1 10 4 https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/657e345e39c4d74d30bd4d2d4824fd17.png 69cdc1bafa7853e83d78b50b5c2e9b26 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 Tennessee 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) TN_04 Date 2014 Year Year the case began. 2014 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 Nashville, TN Description An account of the resource In December 2016, a federal district court in Tennessee dismisses for lack of subject matter jurisdiction a claim by the Islamic Center of Nashville (ICN) lawsuit challenging a Tennessee property tax exemption law on religious freedom grounds. In February 2014, ICN sought a property tax exemption for its education building, to be applied retroactively, seeking continuity of exempt status as provided by Tenn. Code Ann. 67-5-212(b)(3)(B). The State Board of Equalization denied tax exempt status for the period prior to October 2013, when the Ijara payments were ongoing, but granted exemption from that time onward. ICN appealed the decision before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in January 2015, and after receiving an unfavorable ruling, appealed again to the Tennessee Assessment Appeals Committee, which also found that ICN was not entitled to the exemption prior to October 2013 due to the transfer of property in the Ijara agreement. [Source: www.rluipa-defense.com] 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 Lawsuit (RLUIPA) School https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/b88a3d34e6d196e4f8cca6af5c6773f8.jpg f79e305c963cdd03463b6ffdc29bc8da 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 Tennessee 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_03 Location The location of the interview Antioch, TN Date May-August 2010 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. As the Muslim community in Antioch, Tennessee, had grown rapidly in the years leading up to 2010, the Islamic Center of Tennessee hoped to purchase an old movie theater in Davidson County with plans to convert complex space into a mosque and community center that would include a convention hall, several classrooms, a swimming pool, and basketball court among other amenities. However, dissent in the community grew, as the opposition employed Islamophobic rhetoric, fearing that the mosque was a training ground for violent jihadists. Others were upset as they had hoped to renovate the theater into a community college building, crafting a petition with claims that they would support the mosque’s construction if it were relocated elsewhere. However, the ICT’s project was approved and the Muslim community was able to purchase the old Bell Forge Theater complex from Carmike for $1.5 million in August 2010. Today, the Antioch community seeks to expand their mosque to accommodate the ever-increasing number of Muslim families in the area. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 5400 Bell Forge Ln E, Antioch, TN 37013 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 29W3+PF Antioch, Nashville, TN Proposed Project Islamic center (mosque, classroom, convention hall, swimming pool, basketball court) Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a>Islamic Center of Tennessee</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance public campaign; bias-related incident Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications approved Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. By 2010, the Muslim community in Antioch had grown rapidly, and they required a place of worship that would be large enough to accommodate the burgeoning population. Antioch is a suburb located just 30 miles from Nashville, but for Antioch Muslims, the four mosques in Nashville were small and cramped, and a hassle to get to because of frequent traffic jams. When addressing Fox News reporters, a spokesperson for the Antioch mosque, Yasser Salah Arafat, stated, “The four mosques that we have in Nashville are very small and are very crowded. If you come on Friday people pray in the street. So, we said 'OK, what can we do to make it better? What can we do to accommodate the growth but do it in a way that will attract the youth?" (Maced0 2010, Aug 9). The community began to make plans for attaining a new, larger facility. But the congregation of the Islamic Center of Tennessee (ICT) also treaded cautiously, for they were aware that their requests would come in the wake of the anti-mosque showdowns that had occurred in nearby Murfreesboro and Brentwood. However, the ICT still proceeded with their plans to purchase the old 45,000-square foot Bell Forge Cinemas from Carmike in order to repurpose it into a mosque, as well as to accommodate two prayer halls, a convention hall, several classrooms, swimming pool, basketball court, and other amenities. The ICT’s