10 10 101 https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/7b7763df518a6f7f72d25c010806892e.png 9849bcd9cdf5cfab9cc76ef8bcac1cdd 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 Elturk meets with Michigan Muslim leader Dawud Walid, left, Sharon Buttry of the National Conference for Community and Justice, and pastor Roger Facione of Warren's Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Detroit Free Press Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Dan Cortez. Muslim Leader Embraces Challenge Warren Presents. Detroit Free Press. May 9, 2006. 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 Michigan 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. MI_01 Location The location of the interview Warren, MI Year Year the case began. 2006 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 28630 Ryan Rd, Warren, MI 48092 Proposed Project mosque a former office building (adaptive reuse) Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://ionamasjid.org/">Islamic Organization of North America</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Local Ordinance Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Approved Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. The case involved the rejection of a planned mosque in Warren, Michigan, by the town’s Planning Commission. On March 13, 2006, community member Imam Steve Elturk proposed to the Warren Planning Committee to establish a mosque in a former office building purchased by Elturk and the Islamic Organization of North America in August 2005. The proposition was rejected by the Commission on a vote of 6-3, citing concerns about the additional traffic that people parking to attend services may cause and that the call to prayer being broadcast outside will disrupt the neighborhood. It was not Elturk’s first attempt at building a mosque, as he had first tried to locate it in Hazel Park, but the city would not rezone it to accommodate him. He eventually settled on the lot found in Warren, believing the location to be perfect for serving Muslims in a 10–12-mile radius. The location had 87 parking spaces and was in a commercial area. Elturk responded to the Commission’s concerns that the Zoning Board had already cleared his proposal with the agreed-upon stipulation that the Muslim community could not place loudspeakers outside for the call to prayer. Elturk cited this and the previous rejection of Hazel Park as evidence of bias and decided to threaten litigation (Cortez, 2006, Mar 16). The issue over amplifying the call to prayer was raised again on April 11 with an addendum specifically addressing the loudspeaker concerns (Stolarz, 2006, Apr 12), though there was an attempt to table the resolution the previous Monday. The meeting hall was filled with many people, both for and against the proposal. It included derogatory comments alleging a connection between the Islamic Organization of North America and terrorist cells. Also present was a mediator from the US Department of Justice, dispatched to ensure the civil rights of Elturk were being respected (Cortez, 2006, Apr 12). The initial vote was 4-4. However, a subsequent re-vote resulted in a vote of 5-3 in favor of the proposition (Cortez, 2006, Apr 11). The mosque opened on May 25th, 2007 (Krupa, 2007, May 24). While some raised suspicions that the rejections of the plan were Islamophobic in nature, such as Elturk or Dawud Walid, executive director for the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the members of the board maintained that the only issues they had with the project were logistical (Cortez, 2006, Mar 16). At the second convention to discuss the issue, however, many noted the use of Islamophobic statements and tropes throughout the speeches of both councilmembers and Warren residents, including one in which Commissioner Daniels asked about possible human or animal sacrifices that may take place on the premises. This statement and many others like it caused the Department of Justice to announce it would be reviewing the tapes of the meeting (Cortez, 2006, Apr 12). In response to this outcry, Elturk announced that the mosque would hold outreach programs to assuage concerns in the local community and answer any questions they may have regarding the mosque and Islam (Stolarz, 2006, Apr 25). The mosque continued with its outreach programs into the general community, such as with its “Meet your Neighbors” symposiums, where events were held between the members of different religious communities to foster a greater sense of cohesion within the different faith groups of Warren (Krupa, 2006, Jun 8). This did not quell all anxieties from non-Muslim members, attested to by a series of vandalism attacks on the location of the prospective mosque and a drunk accostment of Imam Elturk. The mosque opened on May 25, 2007 (Krupa, 2007, May 24). Elturk attributed the mosque proposal's ultimate success to collaboration between the Muslim community and groups of other faiths. On February 22, 2021, he was honored for his work on with the IFLC Interfaith Leader Award (IONA, 2021, Feb 23). Since the establishment of the city’s first mosque, Warren has had a flourishing and diverse Muslim community that has only gotten bigger, with the original mosque established by Elturk having to expand due to increased demand and numbers in the community. Initially, Elturk wanted to expand into neighboring land, but the owners were asking for too much money, so Elturk was forced to look elsewhere (Macomb, 2010, May 17). As of 2022, roughly a dozen mosques are situated in Warren (Warikoo, 2022, Sep 15). References <ul> <li>Cortez, D. (2006, March 16). Warren rejects mosque proposal. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved from <a href="https://ionamasjid.org/warren-rejects-mosque-proposal-march-16-2006">https://ionamasjid.org/warren-rejects-mosque-proposal-march-16-2006</a>.</li> <li>Cortez, D. (2006, April 11). Warren board approves mosque plan. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved from <a href="https://ionamasjid.org/warren-board-approves-mosque-plan-april-11-2006">https://ionamasjid.org/warren-board-approves-mosque-plan-april-11-2006</a>.