3 10 101 https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/498f20324cafd009060fa99f116943cd.jpg 6b9a3dc8216eb6c73a9d2cd82cd67b48 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_11 Location The location of the interview City of Vineland Date March 2016-December 2018 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. In February 2017, the Garden State Islamic Center (GSIC) brings an RLUIPA suit against the City of Vineland after the city’s denial of septic permits. The city had approved plans for the mosque in 2012, but when GSIC moved into the second phase of its construction in 2016, the city withheld the necessary permits claiming the project no longer fulfilled sewage regulation requirements. GSIC’s RLUIPA suit alleges decade-long harassment by the city dating back to an earlier lawsuit and settlement over the center’s initial application in 2009. The city files a motion to dismiss the case on the grounds that sewage regulations are not covered by RLUIPA. The District Court of New Jersey denies the motion to dismiss following a Statement of Interest by the DOJ arguing for a broad remedial interpretation of RLUIPA. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 700 Bird Street, Vineland, NJ 08360 Proposed Project Islamic Center (mosque, social space, classrooms, offices) Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="http://gsicnj.org/">Garden State Islamic Center</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance administrative denial Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications approved (after initial denial and RLUIPA lawsuit) Year Year the case began. 2016 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 City of Vineland, NJ Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Stewart Zelnick Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Description An account of the resource NJ_11 DOJ Lawsuit (RLUIPA) 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 Florida Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Date 1996 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 Clearwater, FL https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/60e0107313bb87f9b71c9cc2a7fc858f.jpeg 2231cf8ba2339d99ff75a2ffd1be21e5 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2018/219/CEM2670582_ac4dca02-f83b-495f-af2f-964f53cb0c42.jpeg">https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2018/219/CEM2670582_ac4dca02-f83b-495f-af2f-964f53cb0c42.jpeg</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Ga_08 Location The location of the interview Powder Springs, GA Date July 2016 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 2376 John Petree Rd, Powder Springs, GA 30127 Proposed Project The East Cobb Islamic Center purchased thirteen acres in the western Atlanta metro area to build a cemetery with up to 10,000 plots. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="http://ec-ic.org/">East Cobb Islamic Center</a> Year Year the case began. 2016 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. V9W2+GP Powder Springs, Georgia, USA Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications ECIC’s proposal met Cobb County’s minimum requirements and was approved. It did not require a public hearing or vote by the Board of Commissioners. The subsequently issued moratorium on cemetery permits did not retroactively apply to ECIC’s project. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In May of 2015, the East Cobb Islamic Center (ECIC) purchased a thirteen-acre plot near Macland Road to construct the first Muslim cemetery in the western Atlanta metropolitan area. The land was purchased for $335,000 with local partner mosques and community donations (Amer, 2016, Jun 30). In April 2016, Cobb County’s Community Development Agency granted ECIC a Special Exemption certificate for its cemetery project. Because it met the County’s minimum requirements, including a size of at least ten acres and an approved parking and landscaping plan. The proposal did not require a public hearing or vote by the Board of Commissioners (Santos, 2016, Jul 7). After construction of the cemetery began, homeowners in the Vineyard Place subdivision and others adjoining the cemetery attended Cobb County hearings to oppose the project, citing the depreciation of property values, a lack of input in the cemetery’s approval process, and concerns about Islamic burial practices (Santos, 2016, Jul 7). In August 2016, the Cobb County Board of Commissioners voted to issue a moratorium on new cemetery projects in the county until April 2017. Community Development Director Dana Johnson stated, “During the time of this moratorium, staff will be researching national best practices as it relates to the regulation of cemetery uses, as well as looking at some local examples here in metro Atlanta” (Lutz, 2016, July 12). The East Cobb Islamic Center Cemetery was not retroactively affected by the moratorium and began operating in 2018. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Amer, A. K. (2016, June 30). The largest Muslim cemetery in Georgia is approved in Cobb County. AtlantaMuslim.com. <a href="http://www.atlantamuslim.com/2016/jun/30/new-muslim-cemetary/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Lutz, M. (2016, July 12). Concern over Muslim cemetery leads to moratorium in Cobb. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. <a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/concern-over-muslim-cemetery-leads-moratorium-cobb/hEK2ZE4gN8CwNQH1xMjCMK/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Santos, A. (2016, July 7). Cobb County cemetery sparks debate over permits. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. <a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/local/cobb-county-cemetery-sparks-debate-over-permits/JGtb1Brc36LmIWz1My1wQO/">Web</a>.</li> </ul> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Legislation (moratorium) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Cobb County, GA Description An account of the resource In April 2016, the East Cobb Islamic Center (ECIC) received a special-use permit to build its cemetery. However, after construction began, Cobb County residents opposed the project at public hearings. Opponents cited adverse effects on property values, lack of public input and oversight in the permitting process, and concerns over the health impact of Muslim burial practices. The Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to place a moratorium on new cemetery permits until April 1, 2017. However, this moratorium did not apply retroactively to ECIC’s previously approved cemetery. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Geneva Cunningham Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Approved Built Cemetery Legislation Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/2d6f54ceac8425b940d78077686dbfa2.png a6c35e2f66a5b72b33a4d01d680a32c5 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 Maryland 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. Md_02 Location The location of the interview Cooksville, MD Proposed Project The preliminary concept for the 65-acre property includes two school buildings, an administration building, a mosque, a daycare center, and residential facilities. The proposed on-site mosque would serve 800 local families, with a maximum occupancy between 2,500 and 5,000 worshipers for the major holidays. The property is zoned rural-conservation, with conditional-use permits for educational uses. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://darussalaam.org/">Dar-us-Salaam</a> (Al-Huda Islamic School) Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign -- also administrative hurdles (not sure yet how to "tag" for that) Last Updated Date revised. July 27, 2021 Year Year the case began. 2013 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 14196 Frederick Rd, Cooksville, MD 21723 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 8X9W+P9 Cooksville, Maryland Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The purchase agreement between Dar-us Salaam and the Woodmont Educational Foundation expires before the Board of Appeals decides on the Muslim community’s revised proposal. The property of the former Woodmont Academy is purchased by St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in 2017. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In June 2012, Dar-us-Salaam signed a purchase agreement for the property of the former Woodmont Academy to build its Education and Community Campus in Cooksville, MD. The community entered this agreement on the condition that the zoning of the property could be changed from rural with an educational conditional-use permit (CUP) to Community Center Transition zoning. Although the Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning recommended the change, the comprehensive zoning request ultimately was withdrawn due to strong public opposition from local residents at an initial hearing before the Howard County Planning Board on April 8, 2013 (Ames, 2013, Jun 19 ). To secure the required zoning permits, Dar-us-Salaam decided to go through the conditional-use process--a more time-consuming and expensive alternative. On May 15, 2014, a county land-use judge approved the CUP but with extremely restrictive conditions. Dar-us-Salaam appealed the decision and submitted an updated, scaled-down proposal. The Howard County Board of Appeals eventually dismissed the appeal after Dar-us-Salaam’s purchase agreement had expired in late September 2014. Before any applications were submitted to the local government, the Carriage Hill HOA held a meeting to discuss Dar-us-Salaam’s plans. About 300 residents were in attendance. Most of these residents strongly opposed the project, espousing the view that the proposed usage was too intensive for the area. Opponents asserted that western Howard County was protected by rural conservation and rural residential zoning, and that this project put the town's rural nature at risk. Local residents soon after formed the nonprofit Residents for Responsible Development of Woodmont (RRDW) and hired legal counsel to assist in their opposition to Dar-us-Salaam zoning requests (Western Howard residents fighting plan for Islamic center, 2013, Apr 8). Local residents and the RRDW opposed both the rezoning and the CUP applications, stating that the project would overwhelm traffic and nearby roads and set the wrong precedent for zoning in the future. In May of 2014, a County land-use judge approved the conditional-use permits of Dar-us-Salaam, but with thirteen conditions. The most restrictive was the denial of the proposed residential use. Other limitations included the prohibition of exterior amplification devices, the requirement that the congregation provide alternative transportation methods to events such as a bus or shuttle, no outdoor lighting other than for parking, no overnight visitors, and limitations on occupancy after 4 p.m. The Dar-us-Salaam community appealed the decision along with a revised proposal that reduced the size of the project and limited residential facilities. The Howard County Department of Planning recommended the revised proposal for approval. After several days of public hearings