offer of $1.5 million was accepted in August 2010, and the property’s appraisal value was listed as $3.8 million. (Snyder 2010, Aug 10). However, despite remaining resolute in their purchase plans, the Muslim community did encounter opposition. Karen Johnson started a petition after finding out that Nashville State Community College had also been interested in the old theater complex, and she grew concerned that the mosque would lead to a downturn in business activity in an already-sluggish Antioch (Macedo 2010, Aug 9). Furthermore, opponents launched a smear campaign against ICT, the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, and the Memphis Islamic Center, which was then publicized by Fox News. The campaign consisted primarily of conspiracy theories that attempted to link congregants to nefarious terrorist activities. This report highlighted controversies surrounding Awadh Binzahim, an ICT director and Muslim chaplain at Vanderbilt University who made controversial comments regarding Islam in January 2010 (ibid.). Despite the vitriol and animosity, the Islamic Center of Tennessee proceeded with their plans for their mosque and continue to worship there to this day, with Arafat stating in 2010, “We have as much equal rights as anyone else. We are American citizens, we pay taxes… you have a professor, a doctor, an engineer out of every 10 Muslims in the United States; we are an affluent people and we do have the ability to grow as well… The place [new mosque] is big. It could accommodate a lot of activities inside of it. It'll have a mosque, it'll have a library, a movie theatre, lecture halls, it'll have a coffee stand for people to sit down and do their homework, it'll have a gym, it'll have day care… it would completely create an environment for our kids, for our youth, and for our families to come, enjoy and have fun, but at the same time worship as well." (ibid.). While the Muslim community of Antioch and surrounding areas have been able to worship at the renovated mosque since 2010, the Islamic Center of Tennessee again made headlines in 2017, when Imam AhmedulHadi Sharif made controversial comments in a Friday sermon which were not condoned by ICT. He had stated, “We do not hate the ethnic Jewish rather we do hate the oppressors of this Zionist because the Prophets of Allah some of them were from Bani Isra’il so we do not have as a problem ethnically with them but politically the Zionist politic that they come and take the land of the people claiming that this is the Promised Land and they call themselves from all over the world, West and East so that they can take over people’s land and after that they say let us have the peace and still they blocking the roadway to the peace and this is what we are opposing my brothers in Islam” (Alto 2017, Nov 20). References Enter list of sources cited using the proper format. <ul><li>Alto, Chris (2017, Nov 20). Islamic Center of Tennessee Imam Preaches Against ‘Enemies of Allah.’ The Tennessee Star. Web.</li> <li>Macedo, Diane (2010, Aug 9). Plans to Build Massive Islamic Centers Raise Concerns in Tennessee. Fox News. Web. </li> <li>Snyder, Eric (2010, Aug 10). Islamic Center of Tennessee buys old Antioch movie theater for $1.5 million. Nashville Business Journal. Web.</li> </ul> Year Year the case began. 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/. Title A name given to the resource Antioch, TN Description An account of the resource As the Muslim community in Antioch, Tennessee, had grown rapidly in the years leading up to 2010, the Islamic Center of Tennessee hoped to purchase an old movie theater in Davidson County with plans to convert complex space into a mosque and community center. Despite outspoken and at times Islamophobic opposition in the community, the ICT’s project was approved and the Muslim community was able to purchase the old Bell Forge Theater complex from Carmike for $1.5 million in August 2010. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Nabihah Khan Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Approved Built Mosque Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/d3d2c6ae25111e97920f9d6569e21531.jpg ff76d0d20b0c1802d185549f50615146 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 Islamic Center of Williamson County (2015, Jul 1). Mosque Front. Franklin, TN. Retrieved from https://www.icwctn.org/about-us/ 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 Tennessee 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_02 Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. Affluenza and Islamophobia: A Cocktail Destined to Doom Democracy? Located about thirty miles from the Nashville metropolitan area, Brentwood is a small, affluent suburb that has rarely entered the national spotlight. Yet that all changed in April 2010, when the congregation of the Islamic