1 10 29 https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/6ff10bec359b16f8ee5bb6fd86eb66f9.jpg 2ee54cbb75850e38d17e50c808765c2b Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. De_01 Location The location of the interview New Castle County, DE Year Year the case began. 2020 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 786 Port Penn Rd, Middletown, DE 19709 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. G99P+3P Middletown, Delaware Proposed Project 942-plot cemetery with 1,000 square-foot building Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/A-Light-of-Hope-100069426126447/">A Light of Hope</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Legislation Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The cease-and-desist order was lifted after the cemetery worked with the Delaware Department of Transportation to pave a driveway and add parking spaces. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. A Light of Hope is an organization that provides religious and educational services to the local Muslim community in Delaware. In addition to establishing a mosque and funeral home where they perform washing and shrouding for free, A Light of Hope constructed a Muslim cemetery in New Castle County. Previously, families needed to drive more than an hour to the nearest Muslim cemetery in South Jersey or opt for a non-Muslim burial ground (Read, 2020, Mar 5). In February 2020, after only three burials had taken place, the property failed a code inspection and was subsequently issued a cease-and-desist order to halt all burials (Cherry, 2020, Feb 28). Though current zoning allows for new cemetery use, no land use plans have been approved by the county. State Representative Kevin Hensley, whose district covers the unauthorized cemetery, said in a Facebook post that he had received multiple calls from constituents about “suspicious” activity at the property (ibid.). County officials stated that the cease-and-desist order would be in effect until they approve all required land use plan submissions and any associated site improvements. Additionally, New Castle County would have discretion over how the proposed property would impact traffic, noise, and similar criteria (ibid.). The next month, leaders from A Light of Hope met with county officials to obtain approval for their cemetery (Bodies Buried Along, 2020, Mar 4). The property did not comply with local codes as it did not contain parking and walkways. During a press conference, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer stated that the cemetery could continue burying people without special permission once safety concerns were met (Porter, 2020, Mar 4). On March 5, it was reported that A Light of Hope was working with the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) to pave a driveway and add parking spaces. The cease-and-desist order was temporarily lifted for humanitarian reasons to allow for the burial of 1-year-old Ja-Ziyah Gordon, who was taken off life support after being born with a heart defect and contracting a deadly lung disease (Cease and desist order lifted, 2020, Mar 4). In August 2020, about 70 people who live near the Muslim cemetery met to ask county officials questions about the approved project (Parrish, 2020, Sep 2). The meeting was initially scheduled for March 25 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents mainly voiced their concerns about the risk of groundwater contamination. In response, public health officials stated that they did not believe water contamination would occur based on the water flow and history of the land (ibid.). Questions about environmental regulations and how the county would monitor water quality were left unanswered because officials from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) were invited to the meeting but did not attend. Naveed Baqir, a representative from A Light of Hope, briefly spoke to the crowd, stating that many of the residents’ questions could have been answered if they had contacted the organization. Additionally, Baqir accused Hensley, who organized the meeting, of exhibiting racist behavior by not including the Muslim community in the conversation. “I feel like I am crashing the party today because I was not invited. The Muslim community was not invited,” he said. “You are asking the right questions to the wrong people” (ibid.). In response, Port Penn residents claimed their concerns were not racially motivated and instead related to the quality of their water supply. Hensley stated that he did not invite anyone specifically to the meeting and only posted about the event on Facebook. Ultimately, the cease-and-desist order was lifted after a driveway and parking spaces were added. New Castle County authorized 942 burials and the construction of a 1,000-square-foot building (ibid.). The Muslim Cemetery of Delaware is now fully operational. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Bodies Buried Along Delaware Road Raises Red Flags. (2020, March 4). NBC10 Philadelphia. <a href="https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/bodies-buried-along-delaware-road-raises-red-flags/2314971/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Cease and desist order lifted at Delaware’s only Muslim cemetery. (2020, March 4). ABC6 Philadelphia. <a href="https://6abc.com/muslim-cemetery-of-delaware-burial-gravem-new-cast-county/5986197/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Cherry, A. (2020, February 28). New Castle County halts burials at unauthorized cemetery in Port Penn. WDEL 107.1FM. <a href="https://www.wdel.com/news/new-castle-county-halts-burials-at-unauthorized-cemetery-in-port-penn/article_715003b8-5a69-11ea-a58b-abb087f2267b.html">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Parrish, A. (2020, September 2). Concerns over Muslim cemetery in Port Penn continue. The News Journal. <a href="https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2020/08/27/concerns-over-muslim-cemetery-port-penn-continue/5645167002/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Porter, I. (2020, March 4). Burials will proceed at Muslim cemetery once safety conditions are addressed. The News Journal. <a href="https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2020/03/04/burials-proceed-muslim-cemetery-port-penn/4954998002/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Read, Z. (2020, March 5). Delaware’s only Muslim cemetery can resume burials after cease-and-desist order lifted. The Philadelphia Tribune. <a href="https://www.phillytrib.com/news/state_and_region/delaware-s-only-muslim-cemetery-can-resume-burials-after-cease-and-desist-order-lifted/article_e3ae30d0-5ed1-11ea-bd63-bb9e61e9b9bb.html">Web</a>.</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. July 10, 2024 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource In February 2020, the Muslim Cemetery of Delaware failed a code inspection and was subsequently issued a cease-and-desist order to halt all burials. Multiple residents had called State Representative Kevin Hensley regarding “suspicious” activity at the site. In March, the cease-and-desist order was temporarily lifted to allow for the burial of a one-year-old child. Residents met in August to voice their concerns about groundwater contamination. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource New Castle County, DE Approved Built Cemetery Planning and Zoning Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/ee1cd8df2085c692265bf8425d47fc27.jpeg 3d72dab916297c71f2c83f8e3f6761a7 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://themuslimcemetery.com/ Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Il_20 Location The location of the interview Homer Glen, IL Year Year the case began. 