</li> <li>Cortez, D. (2006, April 12). Mosque exposes fears in Warren. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved from <a href="https://ionamasjid.org/mosque-exposes-fears-in-warren-april-12-2006/">https://ionamasjid.org/mosque-exposes-fears-in-warren-april-12-2006</a>.</li> <li>Islamic Organization of North America [IONA]. (2021, February 23). Imam Steve Mustapha Elturk recipient of IFLC Interfaith Leader Award [Press Release]. <a href="https://ionamasjid.org/imam-steve-mustapha-elturk-recipient-of-iflc-interfaith-leader-award-february-23-2021/#:~:text=Imam%20Steve%20Mustapha%20Elturk%20Re">Web</a>.</li> <li>Krupa, G. (2006, June 8). Mosque raises interfaith issues. The Detroit News. Retrieved from <a href="https://ionaonline.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=307:mosque-raises-interfaith-issues-june-8-2006&catid=60:iona-in-the-news&Itemid=258">https://ionaonline.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=307:mosque-raises-interfaith-issues-june-8-2006&catid=60:iona-in-the-news&Itemid=258</a>.</li> <li>Krupa, G. (2007, May 24). Joint resolve gets mosque open: Multifaith effort pushed project past obstacles. The Detroit News. Retrieved 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%252F11955E82939CEB78">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li>Macomb, J. (2010, May 17). Warren mosque looking to expand. Macomb Daily. Retrieved from <a href="https://ionamasjid.org/warren-mosque-looking-to-expand-may-16-2010/">https://ionamasjid.org/warren-mosque-looking-to-expand-may-16-2010</a>.</li> <li>Stolarz, C. (2006, Apr 12). Warren approves plan for the city's first mosque. The Detroit News, p.04B. Retrieved 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%252F110F9853E00C0A60">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li>Stolarz, C. (2006, Apr 26). Mosque plan spurs effort to reach out: Warren project sparks worry, underscores need for dialogue about faith, Muslim leader says. The Detroit News: MI. Retrieved 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%252F1113FC8EF02A7D78">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li>Warikoo, N. (2022, September 15). Megachurch now a mosque as number of Islamic centers grows in Michigan. Detroit Free Press. <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/09/15/number-of-mosques-grows-in-michigan-as-church-becomes-islamic-center/65926143007/">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 Helia Hamidi, Matson Holmgren, Partha Jain, and Amina Malone Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Warren, MI Description An account of the resource In 2006, the Warren Planning Commission rejected a proposal for a mosque in Warren, Michigan, citing concerns about traffic and noise disruptions. Imam Steve Elturk, who had faced previous rejections in other locations, confronted bias allegations. A Department of Justice mediator intervened amid suspicions of Islamophobia. After a contentious process and outreach efforts, the proposal was eventually approved in April 2006, and the mosque opened in May 2007. Despite initial resistance, the mosque's establishment led to community cohesion efforts and Elturk receiving recognition for interfaith leadership. Warren's Muslim community has since grown, with multiple mosques now serving the area. Adaptive Reuse Approved (initial denial) Bias-related Incident Built DOJ Mosque Planning and Zoning Public Campaign REL230_SP24 https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/6419891a5fe60acc75469162f9b18922.png 2877c00510c8fc5a8f42b6a98267906e 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://islamiccenterofnaperville.org/new248/ 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 Illinois Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. IL_19 Location The location of the interview Naperville, IL Year Year the case began. 2021 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 3540 248th Ave, Naperville, IL 60564 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. PQ2G+GQ Naperville, Illinois Proposed Project Multi-stage project on 13.3 acre parcel, including plans for a mosque with a dome and minaret, a school, a multipurpose hall, a gymnasium, and an expanded worship area Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://islamiccenterofnaperville.org/">Islamic Center of Naperville</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Approved Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In October 2011, the Muslim community of Naperville, Illinois, faced opposition in the initial phase of their plan for a new Islamic center. The Islamic Center of Naperville (ICN) tried to have the property on 248th Avenue annexed into the City of Naperville. The petition for annexation encountered some opposition, which included more fundamental concerns about the building project. In 2011, however, ICN had not submitted any concrete development plans for the site. It was only a decade later, in 2022, that the ICN began to propose plans to establish a 26,000-square-foot Islamic center containing a mosque, gymnasium, multipurpose hall, and school. The plans faced immediate backlash once they became public (Baker, 2021). At the time, Naperville was home to nearly 146,000 residents, with nearly 72% of them associated with Christianity, outnumbering adherents of every other religion disproportionately. Muslim residents make up about 6.6% of the population leading their opinions and perspectives to have a lesser vote in this city. Given the religious affiliations of Naperville residents and the fact that the land earmarked for the proposed mosque was initially designated for a church, the initial controversy surrounding the project is understandable (Baker, 2021). In January of 2021, the ICN decided to continue with their development plans but once again faced plenty of criticism. The Planning and Zoning Commission was overwhelmed by the scale of debate and controversy due to the mosque’s development plans. Naperville received approximately 2000 written comments, 13300 names in support and in opposition, and over 470 people wanting to speak at a public hearing regarding the mosque project (Baker, 2021). Additionally, at a meeting of the Naperville Planning and Zoning Commission