Center of Williamson County (ICWC) began making plans to construct a new, more spacious mosque for their community. The ICWC at the time had approximately 40 members, but their website made note of the fact that their congregation had been growing rapidly in recent years, with more people attending prayer services and sending their children to the religious Sunday school program. Additionally, many in the community did not have the time to drive the thirty miles to Nashville to attend daily and weekly services, a trip made all the more difficult by the frequent traffic jams that are part-and-parcel with metropolitan life. Thus, recognizing they had outgrown the rental space they occupied on Carothers Street in Brentwood, the ICWC made plans to construct a 12,000-square foot mosque that could safely accommodate 325 people, and would include a fellowship hall and kitchen to host communal meals (Ragland-Hudgins 2015, Jun 26). A Torrent of Vitriol The first step in this construction project was for the ICWC to submit their intent to rezone a 14-acre tract of land on Wilson Pike in order to build their mosque. While their initial submission to the Brentwood City Commission in April 2010 did not cause a stir, coverage from the local press drew mosque opponents into a frenzy, who sent furious virtual messages to the City, crafted Islamophobic blog posts, and used word of mouth to drive the false notion that the mosque was tied to terrorist organizations. A key leader in the organized resistance to the mosque, Matt Bonner, stated, “Not enough people understand the political doctrine of Islam. The fact is that the mosques are more than just a church. No one can predict what this one will be used for" (Smietana 2010, May 23); Schwartz 2010, Sep 3; Gordon 2010, Aug 1). Bonner, and many others in the opposition, also cited the rhetoric of Bill French, a former physics professor who now runs the Nashville-based Center for the Study of Political Islam despite not having a background in religion. They stated French’s writings have had a significant impact on their views toward Islam. French uses the pen name Bill Warner, and has attempted to convince the public that Islam is not a religion, but, rather, a dangerous cult (Smietana 2010, May 23). On April 12, 2010, the Brentwood City Commission voted 6-1 to pass on reading an ordinance that would rezone the 14-acre lot from large-lot residential to service-institution religious (Brentwood Home Page 2010, Dec 29). The ICWC agreed to a series of restrictions on the project, including not using a loudspeaker or floodlights on the property, and the mosque’s modest size was still far smaller than the maximum building capacity allotted for that property. It is important to note that Brentwood law states that for a rezoning to be accepted, a community meeting, a public hearing, and review by the Planning Commission must be conducted (News & Events 2010, April 30; Jilani 2010, May 26). In a subsequent meeting of the City Commission on May 5, an attorney representing the ICWC pointed out that the construction of the mosque was protected under state and federal laws. However, the ICWC’s use of legal counsel only served to fan the flames and drive animosity, as Bonner stated, “The impression is that they are seeking special treatment. What kind of neighbor is that who comes in threatening lawsuits?” (ibid.) The opposition also perceived that the mosque community must have had something to hide if they needed a lawyer to represent them. However, the ICWC defended their decision, stating they retained the aid of legal counsel to ensure that the voices of the Muslim families were duly heard. The Muslim community also expressed their confusion at hearing Islamophobic rhetoric from their neighbors and encountering the threat to their civil liberties in a nation that prided itself on upholding the freedom of religion. A Brentwood physician and spokesperson for the ICWC, Jaweed Ansari, stated, “We are trying to build a place where God's name will be glorified, The same God that the Christians and Jews worship… We are a small group of 40 people, and no matter where we want to build, thousands of people can come in opposition. What does that mean? Does that mean that minorities have no right? If they don't want us to have the mosque, does that mean we can't have a mosque?” (ibid.). Admitting Defeat… for Now Just days before the second and final vote on the project was to be scheduled, Brentwood’s Planning and Codes Director Jeff Dobson was notified by the ICWC that they intended to withdraw their plans to rezone the 14-acre lot to construct their new 12,000-square foot prayer facility (O’Neil 2010, May 20). The ICWC would have had to agree to seven special restrictions in order to have their project be reviewed by the City Commission, but the last requirement