1 10 29 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 This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024).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/efaad8dd08be02abc3defe208e05ab2e.png d0d4ab714d64b6e4207b3086f0220746 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 Community Help Center was denied approval to turn a field near U.S. 27 and Maples Road into a cemetery. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Request for 3,000-grave Muslim cemetery denied. (2019, December 18). CBS-15 Local News. Available at https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/request-for-3000-grave-muslim-cemetery-denied. 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. Year Year the case began. 2019 Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. In_02 Location The location of the interview Allen County, IN Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 8631 Decatur Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46816 Proposed Project The Muslim Community Help Center attempted to build a 14-acre cemetery with 3,648 graves with bodies placed in concrete vaults on land zoned agricultural. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063216039951">The Muslim Community Help Center Cemetery Association</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Planning and Zoning, Public Campaign Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 86HP2V4X+H5 Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The project was denied in December 2019 by the Allen County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA). The board did not state any reasons for the denial, but during the public hearing, questions were raised about the cemetery's size and the lack of a perpetual care fund for cemetery maintenance. In February 2021, The BZA approved a modified proposal. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In December 2019, the Allen County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) rejected a proposal by the Muslim Community Help Association to establish a new cemetery. The group, primarily composed of refugees from Myanmar, sought their own cemetery due to the growing size of their community. The proposal was for a cemetery with 3,648 graves on a field behind a former church building. The Muslim community had purchased the church property earlier that year, converting it into a Muslim worship center known as Masjid Quba. The land, zoned for agricultural use, had previously been part of the church’s community gardening program. It required a special exception or conditional use permit (CUP) to be used as a cemetery. At the BZA meeting, a local real estate agent assisted the Muslim Association. Despite assurances that the Association was registered with the state and would comply with all relevant regulations, including the use of concrete vaults for burials, the zoning board denied the request by a vote of 4-1. During the meeting, board members did not explain why they voted against the cemetery (Rodriguez, 2019, Dec 20). Board member David Bailey was the sole dissenter, arguing that the board had limited jurisdiction over the matter. However, his motion to approve the plan failed due to a lack of a second (ibid.). Key concerns community members and the zoning board raised included questions about the group's capability to manage and maintain the cemetery, including the need for a perpetual care fund and a clear maintenance plan. Neighbors also expressed worries about the burial practices. The Muslim tradition of not embalming bodies sparked concerns about potential environmental impacts and the feasibility of reverting the land to agricultural use. Additionally, the overall size and the proposed number of grave sites raised concerns (Darby, 2019, Dec 18). In February 2021, the Muslim community reapplied for a cemetery permit with the help of a Fort Wayne attorney, Pat Hess, who represented the group at the Allen County Board of Zoning Appeals (Rodriguez, 2021, Feb 18). The Association’s new proposal for the cemetery was similar to the earlier one but included several key revisions. The number of gravesites was reduced from 3,648 to 890, and an access drive from Hessen Cassel Road was eliminated. Additionally, the application reserved space for future burials in two property segments, though the number of graves planned for those sections was unspecified. The Muslim community also indicated that funeral homes would be responsible for services and body preparation, and those activities would not occur on-site (ibid.). Despite some concerns from nearby residents about the septic system and potential drainage issues, the board approved the proposal unanimously after ensuring that the cemetery would comply with state guidelines and establish a perpetual care fund. The language specifying that burials were limited to Muslims was removed to avoid any appearance of discrimination (Rodriguez, 2021, Feb 18). A news article from March 2023 reported that the cemetery was under construction and that the Association held a fundraiser to support the project (Benkowski, 2023, March 19). References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Benkowski, G. (2023, March 19). Muslim Community Help Center holds fundraiser for cemetery. CBS 15 Local News. <a href="https://www.wane.com/top-stories/muslim-community-help-center-holds-fundraiser-for-cemetery/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Darby, C. (2019, December 18). Request for 3,000-grave Muslim cemetery denied. CBS-15 Local News. <a href="https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/request-for-3000-grave-muslim-cemetery-denied">Web</a>. </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Rodriguez, R. S. (2021, February 18). Muslim burial grounds get OK. The Journal Gazette. <a href="https://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/20210218/muslimburialgrounds-get-ok">Web</a>. </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Rodriguez, R. S. (2019, December 20). Proposed Muslim cemetery rejected: Zoning board votes 4-1 against Decatur Road plan. The Journal Gazette, p. 1C. 