in January of 2021, most of the complaints were about traffic and property values of the proposed mosque. Muslim residents and the ICN were confused because the land they purchased originally belonged to a church, giving the land a rich spiritual heritage. The ICN was told that there was no opposition to building a church on this land, so why as Muslims on the same property must they discontinue their project? Since a church previously occupied the land before the ownership by the ICN, the Muslim community became aware of the fact that they were discriminated against. There were many conditions placed on the project to be approved by the group named The Naperville Residents for Sustainable Development representing the nearby subdivisions of Ashwood Point, Pencross Knoll, and Tall Grass (Lamelza, 2021). They agreed to the proposal as long as the ICN was ready to proceed with the third and fourth phases so that the surrounding neighborhoods would have the opportunity to share their opinions and concerns with the project before a building permit was issued and the city would review each of the final three phases. In April 2021, ICN changed its plan for parking spaces and promised to add crossing guards during Friday services. The ICN by the Planning and Zoning Commission agreed to the following: accepting responsibility for traffic management, no construction after the second phase of the project until 248th Avenue was expanded, a school pickup plan for the second phase, splitting the cost with the city for traffic signal at 28th Avenue and Honey Locust Drive and finally no outdoor amplification of sound. In November 2021, the City Council unanimously voted to approve the proposed project. In five phases, the ICN would build a mosque, school, gym, and more over forty years. Due to the large scale of the project, the ICN had difficulties with the funding of the project. However, in 2022, the ICN proposed for individuals to buy a brick for $100, and their names will be engraved in a stone. This initiative was very successful as many people bought bricks for the mosque project. The fact that the building was allowed to continue and grow symbolizes the growth of America's tolerance, acceptance, and growth of the Muslim community. The ICN’s new <a href="https://islamiccenterofnaperville.org/new248/">Masjid</a> <a href="https://islamiccenterofnaperville.org/new248/">Al-Nur</a> on 248th Avenue is currently under construction and shows much promise. References <ul> <li>Baker, S. (2021, January 21). Thousands weigh in on proposal for new mosque in Naperville. Chicago: Tribune Publishing Company, LLC.</li> <li>Baker, S. (2021, January 24). Plans for mosque on 248th Ave. in Naperville raising concerns with some neighbors again. Chicago: Tribune Publishing Company, LLC.</li> <li>Baker, S. (2021, March 12). The debate over a proposed mosque in Naperville could span months if all 470 people signed up to speak do so. Chicago: Tribune Publishing Company, LLC.</li> <li>Baker, S. (2021, November 17). Last-minute deal between Islamic center and neighbors clears way for Naperville council to OK mosque development. Chicago: Tribune Publishing Company, LLC.</li> <li>Lamelza, J. (2021, November 19). Islamic Center approved by Naperville City Council. Dataqbid. [Blog]. <a href="https://blog.databid.com/blog/islamic-center-approved-by-naperville-city-council">https://blog.databid.com/blog/islamic-center-approved-by-naperville-city-council</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 Malak Abdelmoaty, Gabby Hilliard, and Hala Mansour Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Naperville, IL Description An account of the resource The Islamic Center of Naperville (ICN) encountered opposition in 2021 when proposing a mosque and community center on land acquired a decade earlier, initially intended for a church. Despite initial backlash, ICN received approval in November 2021 to build Masjid Al-Nur. Economic concerns and community opposition posed significant hurdles. The project's approval included conditions such as reducing its overall size and requiring additional approval at later stages. Approved Islamic Center Public Campaign Purpose-Built REL230_SP24 Under Construction https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/97686493ba78bca7afc53b7926df0c09.jpg f3e64159483ef9cc2298fdbd6732e790 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource A rose as the cover image of the Bosnian Muslim Association's Facebook page. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Bosnian Muslim Association of Clearwater Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://www.facebook.com/BosnianMuslimAssociation/about Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. The Bosnian Member Association (BMA) of Clearwater faced considerable opposition to its proposal to establish a green burial cemetery near Istachatta, in northern Hernando County. The BMA applied for a special exception permit from the Hernando County Planning and Zoning Commission to use a 5.2-acre plot near a subdivision. The land in question was zoned as agricultural. Despite the Planning Department’s recommendation for approval, the proposal was unanimously disapproved by the planning commissioners, who held that the subdivision was not a suitable location for a cemetery. The cemetery proposal was rooted in Bosnian tradition and closely aligned with the practices of the growing green burial movement. According to Vedad Sakovic, president of the BMA, the cemetery would have featured wooden slabs or crosses as markers, with bodies buried without embalming in wooden caskets designed to decompose quickly (Bates, 2007, Feb 14). Sue Hughes, a Brooksville Realtor representing the BMA, emphasized the natural aspect of this burial method, noting its environmental benefits over traditional embalming and the use of pesticides and herbicides in conventional cemeteries (ibid.). Despite these assurances, residents of Deerhaven Estates and the planning commissioners remained unconvinced. Twenty local residents attended the planning commission meeting to voice their opposition. They expressed a variety of concerns, ranging from personal fears to environmental and social impacts. Some