2023 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 18131 S Meader Rd, Homer Glen, IL 60491 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. H25R+9X Homer Glen, Illinois Proposed Project 40-acre Muslim cemetery with a maximum of 24,000 graves (<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://themuslimcemetery.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Muslim Ummah Cemetery</a>) Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://orlandparkprayercenter.org/">Orland Park Prayer Center</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The cemetery was permitted use under the existing county rules before August 2023, when the Will County Board voted unanimously to require a special-use permit for cemetery development. This change did not apply retroactively to the Muslim Ummah Cemetery. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In 2020, the Orland Park Prayer Center (OPPC), located about 40 minutes outside Chicago, purchased a 40-acre plot of land to construct the Muslim Ummah Cemetery in Homer Glen, IL. The community of nearly 30,000 Muslims, who are predominantly of Palestinian descent, had previously buried its members in a section of a mostly Christian cemetery until it ran out of space (Abdelaziz, 2024, Mar 15). Kifah Mustapha, the imam at OPPC, applied for the necessary permits and licenses to purchase and develop the land, raised enough money to construct the cemetery, and hired a law firm to represent the group’s interests (ibid.). On April 27, 2023, a petition opposing the cemetery's construction began, gathering over 1,500 signatures (Abdelaziz, 2024, Mar 15). Residents listed numerous concerns, including a lack of transparency, groundwater contamination, increased traffic, and environmental protection. More than 200 people, mostly critics of the proposed cemetery, attended a town hall in May to voice their opposition (ibid.). However, neither the county nor the state’s public health agencies found that the cemetery would create a credible public health concern. In response to the community opposition, Mustapha stated that “Every community had its own struggle, from the Irish to the Jewish community, to the Black and Latino community, so Muslims are no exception. But this goes against what this country is all about. We have the Constitution and laws that protect the rights of a citizen as an individual or as a community” (ibid.). Also in May, the Will County Land Use Committee and Planning and Zoning Commission began to research cemetery ordinances, as cemeteries had not been developed in unincorporated areas of Will County in more than two decades (Mullins, 2023, Aug 20). OPPC filed a permit on June 29 requesting that the Will County Land Use Department approve its use of the remaining 35 acres of the property, in addition to the 5 acres it had been granted initially (Kukulka, 2023, Jul 13). Construction of an access road leading to the Muslim Ummah Cemetery began in July (ibid.). On August 17, the Will County Board unanimously voted to require a special-use permit for cemetery development to “ensure their location minimizes any negative land use on neighbors” (Mullins, 2023, Aug 20). The ordinance change did not retroactively apply to the Muslim Ummah Cemetery, which had already received a permit to construct its cemetery, as well as road work, stormwater management, fencing, and landscaping (ibid.). The Muslim Ummah Cemetery was successfully built and has been fully operational since September 2023. More than two dozen burials have taken place, and there is enough space to accommodate 24,000 graves. Additionally, OPPC plans to expand its cemetery to include a funeral service facility that can transport, wash, and shroud bodies (Abdelaziz, 2024, Mar 15). Doing so would require a zoning change and approval by the Will County Board. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Abdelaziz, R. (2024, March 15). They Desperately Wanted To Build A Cemetery. Then Came The Backlash. Huffington Post. <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/they-desperately-wanted-to-build-a-muslim-cemetery-then-came-the-backlash_n_65f33164e4b0dddcf7bd3501">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Kukulka, A. (2023, July 13). Will County officials say county action won’t stop construction for eco-friendly cemetery. Chicago Tribune. <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/2023/07/13/will-county-officials-say-county-action-wont-stop-construction-underway-for-eco-friendly-cemetery/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Mullins, M. (2023, August 20). Special-use permit to be required for cemeteries. Daily Southtown. Available through <a href="https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/193877CD9AE34918&f=basic">NewsBank</a>.</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. June 16, 2004 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Homer Glen, IL Description An account of the resource In 2020, the Orland Park Prayer Center purchased a 40-acre plot of land in Homer Glen, IL, to construct the Muslim Ummah Cemetery. Local residents opposed its construction due to concerns about lack of transparency, groundwater contamination, and increased traffic. The Will County Board voted unanimously to require a special-use permit for cemetery development, which did not apply retroactively to the Muslim Ummah Cemetery. The cemetery successfully opened in September 2023. The Muslim community intends to construct a funeral service facility in the future. Approved Built Cemetery Legislation Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/3f67635b6295c2d3a4496e1e43cd85e3.jpeg d4d8a40bb0bb2c210b010b0bd38ea90d Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://www.muslimguide.com/show/Darr_Al_Rahma_Cemetery_22296 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Ga_10 Location The location of the interview Albany, GA Year Year the case began. 2016 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 711 W. Highland Ave, Albany, GA 31701 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. HRFM+MJ Albany, Georgia Proposed Project 123-plot cemetery on property the Islamic Center owned Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068005827245">Islamic Center of Albany</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications In September 2016, the Albany City Commission voted 5-2 to allow the construction of the cemetery with conditions, including burials at a 6-foot depth and using six-sided concrete burial vaults. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In 2016, the Islamic Center of Albany requested constructing a 123-plot cemetery on its property in Albany, GA. Originally, it had sought to purchase graves in Riverside Cemetery, operated by the city, but was unsuccessful. The Islamic Center could not find other suitable land and decided to build its own cemetery instead (Fletcher, 2016, Sep 7). On September 1, not enough members of the Albany-Dougherty Planning Commission were present for its regularly scheduled meeting, failing to attract a quorum. Some members of the Islamic Center believed city officials were purposefully attempting to sabotage their cemetery construction plans (ibid.). At the subsequent September 7 meeting, there were Albany Police Department officers present to maintain a peaceful environment. Local residents voiced numerous concerns about the cemetery, including groundwater contamination, flooding, property values, health issues, aesthetics, and sanitation. In response, Mohammad Okashah, the president of the Islamic Center, stated, “I’ve done the research, and there is nothing whatsoever that indicates burying a body naturally – a so-called green burial – poses any type of danger” (Fletcher, 2016, Sep 28). After considering the ten criteria relevant to cases requiring special approval, the Planning Commission voted 7-1 to recommend that the cemetery be approved with restrictions, including burials at a 6-foot depth and using six-sided concrete burial vaults. On September 27, the Albany City Commission voted 5-2 to approve the Islamic Center’s proposal with the aforementioned conditions. Ward I City Commissioner Jon Howard summarized his decision, explaining that “[The Islamic Center] met the 10 criteria we’ve approved, and even though a lot of us may leave here mad and frustrated tonight, with our city attorney [Nathan Davis] telling us we have no chance of winning a lawsuit if we refuse this special request, I’m going to support this measure” (ibid.). The Darr Al Rahma cemetery was successfully built and is now fully operational. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Fletcher, C. (2016, September 7). Planning board recommends cemetery approval for Islamic Center of Albany. Albany Herald. <a href="https://www.albanyherald.com/news/local/planning-board-recommends-cemetery-approval-for-islamic-center-of-albany/article_7403e366-4d68-5c63-9b35-acd0c5426ae4.html">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Fletcher, C. (2016, September 28). Albany commission OKs Islamic Center cemetery. Albany Herald. <a href="https://www.albanyherald.com/multimedia/albany-commission-oks-islamic-center-cemetery/collection_e1843012-85b7-11e6-a9b3-47ab2575925e.html#1">Web</a>.</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. June 16, 2024 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource In 2016, the Islamic Center of Albany requested to build a 123-plot cemetery on property the Islamic Center owned in Albany, GA. Residents expressed concerns about groundwater contamination, flooding, property values, aesthetics, and sanitation. After approval by the Albany-Dougherty Planning Commission, the Albany City Commission voted 5-2 to allow the cemetery's construction with conditions, including burials at a 6-foot depth and using six-sided concrete burial vaults. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Albany, GA Approved Built Cemetery Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/2d7dd0285140752e23446761e26dac4a.png a64629cccf0a97826896ff174d290206 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Tn_00 Location The location of the interview Fayette County, TN Year Year the case began. 2004 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 900 Orr Road, Arlington, TN 38002 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 79JM+2J Arlington, Tennessee Proposed Project The intended cemetery site was a 5-acre section of a 27-acre tract zoned for rural residential use. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a class="in-cell-link" href="https://muslimsocietyofmemphis.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Muslim Society of Memphis</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Planning and Zoning Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Approved (initial denial) Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In Fayette County, Tennessee, the Muslim Society of Memphis proposed establishing a cemetery on an unused sod farm approximately 20 miles east of the city. This proposal led to significant local opposition. The intended cemetery site was a 5-acre section of a 27-acre tract zoned for rural residential use. The Muslim Society required a “special use" zoning exemption from the Fayette County Planning Commission to proceed. Although the planning commission approved the request, a committee of the elected county commission disapproved it, leading to the withdrawal of the application before a full vote by the county commission. Local residents expressed a range of concerns at a planning commission meeting. Some feared that the cemetery could be used as a terrorist staging ground or pose health risks due to the traditional Muslim practice of not embalming their dead (Baird, 2004, Dec 25). Belinda Ghosheh, one of the property owners, reported feeling threatened by the hostile atmosphere at the county commission meeting (ibid.). Dr. Zaman, president of the Muslim Society of Memphis, mentioned that the proposal had been under discussion for three years (Ferguson, 2005, Jan 4). Despite the planning commission's initial approval and the presence of 17 existing cemeteries in the area, including one directly across the road, strong resistance led to the withdrawal of the application. The decision to withdraw was also influenced by a concern that a rejection would preclude future applications for the same site. Following the local protest, Dr. Zaman reported that the Department of Justice had contacted him, expressing interest in investigating whether the opposition violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (Ferguson, 2005, Jan 4). He indicated that the Muslim Society of Memphis was exploring other legal avenues to establish the cemetery on the same land, highlighting the group's determination to secure a burial place for their community (ibid.). Eventually, the Muslim Society of Memphis succeeded in getting the project approved. Today, they proudly list the cemetery <a href="https://muslimsocietyofmemphis.org/">on their website</a> as the "[f]irst Muslim Cemetery in Mid-South on 27.5 acres of beautiful rolling land by I-40E, complete with a durable Masjid, capable of accommodating the regional burial needs of Muslims for centuries." References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Baird, W. (2004, December 25). Cemetery plans spur anti-Muslim sentiment. Mobile Register (AL), p. 07. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1079504166585CB5">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Ferguson, B. (2005, January 4). Tennessee residents reject plans for Muslim cemetery. Arab News. <a href="https://www.arabnews.com/node/260515">Web</a>.</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource The Muslim Society of Memphis proposed a cemetery in Fayette County, Tennessee, encountering substantial local opposition due to fears of terrorism and health risks. Despite initial setbacks and a withdrawn application, the Society eventually secured approval. The cemetery, now operational, ensures regional burial needs for Muslims are met. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Florian Pohl Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Fayette County, TN Approved (initial denial) Built Cemetery Planning and Zoning Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/c5d72b64a3354c8097aa2d44ecf73981.jpg 6ae9671ca820faa03ac86efd1f5d5516 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource Headstones at Sufi Cemetery in Sidney, NY Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Andrew Reinbach Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Tiny Upstate New York Town Wants Local Muslims to Dig Up Their Cemetery A town in upstate New York is trying to force a local Muslim religious community to dig up a small cemetery on its property and never bury anyone there again because it says it's illegal. By Andrew Reinbach, Contributor Journalist Sep 27, 2010, 12:10 AM EDT https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tiny-upstate-new-york-tow_b_739832 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Ny_03 Location The location of the interview Sidney, NY Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 1663 Wheat Hill Rd, Sidney Center, NY 13839 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 8Q97+X9 Sidney Center, New York Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.naksibendi.us/">Osmanli Naksibendi Hakkani Sufi Order</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Local Ordinance Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The town dropped its plans to pursue a lawsuit in October 2010 but planned to regulate private burials, except