before the Howard County Board of Appeals in October 2014, the Board voted to table the case because Dar-us-Salaam’s purchase agreement had expired in late September. The appeal was finally dismissed six months later when Dar-us-Salaam did not sign a new contract with the Woodmont Educational Foundation (Yaeger, 2014, Oct 31). In 2017, the Woodmont Academy property was sold to the St. Mary Coptic Catholic Church for use as a church and educational facility for around 100 families. The Church was able to gather the necessary CUPs to make this conversion. The Dar-us-Salaam community remains at its original campus in College Park, MD. References <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">Ames, B. (2013, June 19). Rezoning request for Woodmont Academy withdrawn. Howard County Times (MD). Retrieved from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/1470C0D5EECDE348">NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current</a>. </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Western Howard residents fighting plan for Islamic center: Planning Board to hold hearing this evening on zoning change request. (2013, April 8). The Baltimore Sun, p. 2A. Retrieved from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/1459073F496E5E20">NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current</a>. </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Yeager, A. (2014, October 31). Woodmont, site of proposed Muslim community center, placed back on the market. Columbia Flier. Retrieved from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/1519807FC206F390">NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current</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/. Title A name given to the resource Cooksville, MD Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Bryce Bentinck Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Description An account of the resource The preliminary concept for the 65-acre property includes two school buildings, an administration building, a mosque, a daycare center, and residential facilities. The proposed on-site mosque would serve 800 local families, with a maximum occupancy of between 2,500 and 5,000 worshipers for the major holidays. The property is zoned rural-conservation requiring conditional-use permits for educational uses. Community Center Not Built Planning and Zoning Public Campaign School https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/d2d38ada40d0a41542363bfd5dcaeb62.png 04d20bb5c1b67c0b6578e3d7a7fd5c22 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 Monks, M. (2014, October 21). Islamic center in Covington gets OK to stay. The River City News. Retrieved from https://www.rcnky.com/articles/2014/10/21/islamic-center-covington-gets-ok-stay. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://www.rcnky.com/articles/2014/10/21/islamic-center-covington-gets-ok-stay 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 Kentucky 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) No. Ky_04 Location The location of the interview Covington, KY Year Year the case began. 2014 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 1416 Garrard St, Covington, KY 41011 Proposed Project Community Center Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Islamic Association of Northern Kentucky 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 October 2014, the Islamic Association of Northern Kentucky receives a conditional use permit for its learning center on Garrard Street. Neighbors had filed complaints over the use of the center for Friday congregational worship. Other issues included noise, parking, and traffic. The Association agreed to resolve the parking concerns and to refrain from using a call to prayer. Representatives from the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Cincinnati chapter and several supporters attended the hearing. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Covington, KY Approved CAIR Community Center Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/fc37ebd01d1fe2b6f0d133f559875771.jpg 548c2f21b8e7e625c5c65375509c633e 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://fredericksburg.com/news/local/site-work-starts-for-first-mosque-in-culpeper/article_cd2dd633-7b78-5d80-82c7-f7786deb4dd7.html 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) VA_07 Location The location of the interview Culpeper, VA Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 14434 Rixeyville Rd, Culpeper, VA 22701 Year Year the case began. 2016 Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. Narrative In January 2016, The Islamic Center of Culpeper (ICC) was looking for a place for a new worship facility. Since 2013, ICC had held prayers and educational activities for children in a small house with inadequate facilities. In 2016, the community made a $1,000 down payment for one acre of land within an R-1 zoning district, where religious facilities were permitted use. The ICC intended to demolish a dilapidated structure on the property and replace it with a small mosque that could hold up to one hundred people for religious gatherings. Mohammed Nawabe, President of ICC, then contacted the Zoning Administrator and Acting Planning Director, Sam McLean, to inquire about the proper forms required to build a mosque on the land. The health department told Nawabe that the community would need a pump and haul permit because the property did not have access to the county sewage system. ICC's application was scheduled for discussion at the County's Board Meeting on March 1, 2016. Before the meeting, Kurt Christensen, a