worried about wildlife disturbing the graves and the potential for criminal activities, while others implored the commissioners to preserve the area’s natural state (Skerritt, 2007, Feb 21). Concerns about property values were also raised. One neighbor expressed discomfort with the fact that the cemetery would be for Muslims, feeling excluded from being buried in a cemetery close to his home (Dewitt, 2007, Feb 13). Sakovic clarified that the cemetery would be inclusive, accommodating the BMA’s diverse membership, including members of the Catholic and Orthodox churches, as well as Muslims. The Planning and Zoning Commission raised concerns about the cemetery's long-term maintenance. Planning Commissioner Anna Liisa Covell questioned who would be responsible for the property's upkeep if the BMA were to disband or relocate. She also worried that bodies from the green, environmentally friendly cemetery would pollute the aquifer and contaminate the drinking water (Bates, 2007, Feb 14). Despite the County Planning Department’s recommendation for approval, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously against the cemetery. After the commission meeting, Sakovic stated that the BMA would not continue to pursue the project in Hernando County. "It's not a place we want to be," said Sakovic. "We want a neighborhood that would welcome us" (Skerritt, 2007, Feb 21). References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Skerritt, A. (2007, February 21). Prejudice runs 6 feet deep. St. Petersburg Times, p. 2; 2; 2. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/11773C64F2D0ED28">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">D. Bates, M. (2007, February 14). Hernando Rejects Request to allow Bosnian Cemetery: Nearby subdivision was deciding factor. Tampa Tribune, p. 5. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/117517E82104B2A0">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Dewitt, D. (2007, February 13). Green burials voted down. St. Petersburg Times, p. 1. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/11749A1FEBC96190">NewsBank</a>.</li> </ul> Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. FL_09 Location The location of the interview Hernando County, FL Year Year the case began. 2007 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. Cherokee Road at Deerhaven Estates, Brooksville, FL 34601 Proposed Project The BMA applied for a special exception permit to use a 5.2-acre plot zoned as agricultural as a cemetery. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BosnianMuslimAssociation/">Bosnian Member Association of Clearwater</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Planning and Zoning Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Despite the Planning Department’s recommendation for approval, the proposal was unanimously disapproved by the planning commissioners, who held that the subdivision was not a suitable location for a cemetery. Last Updated Date revised. June 14, 2024 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource The Bosnian Member Association of Clearwater applied for a special exception permit from the Hernando County Planning and Zoning Commission to use a 5.2-acre plot near the Deerhaven Estates subdivision for a green burial cemetery. The commission unanimously denied the permit, deeming a subdivision unsuitable for a cemetery. Over 20 local residents attended the meeting to voice their opposition to the project. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Florian Pohl Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Hernando County, FL Cemetery Denied Not Built Planning and Zoning Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/c5d72b64a3354c8097aa2d44ecf73981.jpg 6ae9671ca820faa03ac86efd1f5d5516 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource Headstones at Sufi Cemetery in Sidney, NY Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Andrew Reinbach Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Tiny Upstate New York Town Wants Local Muslims to Dig Up Their Cemetery A town in upstate New York is trying to force a local Muslim religious community to dig up a small cemetery on its property and never bury anyone there again because it says it's illegal. By Andrew Reinbach, Contributor Journalist Sep 27, 2010, 12:10 AM EDT https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tiny-upstate-new-york-tow_b_739832 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Ny_03 Location The location of the interview Sidney, NY Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 1663 Wheat Hill Rd, Sidney Center, NY 13839 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 8Q97+X9 Sidney Center, New York Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.naksibendi.us/">Osmanli Naksibendi Hakkani Sufi Order</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Local Ordinance Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The town dropped its plans to pursue a lawsuit in October 2010 but planned to regulate private burials, except religious ones Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In the summer of 2010, the Sidney Town Board initiated legal action to stop the Osmanli Naksibendi Hakkani Dergahi—a Sufi Islamic spiritual center—from using a portion of its 50-acre property as a cemetery. The order had purchased the land, a former sheep farm, in 2002 and designated 650 square feet for cemetery use. The first burial occurred in November 2009, followed by a second in the summer of 2010. On September 14, 2010, journalist Patricia Breakey reported in The Daily Star that the Sidney Town Board had passed an injunction at its August 12 meeting to prohibit burials on private property, effectively targeting the Sufi community's cemetery (Breakey, 2010, Sep 14). Town Supervisor Bob McCarthy explained that the Town Board had directed its lawyer to explore a lawsuit against the Sufi Order for conducting two Muslim burials without notifying local authorities or obtaining proper permits. McCarthy stated the town's intention to have the bodies disinterred and to stop future burials. He stressed that these steps were necessary to prevent any group from bypassing regulations, regardless of