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%252F1780BC4767E07B18">NewsBank</a>.</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. June 12, 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/. Title A name given to the resource Allen County, IN Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Description An account of the resource In December 2019, the Allen County Board of Zoning Appeals rejected by a vote of 4-1 a cemetery proposal by the Muslim Community Help Association of Fort Wayne, citing insufficient planning and justification behind the proposed size of the cemetery and management of the property. The 14-acre site for 3,648 burial plots had been advanced as contingent use on land zoned agricultural. The Help Association applied again in 2021 with a slightly modified proposal addressing some of the concerns raised in the 2019 public hearing before the board. The new proposal was unanimously approved in February 2021. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ben Damon Approved (initial denial) Cemetery Planning and Zoning Public Campaign Under Construction https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/2e59e949d8c54d384b1a62a07983dd6b.png 4d26b51dcedc89f74a72f85eba825338 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) VA_10 Date 2018 Year Year the case began. 2018 Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.gliaweb.org/">The Greater Lynchburg Islamic Association</a> Address Enter the full address, if it is available. property located at the intersection of Double Bridges Road and Hundley Springs Road in the Promise Land community Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. On July 11, 2018, the Appomattox County Planning Commission announced that the Greater Lynchburg Islamic Association had withdrawn its petition for a conditional use permit (CUP) to operate a cemetery on an 8-acre property zoned agricultural. The county’s planning commission had tabled the petition the previous month in response to strong opposition from residents. The parcel in question was located in the Agricultural Zoning District (A-1) in an area designated Rural Preservation Area by the county’s Future Land Use Map in the Comprehensive Plan. At the same meeting during which the commission announced that the Islamic Association had withdrawn its CUP request, commissioners discussed a motion to increase the review requirements for “religious assemblies.” Public opposition emerged in early June when the Islamic Association’s plan became public to operate a cemetery on a property at Double Bridges Road and Hundley Springs Road. On the local ABC channel’s Facebook page, the article reporting on the plan received hundreds of comments. While some Facebook users supported the project, most comments voiced opposition ranging from concerns over well water contamination and property values to statements targeting Islam and Muslims (Tyree and Hoffman, 2018, Jun 1). The county’s Planning Commission heard public comments on the project before a capacity crowd at its June 13 meeting. Residents spoke up in opposition to the project, citing the adverse impact on the neighborhood’s character, noise, traffic, and loss of property values. Concern over water contamination also featured prominently in remarks. One resident stated, "The bodies are not put into a casket or a vault. They're not embalmed. And that goes into our water" (Langlitz and Wilcox, 2018, Jun 13). In addition, opponents presented a petition signed by 395 citizens urging the commission to reject the CUP request. However, opponents made no explicitly anti-Muslim or anti-Islamic statements at the meeting. Islamic Association President Maqsud Ahmad introduced the cemetery project outlining the need, low impact, and adherence to local and state laws. Support came from a Lynchburg area pastor whose congregation had developed a positive relationship with the Islamic Association over the years. Ahmad expressed that the project would abide by all required regulations, including proper setbacks to ensure groundwater would not be affected. He also signaled the Islamic Association’s willingness to consider alternative burial methods saying, "We can come up with a plastic upside down or a concrete upside down [encasement], which is what they do in Charlottesville” (Langlitz and Wilcox, 2018, Jun 13). The Planning Commission tabled the application following the county attorney’s recommendation to allow additional time for staff review. At the subsequent commission meeting in July, commissioners announced that the CUP request for the cemetery project had been withdrawn. Public documents do not offer information about the reasons for the withdrawal. At the same meeting, the Appomattox Planning Commission discussed proposed changes to the county’s zoning ordinances to increase the review requirements for “Religious Assemblies.” The amendments proposed changing the “Religious Assembly” land use category from permitted to conditional use in four zoning districts, including the Agricultural District (A-1). The change would not affect cemetery projects, which already were conditional use under the current zoning regulations. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Langlitz, R. and K. Wilcox (2018, June 13). Appomattox Co. Planning Commission hears community concerns for proposed cemetery. ABC 13 News. Retrieved from <a href="https://wset.com/news/local/appomattox-co-planning-commission-hears-community-concerns-for-proposed-cemetery">https://wset.com/news/local/appomattox-co-planning-commission-hears-community-concerns-for-proposed-cemetery</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Tyree, E. and Ch. Hoffman (2018, June 1). Neighbors concerned about proposed cemetery infecting well water. ABC 13 News. Retrieved from <a href="https://wset.com/news/local/neighbors-concerned-about-proposed-cemetery-infecting-well-water?fbclid=IwAR0LmITKyCf58LUNMR-U8OVJ31EgiY-IpuMG9SdUl%E2%80%A6">https://wset.com/news/local/neighbors-concerned-about-proposed-cemetery-infecting-well-water?fbclid=IwAR0LmITKyCf58LUNMR-U8OVJ31EgiY-IpuMG9SdUl%E2%80%A6</a>.</li> </ul> Location The location of the interview Appomattox County, VA Proposed Project The Greater Lynchburg Islamic Association requested a CUP for an 8.05-acre property zoned A-1, Agricultural Zoning District. The parcel was designated Rural Preservation Area by the county’s Future Land Use Map in the Comprehensive Plan. Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign: Social media (Fb) opposition; attendance at Planning Commission meeting; petition (395 signatures) Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Withdrawn -- The County Planning Commission announced a month after it had tabled the petition that the property owner had withdrawn the CUP request. 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/. Title A name given to the resource Appomattox County, VA Description An account of the resource On July 18, 2018, the Appomattox County Planning Commission announced that the Greater Lynchburg Islamic Association had withdrawn its petition for a conditional use permit to operate a cemetery on an 8-acre property zoned agricultural. The county’s planning commission had tabled the petition the previous month in response to strong opposition from residents. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Florian Pohl Cemetery Public Campaign Withdrawn https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/bfa15ef5d529c3020560172e575f2dd4.png 30faf6e25db7baa9b1a75b2c683513f8 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. Ky_03 Location The location of the interview Bullitt County, KY Year Year the case began. 2013 Proposed Project The Louisville Islamic Center seeks to build a cemetery on a 10-acre plot zoned for agricultural use. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Louisville Islamic Center Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Administrative Denial Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Following the denial in Bullitt County, the Louisville Islamic Center receives the necessary conditional-use permit to form the <a href="https://moflou.com/ghc/">Green Haven Cemetery</a> in Louisville, KY, in December 2013. The cemetery remains operational to date. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In February 2013, the Bullitt County Board of Adjustments denied a conditional use permit to the Louisville Islamic Center for a cemetery project in Mount Washington. The Louisville Islamic Center hoped to use the permit to purchase 10 acres of land zoned agricultural to establish an Islamic cemetery for their community in nearby Louisville, Kentucky. Previously, the community had to drive 46 miles to Elizabeth, Kentucky, to bury their dead (O’Neill, 2013, August 24). The Bullitt County Board of Adjustments rejected the permit on August 16th to loud applause from the citizens in attendance. The Islamic Center decided to look for another property and received the necessary permits from the Louisville Metro Board of Zoning Adjustments in the neighborhood of Buechel in December 2013. The property in Mount Washington was a piece of agricultural land that required a conditional use permit for use as a cemetery. Many nearby citizens opposed the project at the Board’s meeting. At the meeting, neighbors voiced concerns about increased traffic, groundwater safety, and maintenance of the community’s character (Bullitt County, Kentucky: Residents’ opposition fuels rejection, 2013, Feb 27). The property was located on a gravel road. The road was 15 feet wide, and at least 22 feet were needed for a road to be considered two-lane. The Louisville Islamic Center addressed some concerns, clarifying that fewer than 40 burials were in the community within the last 10 years. In support of the Louisville Islamic Center, attorney Greg Ehrhard addressed issues such as traffic (giving 20 feet of land to the town for widening the road) and maintenance of character (agreeing to an 80-ft setback from Hubbards Lane and a 6-ft white perimeter fence). He also cited the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). Beyond these concerns, citizens claimed the cemetery would be detrimental to their children in a variety of ways, that the beliefs of their community could not coexist with those of the Islamic faith, and that the cemetery would dishonor US veterans (Bullitt County, Kentucky: Residents’ opposition fuels rejection, 2013, Feb 27). The Board rejected the permit, with one board