of a $450,000 turn lane made the project untenable for them. The community-driven opposition and barrage of Islamophobic rhetoric also drove the ICWC to pull their project, with Ansari stating, “There comes a time when you have to say, 'We can't do this anymore'” (Smietana 2010, May 23). While the ICWC did acknowledge that their initial plans were not ideal, as part of the lot was located on a floodplain, and tensions were already at an all-time high due to the historic flood that devastated Nashville earlier that year, they also did not expect it to be a central focus of the opposition’s arguments, as the mosque would have been constructed on only 4 acres of land, away from the floodplains (ibid.). Eric Rassbach, the director of litigation for the national organization, The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, noted that the turn lane requirement was likely a violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act in that it imposed a significant hardship on a religious group without an avenue for relief, but the ICWC had no plans to file a lawsuit like the neighboring mosque in Murfreesboro eventually did when their initial mosque plans were also unfairly challenged in 2010. Ansari stated that the ICWC hoped to build bridges with their neighbors, rather than contribute to the animosity, stating, “For us, to be good citizens and to have good will is more important.” (ibid.) Finding A Sanctuary After the Storm Following the fall-out surrounding their initial construction plans, the ICWC initiated a variety of interfaith programs and offered an array of social services to the greater community. They also returned to praying at their cramped rental space on Carothers Street. But in 2015, the ICWC purchased a 8,400-square foot property on Brentwood’s Mallory Station Road from Richard D. Heydel for $1.525 million. The site used to house aquatic facilities and a swimming pool, which the ICWC plans to fill with concrete to yield an additional 1,500 square feet of space. The repurposed mosque, once the former site of Endeavor Performance, Bluewater Scuba, and Miss Anna’s Swim School, is now a sanctuary for the ICWC community where they can worship safely in nearby Franklin, TN (Ragland-Hudgins 2015, Jun 26). However, it appears that in 2016, mosque opponents tried to start rumors that an Islamic Cultural Center in Michigan were planning to construct another similar center on Wilson County, but this was proven to be false (Brentwood Home Page 2016, Jun 23). References Enter list of sources cited using the proper format. <ul><li>Brentwood Home Page (2010, Dec 29). YEAR IN REVIEW: Top 10 Stories of 2010. Web.</li> <li>Brentwood Home Page (2016, Jun 23). Word of Islamic Cultural Center in Brentwood is long-standing rumor. Web.</li> <li>Gordon, Jerry (2010, Aug 1). Mega-Mosque Conflicts in America. New English Review. Web. </li> <li>Jilani, Zaid (2010, May 26). Muslim Americans Under Attack As Far Right Fights to Deny Them From Building Their Own Place of Worship. ThinkProgress. Web.</li> <li>News and Events (2010, April 30). Islamic Center of Williamson County Rezoning Proposal. Web.</li> <li>O’Neill, Donna (2010, May 20). Islamic Center of Williamson County withdraws from Wilson Pike project. Williamson Herald. Web.</li> <li>Ragland-Hudgins, Mealand (2015, Jun 26). Islamic center buys Franklin property. The Tennessean. Web.</li> <li>Smietana, Bob (2010, May 23). BRENTWOOD, TN: Mosque Not Alone in Defeat. The Tennessean. Web.</li> <li>Schwartz, John (2010, Sep 3). Zoning Laws Aside, Mosque Projects Face Battles. The New York Times. Web.</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. July 7, 2020 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. Having outgrown their cramped rental space on Carothers Street in Brentwood, TN, the Islamic Center of Williamson County (ICWC) submitted their plans to rezone a 14-acre plot of land to construct a 12,000-square foot mosque and community center in April 2010. Their congregation, then composed of approximately 40 members was growing, and they hoped to construct a mosque that could safely accommodate up to 325 people, and also house a kitchen and fellowship hall for communal events. On April 12, 2010, the Brentwood City Commission voted 6-1 to pass on reading an ordinance that would rezone the 14-acre lot from large-lot residential to service-institution religious. However, on May 20, 2010, the ICWC withdrew their rezoning request following community-driven opposition. Although the Muslim community complied with a series of restrictions placed on the mosque construction site, which included not having loudspeakers or floodlights on the property, the expensive cost of a $450,000 turn lane ultimately made the project untenable for them. While the restrictions on the project were almost certainly a violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, the ICWC chose not to file a lawsuit, and instead hoped to build bridges with their community through interfaith and social service initiatives. They returned to pray at their original rental space, but in June 2015, purchased an 8,400-square foot former aquatic facility for $1.525 million with the intention to repurpose it into a mosque, where they worship at present. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. Wilson Pike (Tax Map 035 Parcel 003.3), Brentwood, Williamson County, TN 37027 Proposed Project Plans proposed a 12,000-square foot mosque that could safely accommodate 325 people and would include a fellowship hall and kitchen to host communal meals. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.icwctn.org/">Islamic Center of Williamson County</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance public campaign; bias-related incident; administrative denial Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications While the restrictions on the project were almost certainly a violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, the ICWC chose not to file a lawsuit, and instead hoped to build bridges with their community through interfaith and social service initiatives. They returned to pray at their original rental space, but in June 2015, purchased an 8,400-square foot former aquatic facility for $1.525 million with the intention to repurpose it into a mosque, where they worship at present. Location The location of the interview Brentwood, TN Date April-May 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/. Title A name given to the resource Brentwood, TN Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Nabihah Khan Description An account of the resource Having outgrown their cramped rental space on Carothers Street in Brentwood, TN, the Islamic Center of Williamson County (ICWC) submits plans to rezone a 14-acre plot of land to construct a 12,000-square foot mosque and community center in April 2010. After a series of public hearings before the City Commission, ICWC withdraws its rezoning request because the city’s restrictions on the site, which include $450,000 for a turn lane, ultimately make the project untenable. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Mosque Planning and Zoning Public Campaign Withdrawn https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/9d0fe206ce7dbfc874a18ce687fbf307.jpg 7fb342f26a9ba59784d7f11e503b8de3 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 Tennessee 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_01 Location The location of the interview Murfreesboro, TN Date May 2010-July 2014 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. After more than thirty years in the community, the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro (ICM) encounters fierce opposition in 2010 when the county approves ICM’s plans to build a new mosque for its growing congregation. Efforts to thwart the building project include intimidation and threats, incidents of arson and vandalism, public statements by politicians, and a prolonged legal campaign that, among others, advances the claim that the Muslim community did not deserve First Amendment protections because Islam is not a religion. Support for the Muslim community comes from local groups but also includes help on the national level from a broad interfaith coalition. The Department of Justice intervened twice in the legal process on behalf of ICM ensuring that the Muslim community receives the required permits to use its new mosque in time for Ramadan in 2012. Although all pending legal cases are finally dismissed in July 2014 after the U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear the opposition’s appeal, ICM continues to experience ongoing harassment and obstruction for projects such as its cemetery adjacent to the mosque. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 2606 Veals Rd, Murfreesboro, TN 37127 Proposed Project Islamic community center (mosque; cemetery; school; swimming pool; gymnasium) Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="http://www.icmtn.org/">The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance bias-related incident; crimes against property; public speech; public campaign; legal campaign Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro’s construction plans were initially approved, but ICM faced controversy and a long litigatory ordeal where their right to construct a mosque was repeatedly challenged in multiple trials. Following support from the Department of Justice, the mosque was finally granted a certificate of occupancy to reopen, after the local Chancellor attempted to block Rutherford County from granting the mosque one. References Enter list of sources cited using the proper format. <ul> <li>Allyn, Bobby (2012, Jul 30). Mosque opponents file federal motion to stop Islamic Center of Murfreesboro. The Tennessean. Web.