religion, stating, "Unauthorized cemeteries have the potential of placing a financial burden on the local government as well as dictating the use of the land for perpetuity” (ibid.). In response to the town board's actions, the Sufi center members emphasized strict adherence to town regulations. They presented a 2005 document from the town zoning board confirming that the cemetery was permitted use according to the Town of Sidney Zoning Ordinance. They noted that licensed funeral directors conducted the burials with proper permits (Seely, 2010, Oct 2). The legal dispute between the Sufi center and the Sidney Town Board escalated to a national level of attention in September. The story was covered by the Huffington Post (Reinbach, 2010, Sep 27) and featured on MSNBC’s “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” and Comedy Central’s “Colbert Report.” The national spotlight underscored the salience of the issue, which emerged during a period of heightened tension over Muslim building projects in the runup to the 2010 midterm elections, including the protests over an Islamic Center near Ground Zero in Manhattan. In October, opposition to the Town Board's actions grew, with nearly 40 area clergy from various faiths urging the board to drop the issue. They supported the Sufi community’s right to practice their faith and criticized the singling out of one religion (Clergy's letter supports Sufi order, 2010, Oct 9). "Though we are members and leaders of different faith traditions, we stand beside our Sufi brothers and sisters to support their right to practice their faith and live as peaceful, law-abiding, contributing members of our society," the letter said (Clergy's letter supports Sufi order (ibid.). On October 13, a day before a Town Board meeting, the Sufi community's lawyer announced that the local government would drop plans to force the cemetery's closure. However, the board still intended to enact a law preventing burials on private property but excluding religious and not-for-profit groups. Despite this, the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) demanded a public apology from town officials for attempting to close the cemetery (CAIR seeks apology, 2010, Oct 14). At the next day’s Town Board meeting, more than 100 attendees chanted for McCarthy's resignation after he refused to apologize for his actions and the negative attention brought to the town (Crowd calls for McCarthy's resignation, 2010, Oct 15). Local opposition to McCarthy and the Town Board persisted in the following months. Concerned Citizens for Responsible Sidney Government petitioned for McCarthy's resignation and filed formal complaints about his management with the New York Attorney General and Comptroller, backed by signed petitions (Rainbach, 2010, Nov 8). In the November 2011 Sidney town elections, a slate of candidates endorsed by McCarthy was defeated by Democratic and bipartisan candidates, with the cemetery controversy being a key issue for voters (Boshnack, 2011, Nov 10). References <ul> <li>Boshnack, M. (2011, November 10). Unhappy Sidney voters turn out in high numbers. The Daily Star. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F13AEFCD416DD9B70">NewsBank</a>. </li> <li>Breakey, P. (2010, September 14). Sidney Town Board objects to cemetery. The Daily Star. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1323D87A49343F38">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li>CAIR seeks apology from NY town over Muslim cemetery flap. (2010, October 14). PR Newswire. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F132DD2EA8F82EAB0">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li>Clergy's letter supports Sufi order. (2010, October 9). The Daily Star. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F132C10F75ED49BD0">NewsBank</a>. Crowd calls for McCarthy's resignation in Sidney. (2010, October 15). The Daily Star. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F132E0A324E6C3708">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li>Reinbach, A. (2010, September 27). Tiny Upstate New York Town Wants Local Muslims to Dig Up Their Cemetery. Huffington Post. <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tiny-upstate-new-york-tow_b_739832">Web</a>.</li> <li>Reinbach, A. (2010, November 8). Sidney, NY knuckling down for a brawl. Huffington Post. <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sidney-ny-knuckling-down_b_780428">Web</a>.</li> <li>Seely, H. (2010, October 2). Tiny cemetery in ground zero in Islam debate. The Post-Standard, p. A1. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F132A0467C56512B0">NewsBank</a>. </li> </ul> Proposed Project The Sufi community used a portion of its 50-acre property as a cemetery. The first burial occurred in November 2009, followed by a second in the summer of 2010. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource In 2010, the Sidney Town Board took legal action to stop the Osmanli Naksibendi Hakkani Dergahi from using part of its 50-acre property as a cemetery. The Sufi community purchased the land in 2002 and began using it for burials in 2009. The Town Board claimed the burials were illegal and sought to disinter the bodies. The Sufi group argued they had followed town regulations. The dispute gained national attention and led to significant local opposition. Ultimately, the town dropped its plans to pursue a lawsuit but planned to regulate private burials. Persistent community opposition to the Town Board characterized the controversy and led to significant changes in the 2011 town election. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Sidney, NY Approved Cemetery Legislation https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/2d7dd0285140752e23446761e26dac4a.png a64629cccf0a97826896ff174d290206 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Tn_00 Location The location of the interview Fayette County, TN Year Year the case began. 2004 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 900 Orr Road, Arlington, TN 38002 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 79JM+2J Arlington, Tennessee Proposed Project The intended cemetery site was a 5-acre section of a 27-acre tract zoned for rural residential use. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a class="in-cell-link" href="https://muslimsocietyofmemphis.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Muslim Society of Memphis</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Planning and Zoning Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Approved (initial denial) Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In Fayette County, Tennessee, the Muslim Society of Memphis proposed establishing a cemetery on an unused sod farm approximately 20 miles east of the city. This proposal led to significant local opposition. The intended cemetery site was a 5-acre section of a 27-acre tract zoned for rural residential use. The Muslim Society required a “special use" zoning exemption from the Fayette County Planning Commission to proceed. Although the planning commission approved the request, a committee of the elected county commission disapproved it, leading to the withdrawal of the application before a full vote by the county commission. Local residents expressed a range of concerns at a planning commission meeting. Some feared that the cemetery could be used as a terrorist staging ground or pose health risks due to the traditional Muslim practice of not embalming their dead (Baird, 2004, Dec 25). Belinda Ghosheh, one of the property owners, reported feeling threatened by the hostile atmosphere at the county commission meeting (ibid.). Dr. Zaman, president of the Muslim Society of Memphis, mentioned that the proposal had been under discussion for three years (Ferguson, 2005, Jan 4). Despite the planning commission's initial approval and the presence of 17 existing cemeteries in the area, including one directly across the road, strong resistance led to the withdrawal of the application. The decision to withdraw was also influenced by a concern that a rejection would preclude future applications for the same site. Following the local protest, Dr. Zaman reported that the Department of Justice had contacted him, expressing interest in investigating whether the opposition violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (Ferguson, 2005, Jan 4). He indicated that the Muslim Society of Memphis was exploring other legal avenues to establish the cemetery on the same land, highlighting the group's determination to secure a burial place for their community (ibid.). Eventually, the Muslim Society of Memphis succeeded in getting the project approved. Today, they proudly list the cemetery <a href="https://muslimsocietyofmemphis.org/">on their website</a> as the "[f]irst Muslim Cemetery in Mid-South on 27.5 acres of beautiful rolling land by I-40E, complete with a durable Masjid, capable of accommodating the regional burial needs of Muslims for centuries." References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Baird, W. (2004, December 25). Cemetery plans spur anti-Muslim sentiment. Mobile Register (AL), p. 07. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1079504166585CB5">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Ferguson, B. (2005, January 4). Tennessee residents reject plans for Muslim cemetery. Arab News. <a href="https://www.arabnews.com/node/260515">Web</a>.</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource The Muslim Society of Memphis proposed a cemetery in Fayette County, Tennessee, encountering substantial local opposition due to fears of terrorism and health risks. Despite initial setbacks and a withdrawn application, the Society eventually secured approval. The cemetery, now operational, ensures regional burial needs for Muslims are met. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Florian Pohl Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Fayette County, TN Approved (initial denial) Built Cemetery Planning and Zoning Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/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/ee1cd8df2085c692265bf8425d47fc27.jpeg 3d72dab916297c71f2c83f8e3f6761a7 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://themuslimcemetery.com/ Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Il_20 Location The location of the interview Homer Glen, IL Year Year the case began. 2023 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 18131 S Meader Rd, Homer Glen, IL 60491 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. H25R+9X Homer Glen, Illinois Proposed Project 40-acre Muslim cemetery with a maximum of 24,000 graves (<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://themuslimcemetery.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Muslim Ummah Cemetery</a>) Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://orlandparkprayercenter.org/">Orland Park Prayer Center</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The cemetery was permitted use under the existing county rules before August 2023, when the Will County Board voted unanimously to require a special-use permit for cemetery development. This change did not apply retroactively to the Muslim Ummah Cemetery. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In 2020, the Orland Park Prayer Center (OPPC), located about 40 minutes outside Chicago, purchased a 40-acre plot of land to construct the Muslim Ummah Cemetery in Homer Glen, IL. The community of nearly 30,000 Muslims, who are predominantly of Palestinian descent, had previously buried its members in a section of a mostly Christian cemetery until it ran out of space (Abdelaziz, 2024, Mar 15). Kifah Mustapha, the imam at OPPC, applied for the necessary permits and licenses to purchase and develop the land, raised enough money to construct the cemetery, and hired a law firm to represent the group’s interests (ibid.). On April 27, 2023, a petition opposing the cemetery's construction began, gathering over 1,500 signatures (Abdelaziz, 2024, Mar 15). Residents listed numerous concerns, including a lack of transparency, groundwater contamination, increased traffic, and environmental protection. More than 200 people, mostly critics of the proposed cemetery, attended a town hall in May to voice their opposition (ibid.). However, neither the county nor the state’s public health agencies found that the cemetery would create a credible public health