religious ones Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In the summer of 2010, the Sidney Town Board initiated legal action to stop the Osmanli Naksibendi Hakkani Dergahi—a Sufi Islamic spiritual center—from using a portion of its 50-acre property as a cemetery. The order had purchased the land, a former sheep farm, in 2002 and designated 650 square feet for cemetery use. The first burial occurred in November 2009, followed by a second in the summer of 2010. On September 14, 2010, journalist Patricia Breakey reported in The Daily Star that the Sidney Town Board had passed an injunction at its August 12 meeting to prohibit burials on private property, effectively targeting the Sufi community's cemetery (Breakey, 2010, Sep 14). Town Supervisor Bob McCarthy explained that the Town Board had directed its lawyer to explore a lawsuit against the Sufi Order for conducting two Muslim burials without notifying local authorities or obtaining proper permits. McCarthy stated the town's intention to have the bodies disinterred and to stop future burials. He stressed that these steps were necessary to prevent any group from bypassing regulations, regardless of religion, stating, "Unauthorized cemeteries have the potential of placing a financial burden on the local government as well as dictating the use of the land for perpetuity” (ibid.). In response to the town board's actions, the Sufi center members emphasized strict adherence to town regulations. They presented a 2005 document from the town zoning board confirming that the cemetery was permitted use according to the Town of Sidney Zoning Ordinance. They noted that licensed funeral directors conducted the burials with proper permits (Seely, 2010, Oct 2). The legal dispute between the Sufi center and the Sidney Town Board escalated to a national level of attention in September. The story was covered by the Huffington Post (Reinbach, 2010, Sep 27) and featured on MSNBC’s “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” and Comedy Central’s “Colbert Report.” The national spotlight underscored the salience of the issue, which emerged during a period of heightened tension over Muslim building projects in the runup to the 2010 midterm elections, including the protests over an Islamic Center near Ground Zero in Manhattan. In October, opposition to the Town Board's actions grew, with nearly 40 area clergy from various faiths urging the board to drop the issue. They supported the Sufi community’s right to practice their faith and criticized the singling out of one religion (Clergy's letter supports Sufi order, 2010, Oct 9). "Though we are members and leaders of different faith traditions, we stand beside our Sufi brothers and sisters to support their right to practice their faith and live as peaceful, law-abiding, contributing members of our society," the letter said (Clergy's letter supports Sufi order (ibid.). On October 13, a day before a Town Board meeting, the Sufi community's lawyer announced that the local government would drop plans to force the cemetery's closure. However, the board still intended to enact a law preventing burials on private property but excluding religious and not-for-profit groups. Despite this, the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) demanded a public apology from town officials for attempting to close the cemetery (CAIR seeks apology, 2010, Oct 14). At the next day’s Town Board meeting, more than 100 attendees chanted for McCarthy's resignation after he refused to apologize for his actions and the negative attention brought to the town (Crowd calls for McCarthy's resignation, 2010, Oct 15). Local opposition to McCarthy and the Town Board persisted in the following months. Concerned Citizens for Responsible Sidney Government petitioned for McCarthy's resignation and filed formal complaints about his management with the New York Attorney General and Comptroller, backed by signed petitions (Rainbach, 2010, Nov 8). In the November 2011 Sidney town elections, a slate of candidates endorsed by McCarthy was defeated by Democratic and bipartisan candidates, with the cemetery controversy being a key issue for voters (Boshnack, 2011, Nov 10). References <ul> <li>Boshnack, M. (2011, November 10). Unhappy Sidney voters turn out in high numbers. The Daily Star. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F13AEFCD416DD9B70">NewsBank</a>. </li> <li>Breakey, P. (2010, September 14). Sidney Town Board objects to cemetery. The Daily Star. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1323D87A49343F38">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li>CAIR seeks apology from NY town over Muslim cemetery flap. (2010, October 14). PR Newswire. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F132DD2EA8F82EAB0">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li>Clergy's letter supports Sufi order. (2010, October 9). The Daily Star. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F132C10F75ED49BD0">NewsBank</a>. Crowd calls for McCarthy's resignation in Sidney. (2010, October 15). The Daily Star. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F132E0A324E6C3708">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li>Reinbach, A. (2010, September 27). Tiny Upstate New York Town Wants Local Muslims to Dig Up Their Cemetery. Huffington Post. <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tiny-upstate-new-york-tow_b_739832">Web</a>.</li> <li>Reinbach, A. (2010, November 8). Sidney, NY knuckling down for a brawl. Huffington Post. <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sidney-ny-knuckling-down_b_780428">Web</a>.</li> <li>Seely, H. (2010, October 2). Tiny cemetery in ground zero in Islam debate. The Post-Standard, p. A1. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F132A0467C56512B0">NewsBank</a>. </li> </ul> Proposed Project The Sufi community used a portion of its 50-acre property as a cemetery. The first burial occurred in November 2009, followed by a second in the summer of 2010. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource In 2010, the Sidney Town Board took legal action to stop the Osmanli Naksibendi Hakkani Dergahi from using part of its 50-acre property as a cemetery. The Sufi community purchased the land in 2002 and began using it for burials in 2009. The Town Board claimed the burials were illegal and sought to disinter the bodies. The Sufi group argued they had followed town regulations. The dispute gained national attention and led to significant local opposition. Ultimately, the town dropped its plans to pursue a lawsuit but planned to regulate private burials. Persistent community opposition to the Town Board characterized the controversy and led to significant changes in the 2011 town election. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Sidney, NY Approved Cemetery Legislation https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/97686493ba78bca7afc53b7926df0c09.jpg f3e64159483ef9cc2298fdbd6732e790 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource A rose as the cover image of the Bosnian Muslim Association's Facebook page. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Bosnian Muslim Association of Clearwater Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://www.facebook.com/BosnianMuslimAssociation/about Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. The Bosnian Member Association (BMA) of Clearwater faced considerable opposition to its proposal to establish a green burial cemetery near Istachatta, in northern Hernando County. The BMA applied for a special exception permit from the Hernando County Planning and Zoning Commission to use a 5.2-acre plot near a subdivision. The land in question was zoned as agricultural. Despite the Planning Department’s recommendation for approval, the proposal was unanimously disapproved by the planning commissioners, who held that the subdivision was not a suitable location for a cemetery. The cemetery proposal was rooted in Bosnian tradition and closely aligned with the practices of the growing green burial movement. According to Vedad Sakovic, president of the BMA, the cemetery would have featured wooden slabs or crosses as markers, with bodies buried without embalming in wooden caskets designed to decompose quickly (Bates, 2007, Feb 14). Sue Hughes, a Brooksville Realtor representing the BMA, emphasized the natural aspect of this burial method, noting its environmental benefits over traditional embalming and the use of pesticides and herbicides in conventional cemeteries (ibid.). Despite these assurances, residents of Deerhaven Estates and the planning commissioners remained unconvinced. Twenty local residents attended the planning commission meeting to voice their opposition. They expressed a variety of concerns, ranging from personal fears to environmental and social impacts. Some worried about wildlife disturbing the graves and the potential for criminal activities, while others implored the commissioners to preserve the area’s natural state (Skerritt, 2007, Feb 21). Concerns about property values were also raised. One neighbor expressed discomfort with the fact that the cemetery would be for Muslims, feeling excluded from being buried in a cemetery close to his home (Dewitt, 2007, Feb 13). Sakovic clarified that the cemetery would be inclusive, accommodating the BMA’s diverse membership, including members of the Catholic and Orthodox churches, as well as Muslims. The Planning and Zoning Commission raised concerns about the cemetery's long-term maintenance. Planning Commissioner Anna Liisa Covell questioned who would be responsible for the property's upkeep if the BMA were to disband or relocate. She also worried that bodies from the green, environmentally friendly cemetery would pollute the aquifer and contaminate the drinking water (Bates, 2007, Feb 14). Despite the County Planning Department’s recommendation for approval, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously against the cemetery. After the commission meeting, Sakovic stated that the BMA would not continue to pursue the project in Hernando County. "It's not a place we want to be," said Sakovic. "We want a neighborhood that would welcome us" (Skerritt, 2007, Feb 21). References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Skerritt, A. (2007, February 21). Prejudice runs 6 feet deep. St. Petersburg Times, p. 2; 2; 2. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/11773C64F2D0ED28">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">D. Bates, M. (2007, February 14). Hernando Rejects Request to allow Bosnian Cemetery: Nearby subdivision was deciding factor. Tampa Tribune, p. 5. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/117517E82104B2A0">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Dewitt, D. (2007, February 13). Green burials voted down. St. Petersburg Times, p. 1. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/11749A1FEBC96190">NewsBank</a>.</li> </ul> Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. FL_09 Location The location of the interview Hernando County, FL Year Year the case began. 2007 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. Cherokee Road at Deerhaven Estates, Brooksville, FL 34601 Proposed Project The BMA applied for a special exception permit to use a 5.2-acre plot zoned as agricultural as a cemetery. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BosnianMuslimAssociation/">Bosnian Member Association of Clearwater</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Planning and Zoning Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Despite the Planning Department’s recommendation for approval, the proposal was unanimously disapproved by the planning commissioners, who held that the subdivision was not a suitable location for a cemetery. Last Updated Date revised. June 14, 2024 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource The Bosnian Member Association of Clearwater applied for a special exception permit from the Hernando County Planning and Zoning Commission to use a 5.2-acre plot near the Deerhaven Estates subdivision for a green burial cemetery. The commission unanimously denied the permit, deeming a subdivision unsuitable for a cemetery. Over 20 local residents attended the meeting to voice their opposition to the project. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Florian Pohl Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Hernando County, FL Cemetery Denied Not Built Planning and Zoning Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/b3104cfc5945e25666e7d9e9c722e86d.png 1ca6f46cf1eb7689eac436c9a568cbdc Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource The Bosniak Islamic Cultural Center in Carlisle, Pa. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://www.phillyvoice.com/pa-township-turns-down-proposed-islamic-cemetery/ Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Pa_04 Location The location of the interview West Pennsboro Township, PA Year Year the case began. 2015 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 315 McAllister Church Rd, Carlisle, PA 17015 Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Bosniak Islamic Cultural Center of Carlisle Proposed Project 80-plot cemetery on land zoned agricultural Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Zoning and Planning Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Approved (overturned following initial denial) Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. Carlisle, Pennsylvania, is home to around eighty Bosnian families who immigrated there after the end of the 1995 Bosnian War and formed the Bosniak Islamic Cultural Center, which in November 2014 applied to build a cemetery in Dickinson Township. However, the proposal was denied, as the township’s zoning did not specify that cemeteries were permitted, and there were concerns about the landlocked nature of the property and its proximity to residential properties (Walmer, 2015, Mar 23). In 2015, the Bosniak Islamic Cultural Center requested the construction of their cemetery at a different site in West Pennsboro Township. The zoning of the property was agricultural and allowed for cemetery use. In February 2015, despite objections from West Pennsboro Township citizens, the township zoning board recommended the Board of Supervisors approve the Bosniak Islamic Cultural Center’s eighty-plot cemetery. However, the township’s Board of Supervisors rejected the application in March 2015, citing concerns over groundwater contamination. Expressing public opposition, West Pennsboro Township residents said the cemetery would “disturb their quality of life,” citing concerns about groundwater contamination and a decline in property value (DeKok, 2015, Mar 24). A resident called the building of the cemetery a “slap in the face” to veterans, further reinforcing the idea that Islam is seen as un-American (Walmer, 2015, Mar 23). Around 120 residents came to the township hall to protest the building of the Islamic cemetery (ibid.). A geologist testifying for the Bosniak community stated that Islamic burials would not impact nearby water wells. Moreover, the attorney for the group also emphasized that the burial practice did not violate state law, especially since the center had agreed to bury bodies five feet deep. The Township Board Chairman, Donald Agar, claimed that the proposed site would not be appropriate for a cemetery of any faith (DeKok, 2015, Mar 24). The head of the Bosniak Islamic Cultural Center of Carlisle, Alija Sejmenovi, told journalists he would appeal the township supervisor’s decision (ibid.). In April 2015, the Bosniak Islamic Cultural Center appealed the Board of Supervisors' decision, stating that the application's denial had not been evidence-based and that the board had overstepped its position. In May 2015, Judge Kevin Hess finally overturned the rejection and approved the group's cemetery development (Vaughn, 2016, May 4). Since then, there has been little information on any progress with the cemetery project. The case did not receive extensive coverage from media outlets. However, it was mentioned in several articles discussing the spread of Islamophobic backlash of Muslim burials (e.g., Lavoie, 2016, Apr 25). Most media coverage of the case was negative, with news outlets describing the Islamophobic actions of the township supervisors and city residents. Regarding the larger public response, Marian Kulp, a resident, wrote a letter calling for peace and freedom of religion (Kulp, 2015, Apr 7). References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">DeKok, D. (2015, March 24). Pennsylvania township nixes proposed Islamic cemetery, appeal likely. Reuters. Web.