</li> <li>Associated Press (2010, Nov 17). Judge refuses to stop construction of US mosque. Web.</li> <li>Associated Press (2013, Jun 13). Man pleads not guilty to Murfreesboro mosque threats. Web.</li> <li>Becket Fund for Religious Liberty (2012, Aug 8). Murfreesboro Media Information Sheet. Web.</li> <li>Broden, Scott (2010, Jun 21). Mosque expansion proposal in Murfreesboro spotlights fear, shame. The Tennessean. Web.</li> <li>Broden, Scott (2012, Aug 5). Murfreesboro church’s crosses offer message to Muslims.” The Tennessean. Web.</li> <li>Broden, Scott (2012, Aug 24). Murfreesboro mosque opponents keep fighting. The Tennessean. Web.</li> <li>Brown, Robbie and Hauser, Christine (2012, Aug 10). After a Struggle, Mosque Opens in Tennessee. The New York Times. Web.</li> <li>George, Stephen (2010, Sep 9). Opponents of the Murfreesboro mosque say it’s not about religion. Their Muslim neighbors aren’t buying it. Nashville Scene. Web.</li> <li>Gowan, Annie (2010, Aug 23). Nowhere near Ground Zero, but no more welcome; Outcry over mosque proposals in Tennessee and elsewhere could be a sign of rising anti-Muslim sentiment across the country. The Washington Post. Web.</li> <li>Grantham, Christian (2010, Oct 21). Witnesses fund lawsuit against local mosque. The Murfreesboro Post. Web.</li> <li>Echegaray, Chris (2010, Jun 17). Murfreesboro mosque plan ignites backlash. The Tennessean. Web.</li> <li>Kemph, Marie (2012, Jul 18). UPDATED: Federal judge allows Murfreesboro mosque to reopen. The Murfreesboro Post. Web.</li> <li>Loller, Travis (2012, May 29). Judge stops construction of Tennessee mosque. Associated Press. Web.</li> <li>Loller, Travis (2010, Sep 18). Mosque foes want restraining order – County attorney denies claims in complaint. The Commercial Appeal. Web.</li> <li>McGreal, Chris (2010, Sep 10). Muslims in America increasingly alienated as hatred grows in Bible belt. The Guardian. Web.</li> <li>Nelson, Lauren (2012, Jul 18). Federal judge sides with Tennessee mosque in time for Ramadan. The Los Angeles Times. Web.</li> <li>Pew Research Center (2010, Aug 24). Public Remains Conflicted Over Islam. Web.</li> <li>Rapoport, Abby (2012, Jul 19). Sharia Scare in Tennessee. The American Prospect. Web.</li> <li>Schelzig, Erik (2010, Jul 27). Tenn. Gov hopeful questions if Islam is a ‘cult.’ Associated Press. Web.</li> <li>Smietana, Bob (2011, May 6). Muslims made unwelcome as times toughen. The Tennessean. Web.</li> <li>Smietana, Bob (2012, Aug 11). Murfreesboro mosque opens after years of controversy. The Tennessean. Web.</li> <li>Smietana, Bob (2014, Jun 3). Murfreesboro mosque fight laid to rest after Supreme Court ruling. The Tennessean. Web.</li> <li>Stockard, Sam (2010, Nov 23). Mosque lawsuit boils down to dislike of Islam. The Daily News Journal. Web.</li> <li>The Daily News Journal (2010, Jan 21). Editorial: Vandalism a sign of stupidity. Web.</li> <li>The Murfreesboro Post (2012, Jul 2). Judge blocks Murfreesboro mosque from reopening. Web.</li> <li>The Tennessean (2014, Jun 19). Dismissal could end Murfreesboro mosque cemetery case. Web.</li> </ul> Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro (ICM) was established in the 1980s for a burgeoning Muslim American community located 35 miles southeast of Nashville, TN. By 2009, they had outgrown their smaller prayer space in southwestern Murfreesboro and purchased 15 acres of land in the eastern section of town. Construction for the new center, which would include a12,000 square-foot mosque, a cemetery, social space, a school as well as a swimming pool and gymnasium, began the following year in 2010. Although the project received unanimous approval from the county’s planning commission, a conservative minority in the community and leaders from ultra-conservative organizations mobilized public opposition against the project. On May 24, 2010, the Rutherford County Planning Commission approved plans for the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro to be constructed on Veals Road. However, in the wake of a Rutherford County Commission town hall hosted in June 17, 2010 to accommodate citizens’ concerns about the project, the proposed mosque site was met with fierce dissent from across the nation, as Murfreesboro was thrust into the national spotlight alongside the Park 51 project, a New York City prayer center that opponents deemed to be too close to the site of the September 11, 2001 tragedy. However, the Rutherford County Planning Commission affirmed its approval for the mosque in early August 2010, with construction crews breaking ground on August 20, 2010. Over the next four years ICM was subject to intimidation and threats, incidents of arson and vandalism, public statements