concern. In response to the community opposition, Mustapha stated that “Every community had its own struggle, from the Irish to the Jewish community, to the Black and Latino community, so Muslims are no exception. But this goes against what this country is all about. We have the Constitution and laws that protect the rights of a citizen as an individual or as a community” (ibid.). Also in May, the Will County Land Use Committee and Planning and Zoning Commission began to research cemetery ordinances, as cemeteries had not been developed in unincorporated areas of Will County in more than two decades (Mullins, 2023, Aug 20). OPPC filed a permit on June 29 requesting that the Will County Land Use Department approve its use of the remaining 35 acres of the property, in addition to the 5 acres it had been granted initially (Kukulka, 2023, Jul 13). Construction of an access road leading to the Muslim Ummah Cemetery began in July (ibid.). On August 17, the Will County Board unanimously voted to require a special-use permit for cemetery development to “ensure their location minimizes any negative land use on neighbors” (Mullins, 2023, Aug 20). The ordinance change did not retroactively apply to the Muslim Ummah Cemetery, which had already received a permit to construct its cemetery, as well as road work, stormwater management, fencing, and landscaping (ibid.). The Muslim Ummah Cemetery was successfully built and has been fully operational since September 2023. More than two dozen burials have taken place, and there is enough space to accommodate 24,000 graves. Additionally, OPPC plans to expand its cemetery to include a funeral service facility that can transport, wash, and shroud bodies (Abdelaziz, 2024, Mar 15). Doing so would require a zoning change and approval by the Will County Board. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Abdelaziz, R. (2024, March 15). They Desperately Wanted To Build A Cemetery. Then Came The Backlash. Huffington Post. <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/they-desperately-wanted-to-build-a-muslim-cemetery-then-came-the-backlash_n_65f33164e4b0dddcf7bd3501">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Kukulka, A. (2023, July 13). Will County officials say county action won’t stop construction for eco-friendly cemetery. Chicago Tribune. <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/2023/07/13/will-county-officials-say-county-action-wont-stop-construction-underway-for-eco-friendly-cemetery/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Mullins, M. (2023, August 20). Special-use permit to be required for cemeteries. Daily Southtown. Available through <a href="https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/193877CD9AE34918&f=basic">NewsBank</a>.</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. June 16, 2004 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Homer Glen, IL Description An account of the resource In 2020, the Orland Park Prayer Center purchased a 40-acre plot of land in Homer Glen, IL, to construct the Muslim Ummah Cemetery. Local residents opposed its construction due to concerns about lack of transparency, groundwater contamination, and increased traffic. The Will County Board voted unanimously to require a special-use permit for cemetery development, which did not apply retroactively to the Muslim Ummah Cemetery. The cemetery successfully opened in September 2023. The Muslim community intends to construct a funeral service facility in the future. Approved Built Cemetery Legislation Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/6ff10bec359b16f8ee5bb6fd86eb66f9.jpg 2ee54cbb75850e38d17e50c808765c2b Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. De_01 Location The location of the interview New Castle County, DE Year Year the case began. 2020 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 786 Port Penn Rd, Middletown, DE 19709 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. G99P+3P Middletown, Delaware Proposed Project 942-plot cemetery with 1,000 square-foot building Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/A-Light-of-Hope-100069426126447/">A Light of Hope</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Legislation Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The cease-and-desist order was lifted after the cemetery worked with the Delaware Department of Transportation to pave a driveway and add parking spaces. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. A Light of Hope is an organization that provides religious and educational services to the local Muslim community in Delaware. In addition to establishing a mosque and funeral home where they perform washing and shrouding for free, A Light of Hope constructed a Muslim cemetery in New Castle County. Previously, families needed to drive more than an hour to the nearest Muslim cemetery in South Jersey or opt for a non-Muslim burial ground (Read, 2020, Mar 5). In February 2020, after only three burials had taken place, the property failed a code inspection and was subsequently issued a cease-and-desist order to halt all burials (Cherry, 2020, Feb 28). Though current zoning allows for new cemetery use, no land use plans have been approved by the county. State Representative Kevin Hensley, whose district covers the unauthorized cemetery, said in a Facebook post that he had received multiple calls from constituents about “suspicious” activity at the property (ibid.). County officials stated that the cease-and-desist order would be in effect until they approve all required land use plan submissions and any associated site improvements. Additionally, New Castle County would have discretion over how the proposed property would impact traffic, noise, and similar criteria (ibid.). The next month, leaders from A Light of Hope met with county officials to obtain approval for their cemetery (Bodies Buried Along, 2020, Mar 4). The property did not comply with local codes as it did not contain parking and walkways. During a press conference, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer stated that the cemetery could continue burying people without special permission once safety concerns were met (Porter, 2020, Mar 4). On March 