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Kulp, M. E. (2015, April 7). Everyone has right to proper burial [Letter to Editor]. The Sentinel (Carlisle, PA). Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F15493E0CF9EB9360.">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Lavoie, D. (2016, April 25). Backlash greets plans for Muslim cemeteries around the US. Associated Press. <a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-58d4287818d94658ac52db51ddd94f36">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Vaughn, J. (2016, May 4). Ask/Answered: Fate of Islamic cemetery. The Sentinel (Carlisle, PA). Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/15CAD83D4C15F2C8">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Walmer, D. (2015, March 23). West Pennsboro Township officials vote down Bosniak Cemetery. The Sentinel. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AD&maxresults=20&f=advanced&val-base-0=West%20Pennsboro%20Township%20cemetery&fld-base-0=alltext&bln-base-1=and&val-base-1=2015&fld-base-1=YMD_date&docref=news/15444CEA21F27DA0">NewsBank</a>.</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, and Lauren Yee Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource West Pennsboro Township, PA Description An account of the resource In 2015, the Bosniak Islamic Cultural Center applied to build a cemetery in West Pennsboro Township. Despite the agricultural zoning allowing for cemetery use, the township board rejected the application in March 2015, citing groundwater contamination concerns. Residents protested, expressing fears about property value decline and quality of life. The Bosniak community argued that Islamic burials wouldn't affect water wells and didn't violate laws. After an appeal, Judge Kevin Hess overturned the rejection in May 2015. Media coverage highlighted Islamophobic sentiments, but some residents advocated for religious freedom and peace. Approved (initial denial) Cemetery Planning and Zoning Public Campaign REL230_SP24 https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/b583aa74b0b0d6687b7e01fb452cb357.jpeg 4871ebd19ad48b4dcc75e15fc300a029 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived http://www.lvislamiccemetery.org/photo-gallery/picture13/ Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Nv_01 Location The location of the interview Las Vegas, NV Year Year the case began. 2015 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 7620 Bermuda Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89123 Proposed Project private, nonprofit cemetery on two acres of land Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Islamic Foundation of Nevada Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Approved, with conditions Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. As the Muslim population in Las Vegas grew steadily, there arose a need to develop a community and its accompanying infrastructure to support this expansion. Dr. Osama Haikal, a longstanding resident of Las Vegas, played a pivotal role in this endeavor by founding the <a href="https://lvislamicacademy.org/ohia-mission/">Omar Haikal Islamic Academy</a> and the <a href="https://omarhaikalmasjid.com/">Omar Haikal Masjid</a>, named after his father. Dr. Haikal also spearheaded a cemetery project located near the Masjid and Academy. This project was approved by the Clark County Board of Commissioners, including Steve Sisolak, who would later become the governor of Nevada. In early 2015, Dr. Osama Haikal sought a special-use permit to build a cemetery on his property. The Clark County staff endorsed his application for approval. Following this, the Town Board convened and reiterated its support for approval. The matter then proceeded to the Clark County Planning Commission, which recommended approval with certain conditions (Sisolak, 2015, Apr 2015). Following approval—with about a dozen conditions—by the County’s Planning Commission in early 2015, some residents appealed to the Board of Commissioners with concerns over possible flooding, water contamination, and impact on property values (Lopardi, 2015, Mar 18). In March 2015, County commissioners unanimously approved the cemetery project. However, Haikal agreed to implement several additional improvements and conditions for the project to address neighbors' concerns. These included a taller wall, increased landscaping, and specific operational hours to avoid burials during dark hours or high traffic, such as when students arrive or leave nearby schools (Brean, 2015, Mar 18). Additional conditions required that the cemetery have no signage, a modest funeral home resembling a small house, and flat graves marked with simple ground-level plaques. While no caskets would be used, bodies buried at the cemetery would be enclosed in concrete vaults (ibid.). After a protracted struggle spanning several months, the cemetery was eventually authorized and opened, signifying a noteworthy accomplishment for the neighborhood. The cemetery's successful construction is a significant step toward building the necessary infrastructure to accommodate the local Muslim community’s expanding population. <a href="http://www.lvislamiccemetery.org/">Las Vegas Islamic Cemetery</a> is running alongside the Haikal Islamic Academy and Masjid. One review online discusses the cemetery and how it is well-run. References <ul> <li>Brean, H. (2015, March 18). Valley’s first Islamic cemetery approved over neighborhood opposition. Las Vegas Review-Journal. <a href="https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/valleys-first-islamic-cemetery-approved-over-neighborhood-opposition/">Web</a>.</li> <li>Lopardi, M. (2015, March 18). Action News at 5PM. ABC - 13 KTNV (Las Vegas, NV). Available at <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F154293F3C887D680.">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li>Sisolak, S. (2015, April 7). Letters: Cemetery approved on legal merits. Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV), p. B008. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/1548E0DF3213DAD0">NewsBank</a>.