local Republican leader, sent several emails to county officials and local media concerning ICC's application (Johnston, Mar 1, 2016). In response to questions from a local reporter, Christensen subsequently admitted that using the property for "Islamic" activities had been a motivating concern (ibid.). At the March 1 Board meeting, the County Attorney requested additional time to review the ICC's application. This caused the Board to table the permit request for 30 days until its next meeting on April 5 (Islamic Center of Culpeper v. County of Culpeper, 2017). Public opposition intensified after the March 1 board meeting. In addition to emails and phone calls to county officials, anti-mosque residents publicly displayed a banner that said "No Islamic Center" along with the April 5 hearing date and Chairwoman Fritz’s name and contact information (Islamic Center of Culpeper v. County of Culpeper, 2017). On April 2nd, Chairwoman Fritz emailed County Administrator Ergenson about the emails and phone calls she received regarding the mosque project (ibid.). The Board took up ICC’s application for a pump and haul permit again at its April 5 meeting. County staff recommended approval of the permit. During the Board's discussion, three Supervisors spoke out against approval, remarking that pump and haul permits should be granted only in emergencies and that ICC’s application did not constitute sufficient evidence of hardship. In the end, the Board voted 4-3 against the approval of the application. People in opposition to the ICC application cheered and applauded the denial. Subsequently, the County took steps to prevent ICC from its plan to build a mosque by imposing two consecutive 120-day moratoria on any new pump and haul applications in August and November 2016, thereby preventing ICC from re-applying. In January 2017, the Board's Rules Committee established an onerous new pump and haul policy, stating that "except in the rarest of circumstances and upon sufficient demonstration of extreme hardship conditions," the County does not support pump and haul as a permanent sewage solution. The new policy also required the Board to consider petitions for permanent pump and haul licenses case-by-case (Islamic Center of Culpeper v. County of Culpeper, 2017). The Board's On December 12, 2016, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Culpeper County, alleging that the County violated the terms of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act or RLUIPA (United States v. Culpeper, 2017). In March of 2017, the ICC, represented by Muslim Advocates, a national civil rights organization, filed a separate lawsuit against Culpeper County for discrimination (Islamic Center of Culpeper v. County of Culpeper, 2017). The ACLU also supported ICC’s legal case. Both suits claimed that the County's board members allowed anti-Muslim community members to influence the Board's decision. It had previously issued more than twenty similar permit requests with little discussion (Vote to settle mosque dispute is the right call for Culpeper, 2017, April 29). On April 21, 2017, the County of Culpeper and the ICC settled the case. The settlement agreement required the County to approve the ICC's original application and pay ICC $10,000 for expenses resulting from the denial. However, the County did not have to admit any wrongdoing. In September 2017, the court dismissed the DOJ's lawsuit since the County had granted the needed permit to the ICC. The County agreed to take other steps to prevent further violation of RLUIPA (United States v. Culpeper, 2017). By January 2019, the Islamic Center of Culpeper had completed the site plan and raised about $107,000 for Culpeper County's first-ever mosque (Brophy Champion, 2019, Jan 4). By April 2020, mosque construction was nearly complete (Jennings, 2020, Apr 26). References <ul> <li>Brophy Champion, A. (2019, January 4). After resolution of federal lawsuit, Culpeper's first mosque is on course for 2020. Richmond Times-Dispatch: Web Edition Articles (VA). Available from NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88.</li> <li>Islamic Center of Culpeper v. County of Culpeper, Virginia. (United States District Court: Western District of Virginia, March 9, 2017). Available at https://muslimadvocates.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Court-Case_2017.03.09_ICC-v.-Culpeper_Complaint.pdf. </li> <li>Jennings, E. (2020, April 26). Culpeper mosque construction nearly complete. Free Lance-Star, The (Fredericksburg, VA), p. 3C. Available from NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/17A961C6CB66B768.</li> <li>Johnston, D. (2016, March 1). Culpeper board delays vote on Islamic prayer house permit. TCA Regional News. https://login.proxy.library.emory.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/wire-feeds/culpeper-board-delays-vote-on-islamic-prayer/docview/1769273608/se-2?accountid=10747 </li> <li>United States America v. County of Culpeper, Virginia. (United States District Court: Western District of Virginia, September 1st, 2017). https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/virginia/vawdce/3:2016cv00083/105798/120/</li> <li>Vote to settle mosque dispute is the right call for Culpeper. (2017, April 19). Culpeper Star-Exponent (VA). Available from NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current: https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/163E5846EB42D440.