5, it was reported that A Light of Hope was working with the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) to pave a driveway and add parking spaces. The cease-and-desist order was temporarily lifted for humanitarian reasons to allow for the burial of 1-year-old Ja-Ziyah Gordon, who was taken off life support after being born with a heart defect and contracting a deadly lung disease (Cease and desist order lifted, 2020, Mar 4). In August 2020, about 70 people who live near the Muslim cemetery met to ask county officials questions about the approved project (Parrish, 2020, Sep 2). The meeting was initially scheduled for March 25 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents mainly voiced their concerns about the risk of groundwater contamination. In response, public health officials stated that they did not believe water contamination would occur based on the water flow and history of the land (ibid.). Questions about environmental regulations and how the county would monitor water quality were left unanswered because officials from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) were invited to the meeting but did not attend. Naveed Baqir, a representative from A Light of Hope, briefly spoke to the crowd, stating that many of the residents’ questions could have been answered if they had contacted the organization. Additionally, Baqir accused Hensley, who organized the meeting, of exhibiting racist behavior by not including the Muslim community in the conversation. “I feel like I am crashing the party today because I was not invited. The Muslim community was not invited,” he said. “You are asking the right questions to the wrong people” (ibid.). In response, Port Penn residents claimed their concerns were not racially motivated and instead related to the quality of their water supply. Hensley stated that he did not invite anyone specifically to the meeting and only posted about the event on Facebook. Ultimately, the cease-and-desist order was lifted after a driveway and parking spaces were added. New Castle County authorized 942 burials and the construction of a 1,000-square-foot building (ibid.). The Muslim Cemetery of Delaware is now fully operational. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Bodies Buried Along Delaware Road Raises Red Flags. (2020, March 4). NBC10 Philadelphia. <a href="https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/bodies-buried-along-delaware-road-raises-red-flags/2314971/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Cease and desist order lifted at Delaware’s only Muslim cemetery. (2020, March 4). ABC6 Philadelphia. <a href="https://6abc.com/muslim-cemetery-of-delaware-burial-gravem-new-cast-county/5986197/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Cherry, A. (2020, February 28). New Castle County halts burials at unauthorized cemetery in Port Penn. WDEL 107.1FM. <a href="https://www.wdel.com/news/new-castle-county-halts-burials-at-unauthorized-cemetery-in-port-penn/article_715003b8-5a69-11ea-a58b-abb087f2267b.html">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Parrish, A. (2020, September 2). Concerns over Muslim cemetery in Port Penn continue. The News Journal. <a href="https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2020/08/27/concerns-over-muslim-cemetery-port-penn-continue/5645167002/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Porter, I. (2020, March 4). Burials will proceed at Muslim cemetery once safety conditions are addressed. The News Journal. <a href="https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2020/03/04/burials-proceed-muslim-cemetery-port-penn/4954998002/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Read, Z. (2020, March 5). Delaware’s only Muslim cemetery can resume burials after cease-and-desist order lifted. The Philadelphia Tribune. <a href="https://www.phillytrib.com/news/state_and_region/delaware-s-only-muslim-cemetery-can-resume-burials-after-cease-and-desist-order-lifted/article_e3ae30d0-5ed1-11ea-bd63-bb9e61e9b9bb.html">Web</a>.</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. July 10, 2024 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource In February 2020, the Muslim Cemetery of Delaware failed a code inspection and was subsequently issued a cease-and-desist order to halt all burials. Multiple residents had called State Representative Kevin Hensley regarding “suspicious” activity at the site. In March, the cease-and-desist order was temporarily lifted to allow for the burial of a one-year-old child. Residents met in August to voice their concerns about groundwater contamination. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource New Castle County, DE Approved Built Cemetery Planning and Zoning Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/8dc9f7b9209c306c25db139282f0511b.png 682f64d5c6d8bfd60b35cd710e1799d8 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 Virginia 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. Va_11 Location The location of the interview McLean, VA Year Year the case began. 2015 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 8800 Jarrett Valley Dr, Vienna, VA 22182 Proposed Project Islamic Learning Center Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://mcleanmuslims.org/">McLean Islamic Center</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/. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource McLean, VA Prior Church Use https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/1ecb99548dec63f455ebdcd3bc7d56d6.png 965e0779c4063fba116d14e6d3935070 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 New Jersey 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. Nj_10 Location The location of the interview Hillsborough Township, NJ Year Year the case began. 2016 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 26 New Amwell Rd, Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844 Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.mcscmasjid.org/">Muslim Center of Somerset County</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/. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory Universtiy Title A name given to the resource Hillsborough Township, NJ Prior Church Use