</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, and Lauren Yee Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Las Vegas, NV Description An account of the resource Dr. Osama Haikal played a crucial role in addressing the growing Muslim population in Las Vegas by establishing the Omar Haikal Islamic Academy, Omar Haikal Masjid, and a cemetery project near the Masjid. In early 2015, he sought approval for the cemetery, facing initial concerns over flooding and property values. After modifications like a taller wall and specific operational hours, the project gained unanimous approval from County commissioners. The Las Vegas Islamic Cemetery's successful completion reflects community progress and indicates efforts to accommodate the expanding Muslim population alongside essential infrastructure like the Haikal Islamic Academy and Masjid. Approved Built Cemetery Public Campaign REL230_SP24 https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/e1462a6e6ea1029ad0291bfba7df8cbd.png f69c3a1103e5e5fc7f34203145cb159e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Cox (2017, Mar 16) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Mn_10 Location The location of the interview Chisago County, MN Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 26025 Lofton Ave, Chisago City, MN 55013 Year Year the case began. 2016 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 84GH+MG Chisago City, Minnesota Proposed Project 16-acre property with 2 acres for cemetery use Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="http://www.icbmn.org/main/">The Islamic Community of Bosniaks of Minnesota</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Planning and Zoning Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications In March 2017, the Chisago County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously, 4-0, to reverse its December decision and grant ICBMN a permit to proceed. Last Updated Date revised. June 12, 2024 Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In 2016, the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Minnesota (ICBMN), sought a conditional use permit (CUP) from the Chisago County Board of Commissioners to build a small cemetery on land zoned agricultural. ICBMN had been using Muslim sections of cemeteries in Roseville and Burnsville, but they lacked enough plots for future burials (Giles, 2017, Jan 23). As a result, the congregation of about 1,200 Bosnian Muslims purchased sixteen acres of land in Chisago Lake Township. Two acres would be used for the cemetery with a maximum of 800 graves, and the rest would remain farmland. Though Chisago County is more than 45 miles from ICBMN’s mosque in Minneapolis, the land was significantly more affordable than an urban location. In December 2016, the County Planning Commission, an advisory entity to the Board of Commissioners, voted 4-2 to approve ICBMN’s proposal with conditions. The permit called for constructing a parking lot, a building to house lawn maintenance equipment, and planting trees to act as screening (Knutson, 2016, Dec 7). At the meeting, local residents expressed concerns about the cemetery’s impact on property values, the appearance of a fence or gate, and groundwater contamination (Du, 2017, Jan 10). In response, the Planning Commission stated that there were already several cemeteries near the proposed site, area farms have always had fences and gates, and there is no proof that natural burials contaminate the earth (ibid). Despite the Planning Commission’s recommendation to approve the project, the Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to reject the proposed cemetery later that month. Commissioner Ben Montzka expressed his disappointment and theorized that “maybe it would have been easier, if it had been a majority religion, if it had been a Lutheran cemetery or maybe a Baptist cemetery” (ibid.). Following the Board’s decision, ICBMN announced that it would look elsewhere to construct its cemetery and hoped to receive an invitation from a suburban county with available land (Giles, 2017, Jan 23). In March 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it was investigating the Board’s denial of the permit (Chisago County Board, 2017, Mar 16). Additionally, ICBMN expressed interest in suing Chisago County for religious discrimination. As a result, on March 15, the Board voted unanimously, 4-0, to reverse its previous decision and grant ICBMN a CUP to proceed with its cemetery project. The Board’s attorney had advised them to approve the permit, stating that “there is no insurance coverage for any Department of Justice inquiry. As depositions of yourself and your staff begin, costs will roll up exponentially” (ibid.). While news coverage of the cemetery project has been sparse since 2017, the initiative has progressed quietly. The ICBMN currently lists the cemetery on its official website as an operational facility where it provides funeral services to its members. This suggests that despite the limited media attention, the project has indeed moved forward, and the cemetery is now in use. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Chisago County Board approves Muslim cemetery amid looming discrimination lawsuit. (2017, March 16). Twin Cities. <a href="https://www.twincities.com/2017/03/16/chisago-county-board-approves-muslim-cemetery-amid-looming-discrimination-lawsuit/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Du, S. (2017, January 11). Fear of Muslims prompts Chisago County to reject Bosnian cemetery. CityPages. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170111141314/http://www.citypages.com/news/fear-of-muslims-prompts-chisago-county-to-reject-bosnian-cemetery/409916235">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Giles, K. (2017, January 23). Turned away in Chisago County, Bosnian Muslims search anew for cemetery land. Star Tribune. <a href="https://www.startribune.com/turned-away-in-chisago-county-bosnian-muslims-search-anew-for-cemetery-land/411596145/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Knutson, D. (2016, December 7). Muslim cemetery proposal clears county Planning Commission. Hometownsource.com. <a href="https://www.hometownsource.com/the_post_review/news/local/muslim-cemetery-proposal-clears-county-planning-commission/article_fbeaefc6-5df8-5dcd-88cb-6c3d5b8a7922.html">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">The Associated Press. (2017, March 16). Chisago County Board approves Muslim cemetery amid looming discrimination lawsuit. Twin Cities. <a href="https://www.twincities.com/2017/03/16/chisago-county-board-approves-muslim-cemetery-amid-looming-discrimination-lawsuit/">Web</a>.</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Chisago County, MN Description An account of the resource In December 2016, the Chisago County Board of Commissioners denied the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Minnesota’s proposal for a small cemetery. Local residents had expressed concerns about property values, traffic, and aesthetics. After the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it would investigate the denial and the Muslim community considered suing the County, the Board unanimously agreed in March 2017 to reverse its previous decision and approve the conditional use permit. Approved (initial denial) Built Cemetery DOJ Planning and Zoning Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/f6fae81b0747c6c942c8215935a5ec34.JPG a12784c67a5ce56af20b1b146e60af01 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Mn_08 Location The location of the interview Castle Rock Township, MN Year Year the case began. 2014 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 1120 220th Street West, Farmington, MN 55024 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. JWG6+JH Farmington, Minnesota Proposed Project The Al Maghfirah Cemetery Association attempts to build a 73-acre cemetery on land zoned for residential use. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://mncemetery.org/">Al Maghfirah Cemetery Association</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Planning and Zoning, Legislation, Crime against Property Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications After initial denial, the Al Maghfirah Cemetery Association filed against the township in October 2015. In February 2016, a Dakota County District Court judge sided with the cemetery, ruling that the rejection was “arbitrary and capricious.” Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In November 2014, the Castle Rock Township Board of Supervisors denied a conditional use permit (CUP) to the nonprofit Al Maghfirah Cemetery Association for a proposed cemetery in Castle Rock Township. The 73-acre project was intended as a long-term burial solution for the Minnesota Muslim community, as smaller burial spots in the nearby Burnsville and Roseville were reaching capacity (van Berkel, 2015, Nov 3). The association planned to develop 20 acres to accommodate an estimated 35,000 burials (Judge tells, 2016, Feb 2). Following the denial, the Castle Rock Township Planning Commission changed the zoning language for the specified area, removing cemeteries from acceptable conditional land usage. The Cemetery Association filed a discrimination lawsuit in the Dakota County District Court in May 2015, which was decided in favor of the Cemetery Association in January 2016. The Court ruled that the Board’s decision was “arbitrary and capricious” and ordered the Board to grant the CUP (Nelson, 2016, Feb 2). In the years following the case, the cemetery property has been vandalized and was subject to arson. The Al Maghfirah Cemetery Association entered talks to purchase the Castle Rock land in February 2014, conditioning the purchase on a conditional use permit for a cemetery and funeral home. The application was recommended for approval by the Castle Rock Township Planning Committee in June 2014 with the removal of the funeral home and a fence. However, the Township’s Board of Supervisors subsequently rejected the application for a litany of reasons. The Board’s main concern was the loss of tax base, arguing that the township would lose $17,000 annually in property taxes. The board also cited the size of the project, the lack of public availability, the city's three other cemeteries, and the region's existing Muslim cemeteries (Nelson, 2016, Feb 2). The Cemetery Association then purchased the property and attempted to submit a new application, but was denied twice by the Board with the original decision as justification. In the lawsuit that followed, the Al Maghfirah Cemetery Association alleged discrimination. The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) called for the Department of Justice to investigate whether the Board’s denial constituted discrimination against Muslims and a violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). The Association also pushed back against the narrative that the tax impact would be significant, citing that the land made up 0.3 percent of the municipality’s total land and that the township only directly received $1,300 of the total $17,000 in annual taxes (Nelson, 2016, Feb 2). On the first day of the court proceedings, Hassan Mohmud, the director and imam of the Minnesota Da’wah Institute, commented on the diverse group of Muslims gathered to watch. He said, "This is historic for me… This is the first time I have seen them all united" (van Berkel, 2015, Nov 4). After the judge ruled in favor of the Cemetery Association, Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the CAIR-MN called the ruling a “victory,” saying that “[d]iscrimination should not be hidden in language of land use” (Judge tells, 2016, Feb 2). Despite a favorable court ruling, the township rejected the Association’s proposal for the cemetery and funeral home in 2017. The 2016 court ruling had permitted cemetery use but not a funeral home. Meanwhile, the land remained undeveloped, containing two large buildings that became targets of vandalism and property damage in 2017 and 2021. In August 2017, the property was defaced with spray-painted profanities, swastikas, and the message “Leave, you R dead.” This incident was investigated as a hate crime. The property was targeted again in October 2021 with an attempted arson; tires were placed inside the building, and a large gas pipe was cut, resulting in damages exceeding $150,000. Following public news of the incident, community members from the metropolitan area assembled to assist in clearing the property. Hussein remarked on the multi-faith solidarity, stating, “Today, really, it’s a true test of our community that we came out to support, to clean up after their mess to show them we are not going anywhere — that we are more united now than we’ve ever been before” (Community cleans, 2021, Nov 1). The Al Maghfirah Cemetery Association submitted another application for a conditional use permit, this time incorporating plans for a funeral home. After eight years of legal battles over land use and property crimes, the Association finally received the permit from the township in June 2022 (Ansari, 2022, Nov 29). The Association announced that the land would be developed in several stages. The initial stage involves clearing approximately five acres to accommodate around 5,000 burial plots, a parking lot, walking paths, and an Islamic center for funeral prayers and rites. The completed cemetery is projected to be the largest in Minnesota dedicated solely to Muslim burials (ibid.). References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Ansari, H. (2022, November 29). Muslim cemetery clears major hurdle toward opening after eight years of legal fights and vandalism. Sahan Journal. <a href="https://sahanjournal.com/culture-community/al-maghfirah-cemetery-association-muslim-cemetery-castle-rock-minnesota/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Community cleans up prospective Muslim cemetery site after vandalism. (2021, November 1). KSTP. <a href="https://kstp.com/minnesota-news/community-cemetery-cleanup/6287490">Web</a>. </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Judge tells township it must issue permit for Muslim cemetery: Denial called 'arbitrary, capricious'. (2016, February 2). St. Paul Pioneer Press, p. A5. Available from<a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F15B3EDB5ED0FF708"> NewsBank</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Nelson, E. (2016, February 2). Dakota County Judge rules in favor of Islamic cemetery: Castle Rock Township must issue a permit after its denial was deemed “arbitrary.” Star Tribune, p. 01B. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/15AC562A86C421C8">NewsBank</a>. </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">van Berkel, J. (2015, November 3). Bias is alleged after veto of Muslim cemetery plan: Association says southern Dakota County township unfairly reversed course. Star Tribune, p. 01B. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F158E57BB0FEF48E0">NewsBank</a>. </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">van Berkel, J. (2015, November 4). Muslim leaders take quest for cemetery in Castle Rock Township to Court. Star Tribune. <a href="https://www.startribune.com/muslim-leaders-take-quest-for-cemetery-in-castle-rock-township-to-court/340019631">Web</a>. </li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource In November 2014, the Castle Rock Township Board of Supervisors denied the Al Maghfirah Cemetery Association’s application for a conditional use permit on 73 acres of land zoned residential. The rejection cited the size of the project, loss of tax base, and the lack of public availability. The Association filed a discrimination lawsuit in response. In January 2016, the Dakota County District Court ordered the Township to issue a conditional use permit, ruling that the loss of tax base constitutes an “arbitrary and capricious” justification. Since the ruling, the property has been vandalized twice. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ben Damon Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Castle Rock Township, MN Approved (initial denial) Cemetery Crimes Against Property Lawsuit (RLUIPA) Legislation Planning and Zoning Under Construction