present last week wanted to hear what the Muslim speakers had to say, as they were given a mostly standing ovation at the evening’s end.

Yet many upset citizens came with pointed questions for the panel, displeased with world events and terrorism linked to Muslim extremists.

“We know your questions are based in concern for your families, our country and the world,” said Cynthia Nafisa Maher, a Phoenix teacher.

“All three of us are in that place, too…We all have the same fears.”

Imam Anas Hlayel said he was born in Lebanon and had a passion to study Islam since he was 10.

“I won’t claim to represent the opinion of every Muslim in the Valley,” he said. “We want to listen more than talk. We have questions, too.”

One Fountain Hills man said he lived in Turkey for two years and sees a “vicious stereotype” of every Muslim being “put in a box” and labeled as a terrorist.

He asked the panel how they deal with the stereotyping.

“After 9/11, my children were afraid I was going to be shot,” said Maher. “I’ve been fortunate I haven’t had to deal with real issues like that, but I do know there are negative stereotypes out there.”

Scottsdale resident Azra Hussain, founder and president of the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Arizona, said many Muslims are trying to explain the controversial issues and “calm the fears.”

“Muslims are in American schools, in our military, in the FBI, in government,” she said.

“This is our home. This is what we need to protect, too.”

Questions were asked through the evening about the Muslim Brotherhood and its beliefs, if non-Muslims are believed to be the “vilest” of animals, if the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance was irreconcilable with Islam, the practice of female genital mutilation, abrogation and certain passages in the Quran, and why “mainstream” Muslims don’t condemn the extremists’ behavior.

As for the latter issue, Maher said “thousands” of Muslims are dying as they fight extremism and ISIS in the Middle East.

“The people of Syria have suffered horrific losses fighting this,” she said. “They are paying a tremendous price.”

Hussain said of opposition to extremism, “Muslims and other groups have been doing it for decades. We just don’t get the press. It’s happening constantly.”

Hlayel said that clearly terrorism is a crime.

“But how do you stop it?” he asked. “Everyone wants to stop it. Sexual predators are a problem, too. Drugs. There are no easy answers.

“ISIS has their own scholars. They don’t believe in our method of deduction. They don’t listen.

“I have nothing to do with these people. It wouldn’t do any good for me to condemn them. They don’t listen.”

The imam went on to say a relative of his wife’s was taken hostage by ISIS.

“We need to try and solve the problem from the roots,” he said. “Of course I condemn it, but I’m preaching to my own choir…

“My responsibility is to preach the proper beliefs of the Quran.”

Bob Slobin, active in the Jewish Beth Hagivot Congregation, asked Hlayel if he was offended by the most recent cover of Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical magazine that was fatally victimized by Muslim terrorists.

The cover depicts Muhammad shedding tears and saying “Je Suis (I am) Charlie.”

Angry reactions to the cartoon late last week triggered street demonstrations in Jerusalem, India, Pakistan, Algeria, Jordan and other countries.

“Is there a verse in the Koran that says it’s offensive to portray Muhammad?” Slobin asked.

“Not in the Quran,” Hlayel said. “But we’re not allowed to depict out of respect for the prophet.

“(The cover) does not offend me. My prophet is a role model for me. The prophet did not look like that. No one knows what he looked like.

“It’s a vulgar act, but they (Charlie Hebdo) have also negatively depicted Jesus and nuns.

“The best response is to ignore it. Don’t give them the attention.”

Hussain said, “I was brought up better. We shouldn’t defame anyone if they’re not there to defend themselves…but they do have the right to express their speech.”

Maher concluded, “The best thing I’ve seen on this said, ‘If you want to defend the prophet, then behave like him.’”

The imam said he sees no conflict between living in the United States, being a good American citizen and being a Muslim.

“One is a religion, one is a government,” he said. “I don’t see a contradiction. I do have an allegiance to this country. You have to separate ideology from religion.

“Many of the Muslim-related problems are coming from ideologies…

“Some Christians are not happy with separation of church and government. But I support freedom of speech as long as it doesn’t turn violent or physically harm someone.”

Maher concluded, “I wouldn’t agree in any way that Muslims want to take over the world or this country.

“There is a minority in the Muslim world who believe that. We’re just not part of anything like that. That is not a mainstream Muslim idea in any way.”