by politicians, and a prolonged legal campaign that, among others, advanced the claim that the Muslim community did not deserve First Amendment protections because Islam is not a religion. Opponents included both local groups and leaders from ultra-conservative organizations such as Proclaiming Justice to the Nation. Mobilization in support of the Muslim community included student groups from the Middle Tennessee State University as well as national organizations such as the ACLU and SPLC. The legal campaign against the center started in September 2010 with opponents seeking an injunction in Rutherford County Chancery Court to halt construction. In addition to claiming the county had violated open meeting laws, the lawsuit (10CV-1443) centrally alleged that Islam was not a religion and that the Muslim community therefore was not entitled First Amendment protections—an argument which the attorney for the opposition, Joe Brandon, sought to make repeatedly during the hearing portion of the trial. Frank Gaffney of the Center for Security Policy, whom the Southern Poverty Law Center lists as “one of America’s most notorious Islamophobes,” was called by the opposition as an expert witness. Legal support for ICM came from the Interfaith Committee on Mosques and from the Department of Justice which issued an amicus brief asserting that the U.S. throughout its history had acknowledged that Islam is a religion entitled to constitutional protection. Ultimately, the state court dismissed the opposition’s charges except for the public-notice claim. This allowed opponents to file a subsequent claim. The subsequent lawsuit against the project centered solely on the charge that the county had failed to provide adequate public notice about the mosque. Taking place in the shadow of increased public mobilization in Tennessee around an anti-Sharia bill, the trial ended with the state court finding on May 29, 2012 that the county had failed to offer the public sufficient opportunity for public input. Although the county had followed regular procedure, the court held that the project required a heightened notice requirement and special handling by the county because of the significant concerns it caused among residents. Following his finding, County Judge Robert E. Corlew III ruled that the county could not grant an occupancy permit to the mosque. In response to the requirement that the county withhold the occupancy permit, ICM and the DOJ file to separate lawsuits against the county. With the support of the Becket fund, ICM sued the county for violation of its religious freedom and equal treatment under RLUIPA. More than 100 faith leaders signed an open letter in support of ICM’s religious freedom and equal treatment claims. In a separate lawsuit (United States v. Rutherford County, Tennessee [(M.D. Tenn.]), the DOJ made similar RLUIPA claims against the county and filed a motion for a temporary restraining order, which the court granted the same day. The order enjoined the county to issue a temporary occupancy permit allowing ICM to use its new mosque for the Ramadan celebrations in early August 2012. At the ICM’s grand opening in November 2012, Attorney General Thomas Perez delivered remarks that touched upon the DOJ’s commitment to securing religious freedom rights for Muslim Americans. Despite strong local and national support and although all pending legal cases were finally dismissed in July 2014 after the U.S. Supreme Court had refused to hear the opposition’s appeal, ICM has continued to experience ongoing harassment and obstruction. Year Year the case began. 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/. Title A name given to the resource Murfreesboro, TN [Islamic Center] Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Nabihah Khan Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Description An account of the resource After more than thirty years in the community, the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro (ICM) encounters fierce opposition in 2010 when the county approves ICM’s plans to build a new mosque for its growing congregation. Efforts to thwart the building project include intimidation and threats, incidents of arson and vandalism, public statements by politicians, and a prolonged legal campaign that, among others, advances the claim that the Muslim community did not deserve First Admendment protections because Islam is not a religon. Although all pending legal cases are finally dismissed in July 2014 after the U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear the opposition’s appeal, ICM continues to experience ongoing harassment and obstruction for projects such as its cemetery adjacent to the mosque. Approved Bias-related Incident Built Crimes Against Property DOJ Lawsuit (RLUIPA) Legal Campaign Mosque Public Campaign Public Speech