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DALLAS (AP) - A proposal to bring a Muslim cemetery to a rural Texas town has stoked fears among residents who are trying to convince community leaders to block the project.

Farmersville is considering a 35-acre development request from the Islamic Association of Collin County. Residents showed up in force at a recent town meeting to oppose the cemetery, which would include an open-air pavilion and small retail area.

Some fear the project would attract radical Muslims to a region of Texas where anti-Islam sentiment has grown over the last year. Farmersville is 25 miles from Garland, which was the scene of a deadly May shooting outside a cartoon contest lampooning the Prophet Muhammad.

Mayor Joe Helmberger calls residents' worries unwarranted and says the cemetery will be approved if development standards are met.

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