member stating that the cemetery was not harmonious with the surrounding neighborhood, one of the conditions for approval (Permit for Muslim cemetery, 2013, Feb 14). The Louisville Islamic Center abandoned plans for a cemetery at the proposed site and began looking for a different property. Later, in 2013, the group applied for a conditional use permit for a cemetery on Action Boulevard in Louisville, KY. The land was adjacent to another large cemetery, and the case manager for the Louisville Metro Department of Codes and Regulations asserted that the cemetery and burial practices did not present any issues. The leaders of the Louisville Islamic Center met with neighbors of the property to address concerns over water quality due to casket-free burials. Neighbors had no opposition to the cemetery project when they were assured that burial methods were safe. Few residents attended the public input session, and none opposed the project. On December 16th, 2013, the conditional use permit was approved. The<a href="https://moflou.com/ghc/"> Green Haven Cemetery (GHC)</a> remains operational to date. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Bullitt County, Kentucky: Residents’ opposition fuels rejection of Islamic cemetery. (2013, February 27). Courier-Journal. Retrieved from<a href="https://islamophobiawatch.co.uk/bullitt-county-kentucky-residents-opposition-fuels-rejection-of-islamic-cemetery"> https://islamophobiawatch.co.uk</a>. </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">O’Neill, T. (2013, November 24). Muslim community seeks cemetery in Ky. Courier-Journal. Retrieved from<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/24/muslim-group-seeks-cemetery-in-ky/3694693"> www.usatoday.com</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Permit for Muslim cemetery near Mt. Washington rejected. (2013, February 14). WDRB News. Retrieved from<a href="https://www.wdrb.com/news/permit-for-islamic-cemetery-near-mt-washington-rejected/article_56e6d4a1-badd-5e87-9d7d-f5e51b3f7be7.html"> https://www.wdrb.com</a>.</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. June 8, 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/. Title A name given to the resource Bullitt County, KY Description An account of the resource In February 2013, the Bullitt County Board of Adjustments rejects the Louisville Islamic Center’s application for a conditional use permit for an Islamic cemetery on land zoned agricultural. Several citizens had voiced concerns over groundwater, traffic, and aesthetics. Later in 2013, the Louisville Islamic Center acquires land in nearby Louisville, KY to successfully establish an Islamic cemetery. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Bryce Bentinck Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Built Cemetery Denied Planning and Zoning Public Campaign Relocated 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 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/60e0107313bb87f9b71c9cc2a7fc858f.jpeg 2231cf8ba2339d99ff75a2ffd1be21e5 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 <a href="https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2018/219/CEM2670582_ac4dca02-f83b-495f-af2f-964f53cb0c42.jpeg">https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2018/219/CEM2670582_ac4dca02-f83b-495f-af2f-964f53cb0c42.jpeg</a> 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) Ga_08 Location The location of the interview Powder Springs, GA Date July 2016 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 2376 John Petree Rd, Powder Springs, GA 30127 Proposed Project The East Cobb Islamic Center purchased thirteen acres in the western Atlanta metro area to build a cemetery with up to 10,000 plots. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="http://ec-ic.org/">East Cobb Islamic Center</a> Year Year the case began. 2016 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. V9W2+GP Powder Springs, Georgia, USA Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications ECIC’s proposal met Cobb County’s minimum requirements and was approved. It did not require a public hearing or vote by the Board of Commissioners. The subsequently issued moratorium on cemetery permits did not retroactively apply to ECIC’s project. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In May of 2015, the East Cobb Islamic Center (ECIC) purchased a thirteen-acre plot near Macland Road to construct the first Muslim cemetery in the western Atlanta metropolitan area. The land was purchased for $335,000 with local partner mosques and community donations (Amer, 2016, Jun 30). In April 2016, Cobb County’s Community Development Agency granted ECIC a Special Exemption certificate for its cemetery project. Because it met the County’s minimum requirements, including a size of at least ten acres and an approved parking and landscaping plan. The proposal did not require a public hearing or vote by the Board of Commissioners (Santos, 2016, Jul 7). After construction of the cemetery began, homeowners in the Vineyard Place subdivision and others adjoining the cemetery attended Cobb County hearings to oppose the project, citing the depreciation of property values, a lack of input in the cemetery’s approval process, and concerns about Islamic burial practices (Santos, 2016, Jul 7). In August 2016, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners voted to issue a moratorium on new cemetery projects in the county until April 2017. Community Development Director Dana Johnson stated, “During the time of this moratorium, staff will be researching national best practices as it relates to the regulation of cemetery uses, as well as looking at some local examples here in metro Atlanta” (Lutz, 2016, July 12). The East Cobb Islamic Center Cemetery was not retroactively affected by the moratorium and began operating in 2018. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Amer, A. K. (2016, June 30). The largest Muslim cemetery in Georgia is approved in Cobb County. AtlantaMuslim.com. <a href="http://www.atlantamuslim.com/2016/jun/30/new-muslim-cemetary/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Lutz, M. (2016, July 12). Concern over Muslim cemetery leads to moratorium in Cobb. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. <a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/concern-over-muslim-cemetery-leads-moratorium-cobb/hEK2ZE4gN8CwNQH1xMjCMK/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Santos, A. (2016, July 7). Cobb County cemetery sparks debate over permits. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. <a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/local/cobb-county-cemetery-sparks-debate-over-permits/JGtb1Brc36LmIWz1My1wQO/">Web</a>.</li> </ul> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Legislation (moratorium) 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/. Title A name given to the resource Cobb County, GA Description An account of the resource In April 2016, the East Cobb Islamic Center (ECIC) received a special-use permit to build its cemetery. However, after construction began, Cobb County residents opposed the project at public hearings. Opponents cited adverse effects on property values, lack of public input and oversight in the permitting process, and concerns over the health impact of Muslim burial practices. The Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to place a moratorium on new cemetery permits until April 1, 2017. However, this moratorium did not apply retroactively to ECIC’s previously approved cemetery. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Geneva Cunningham Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Approved Built Cemetery Legislation Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/a0e8e678290bf2926c27d2342dea0e5e.png 7262f628bba1f355c93a70515844ac90 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. Ma_04 Location The location of the interview Dudley, MA Year Year the case began. 2016 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. off Corbin Road [across from 176 Corbin Rd] Proposed Project The Islamic Society of Greater Worcester hopes to build a Muslim cemetery with 16,000 burial plots on 55 acres of vacant farmland off Corbin Road. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://isgw.us/">The Islamic Society of Greater Worcester</a> Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 33F7+4QX Dudley, Massachusetts Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Planning and Zoning Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications After the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester sued the town of Dudley, MA, and the Department of Justice launched its investigation, an agreement was reached allowing a permit for a 6-acre Muslim cemetery with a 10-year moratorium on expansion. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In January 2016, the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester applied to the Dudley Zoning Board of Appeals for a special use permit to build a cemetery with up to 16,000 burial plots on 55 acres of vacant farmland. The town’s zoning regulations allowed for cemetery use with a special permit in the agricultural zone. In the weeks leading up to the first public hearing, Dudley residents launched an opposition campaign. Opponents cited concerns about groundwater contamination due to Muslim burial practices. At the February 4 hearing, several hundred residents attended to present a public petition opposing the cemetery permit (Boeri, 2016, Feb 5). Over the next months, the Zoning Board of Appeals continued public hearings on the project before finally denying the request during its meeting on June 9, 2016. The board based its unanimous decision on the claim that the property was under special-tax status and that the Islamic Society lacked legal standing to purchase it. According to the board, the property owner had not complied with the requirement to notify the town prior to the sale, thereby failing to give the town the right of first refusal (Laplaca, 2016, Jun 9). The Muslim community appealed the Board’s decision to the Massachusetts Land Court (MacQuarrie, 2016, Jul 5). In August, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it had opened an investigation into the town’s denial of the cemetery project as a potential violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) (Serhan, 2016, Aug 18). In December 2016, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester settled the case. The town granted the special permit for a six-acre cemetery with several conditions: a ten-year moratorium on any expansion beyond the six acres, the installation of buffer zones, and a maintenance agreement (LaPlaca, 2017, Mar 2). In April 2017, the Islamic Society released a statement that it would not pursue the cemetery project further out of financial considerations. The group announced it was seeking to reserve about 1,500 burial sites at Hope Cemetery, the municipal cemetery of Worcester (Murtishi, 2017, Apr 14). References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Boeri, D. (2016, February 5). Proposal For Muslim Cemetery In Dudley Meets Opposition From Residents. WBUR. <a href="https://www.wbur.org/all-things-considered/2016/02/05/muslim-cemetery-proposal">Web.</a></li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Laplaca, D. (2016, June 9). Zoning board nixes Muslim cemetery. Telegram. <a href="https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/south-west/2016/06/10/dudley-zoning-board-rejects-muslim-cemetery-application/27954817007/">Web.</a></li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Laplaca, D. (2017, March 2). Dudley board approves Muslim cemetery. Telegram. <a href="https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/south-west/2017/03/03/dudley-board-approves-muslim-cemetery/22006573007/">Web.</a></li> <li style="font-weight:400;">MacQuarrie, B. (2016, July 5). Islamic group accuses Dudley of blocking Muslim cemetery. The Boston Globe. <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/07/05/islamic-group-files-suit-accusing-dudley-illegally-blocking-muslim-cemetery-plans/9TpLhOUWs8S3z2QoGmHPbM/story.html">Web.</a></li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Murtishi, A. (2017, April 14). Dead deal: Islamic Society abandons plan for Dudley cemetery. MassLive Media. <a href="https://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/2017/04/dead_deal_islamic_society_aban.html">Web.</a></li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Serhan, Y. (2016, August 18). One Massachusetts Town's Rejection of a Muslim Cemetery. The Atlantic. <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2016/08/muslim-cemetery-rejection-investigation/496520/">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 June 2016, the Dudley, MA Zoning Board denied the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester's request for a cemetery permit on 55 acres of farmland, citing special-tax status and legal standing issues. According to the Board, the property owner had not notified the town before the sale, violating the right of first refusal. The Islamic Society sued Dudley, alleging "prejudicial treatment," prompting a Department of Justice investigation. The case drew national attention. In December 2016, an agreement allowed a 6-acre cemetery with a 10-year expansion moratorium. In April 2017, the Islamic Society withdrew the project due to financial issues and sought burial sites at Worcester’s Hope Cemetery. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sofia Fonti Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Dudley, MA Approved (initial denial) Built Cemetery DOJ Relocated Withdrawn https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/86a017ab5d2a923242bf2961d530c308.jpg 15c456cccc8d7ed74886e99eb47eadac 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. Tx_03 Location The location of the interview Farmersville, TX Date May 2015-July 2019 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 333 County Rd 557, Farmersville, TX 75442 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 5H5R+RX Farmersville, Texas Proposed Project IACC applied to develop a cemetery on 34 acres of land. The project included restrooms, a pavilion, a maintenance building, internal roads, and approximately 11,000 burial sites. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://planomasjid.org/">Islamic Association of Collin County</a> (IACC) Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign/Protest; Local Ordinance/Legislation Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Denied in 2017 but approved with minor restrictions after DOJ investigation in December 2018. The cemetery opened in June 2021. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. Farmersville is a rural Texas city in Collin County with an estimated population of 3,500 people. In 2015, the Islamic Association of Collin County (IACC), which operates a mosque on the west side of Plano, TX, spearheaded efforts of five Muslim communities to develop a new cemetery. The cemetery would offer affordable burials for Collin County’s Muslim population, which grew from 6,000 in 2000 to more than 22,000. Up to that point, Collin County’s Muslim families had buried their deceased in cemeteries in Dallas and Denton. Most cities in Collin County such as McKinney, Allen, Blue Ridge, and Anna either did not have adequate space or had certain restrictions against building cemeteries (Veigel 2015). However, in early 2015, IACC identified a 34-acre plot in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Farmersville. The property was in a suitable location in relatively close proximity to the county’s five Muslim communities. The IACC developed plans for its cemetery project to include restrooms, a pavilion, a maintenance building, and approximately 11,000 burial sites (Light, 2018). As a first step, IACC submitted a concept plan to the city’s Planning Commission, which the commission discussed at a special session on May 28, 2015. The City’s engineering firm and city manager reviewed the plan, and the Planning Commission approved it unanimously. Based on the approval, IACC proceeded to purchase the property. The wider Farmersville community did not become aware of the cemetery project for several weeks. However, once news about IACC’s project broke, intense public opposition emerged. Social media posts, emails, and editorials in local papers expressed residents’ and non-residents’ opposition to the project frequently on the basis of religion. Although the project was not on the July and August agendas, meetings of the Planning Commission and the City Council drew large crowds of objectors. While some local community members such as David J. Meeks, the pastor of the Bethlehem Baptist Church, spoke about their concerns regarding this project, others such as Bart Barber, the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Farmersville, supported IACC saying, “The rights of conscience are inalienable, and religious conscience is among those inalienable rights – and that includes Muslims. If I can build a church, Muslims can build a mosque” (Holley, 2015, Jul 24). Reacting to the emerging controversy, the City organized an extraordinary town hall meeting to discuss the project. On August 4, an overflow crowd of 300 to 400 people gathered in the Farmersville High School auditorium. Numerous discriminatory comments about ICAA, Muslims, and Islam were made (Pots, 2015, Aug 5). Local elections in May 2016 brought to office a new mayor and several council members who had run on an anti-cemetery platform. The newly elected officials significantly delayed the project at a significant cost to ICAA for the next two years. Despite the opposition, IACC decided to move forward with its project plans. On June 19, 2017, the Planning Commission considered IACC’s preliminary plat application. It unanimously recommended approval to the City Council. Notwithstanding the recommendation, the Farmersville City Council voted to deny IACC’s application at its regularly scheduled meeting on July 11, 2017. Council members justified their decision by citing general flooding concerns for a small portion of the cemetery property along County Road 557. The result was a complete dismissal that did not give IACC an opportunity to address the issue the council had raised. In September 2017, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it had opened an investigation to inspect the reasons behind the city’s decision to deny the proposal. Following a yearlong investigation, the DOJ concluded in August 2018 that the City of Farmersville had violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA). The DOJ declared it was prepared to file a lawsuit but gave the City of Farmersville a chance to negotiate with IACC. Within a month, the City and IACC came to an agreement to approve the proposal to build the cemetery. The agreement placed a temporary limit on the use of the small section of the cemetery for which flooding issues had been identified. In December 2018, The City of Farmersville formally approved IACC’s application to develop the land as a cemetery (Department of Justice, 2019). On April 16, 2019, the DOJ filed a legal complaint and entered into a settlement agreement resolving the case. The complaint alleged that “City decision makers made discriminatory comments against Islam and acted in response to the religious animus that many members of the public expressed against Muslims” (United States v. City of Farmersville, Texas, 2019). In July, the City approved IACC’s Final Plat. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in 2020. The cemetery has been operational since June 2021. References <ul> <li>Holley, J. (2015). Dispute over Islamic cemetery splits N. Texas community. Houston Chronicle. Available at https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/columnists/native-texan/article/Dispute-over-Islamic-cemetery-splits-N-Texas-6402572.php</li> <li>Department of Justice (2019). Justice Department settles claims against Farmersville, Texas, involving denial of Islamic cemetery. Available at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-settles-claims-against-farmersvilletexas-involving-denial-islamic-cemetery.</li> <li>Pots, R. (2015, August 5). Why is Farmersville, Texas, so dead-set against a Muslim cemetery? The Daily Beast. Available at https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-is-farmersville-texas-so-dead-set-against-a-muslim-cemetery?ref=scroll. </li> <li>United States v. City of Farmersville (E.D. Tex., 2019). Available at https://www.justice.gov/crt/case-document/complaint-united-states-v-city-farmersville-texas-ed-tex. </li> <li>Veigel, W. (2015, July 9). Muslim cemetery: Residents want it dead. The Farmersville Times. Available at https://farmersvilletimes.com/2015/07/09/muslim-cemetery-residents-want-it-dead. </li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. April 11, 2022 Year Year the case began. 2015 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/. Title A name given to the resource Farmersville, TX Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Description An account of the resource In 2015, the Islamic Association of Collin County (IACC) spearheads the development of a cemetery for American Muslims of Collin County. The project meets with opposition from the residents of Farmersville, TX. Despite a recommendation for approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission, the City Council unanimously rejects IACC’s application in 2017. The Mayor and City Council Members publicly oppose the project. Following an investigation, the United States Department of Justice sues the City in August 2018 for violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. Subsequently, the city of Farmersville and IACC enter an agreement approving the cemetery construction with minor restrictions. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Snehitha Vardhineni Approved (initial denial) Built Cemetery DOJ Lawsuit (RLUIPA) Planning and Zoning Public Campaign Public Speech 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