</li> </ul> Proposed Project 5,000 square-foot mosque on a one-acre property, including a library, playroom, youth Room, prayer rooms, parking lot Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://islamiccenterofculpeper.org/">Islamic Center of Culpeper</a> Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Culpeper County granted the pump and haul permit and approved the site plan after settling ICC’s lawsuit against the county in April 2017. 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 Culpeper County, VA Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Lauren Dumesnil and Mary Yuan Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Description An account of the resource In early 2017, the Islamic Center of Culpeper (ICC) settled its lawsuit against the County of Culpeper for denying a pump and haul sewage permit for a new mosque construction in a rural zoning district where religious land use was permitted by right. The U.S. Department of Justice had filed a separate lawsuit against the county alleging religious discrimination. ACLU Approved DOJ Lawsuit (RLUIPA) Legislation Mosque Muslim Advocates Planning and Zoning Public Campaign REL383_SP22 Under Construction https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/dacc8d1d9dad312333d88ed031aff811.png b7a34f386b4388837aefafef1f4ae304 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 Pashman, M. B. (2019, May 11). Imam Senad Agic, right, seen here on Sept. 16, 2013 [Online image]. Retrieved October 22, 2019 from <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-des-plaines-islamic-center-settlement-met-20170606-story.html">https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-des-plaines-islamic-center-settlement-met-20170606-story.html</a>. https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/d5c51923cbd8cf25670804e59a3e2cb4.jpg 15f691a31e279e6e084ef0cc4c4debc0 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 Placek, C. (2016). Building at 1645 Birchwood Ave [Online image]. Retrieved October 22, 2019 from https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160131/news/160139836. 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_15 Location The location of the interview Des Plaines, IL Date September 2013-February 2017 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. In 2013 August, the Des Plaines City Council refused to give the American Islamic Society (AIC, aka Society of American Bosnians & Herzegovinians) approval for its plan to convert an office building to a mosque. The property was originally located in a manufacturing district, which would have required rezoning. The City Council rejected the plan stating potential loss of tax revenue for the city as well as concerns over the project’s impact on traffic. The rezoning denial made it impossible for SABAH to purchase Property on Birchwood Avenue. SABAH felt discriminated against by the city council and sued the city in 2014. AIC’s case failed in the first instance. In 2015 September, the property was sold to a developer. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice intervened on behalf of AIC filing a lawsuit against the City of Des Plaines charging the city’s refusal to rezone violated federal laws. The lawsuit proceeded to trial. The parties settled the case outside of court in June 2017. AIC received $580,000 from the city in the settlement. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 1645 Birchwood Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60018 Proposed Project Conversion of a property originally zoned for manufacturing in Des Plaines to mosque and community center with parking spaces. The property included two buildings with a total area inside of 15,477 square feet . There were two parking lots on the property as well. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. American Islamic Society (AIC) aka Society of American Bosnians & Herzegovinians (SABHAH) Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Local Ordinance/Legislation Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Due to denial of their rezoning application, SABAH lost their option to purchase the property on Birchwood Avenue. SABAH sued the city (and where joined by the Department of Justice) in 2015 and received &580,000 when the case was settled in June 2017. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. The American Islamic Center (AIC) is a Muslim community observing a Sufi approach to Islam. It is a small group made up of about 160 members living in suburban Chicago. They had rented places of worship in the past but desired to build a mosque for themselves. Timeline of Key Events <ul><li>2013: SABAH planned to buy the Birchwood Avenue property and convert it to a mosque. They submitted the rezoning request, but the request was denied by the city council of Des Plaines.</li> <li> March 4, 2014: AIC sued the city of Des Plaines and five members of its city council. AIC failed in this case.</li> <li>September, 2015: The building was sold to a developer. The Department of Justice sued the city of Des Plaines.</li> <li>March, 2017: The case headed to trial. DOJ set a hearing for the trial.</li> <li>June 9, 2017: The case settled. The city of Des Plaines paid the community $580,000 as compensation for their loss.</li> </ul> The community found a vacant former office building. Considering it a suitable place for a mosque in the manufacturing district, they submitted a rezoning request from industrial to institutional use for the property. The structure had two buildings, and the total area inside was 15,477 square feet. The plan called for converting the buildings to a mosque which could accommodate 180 members. The actual building style was left unclear. They group bought the property, waiting for city council’s approval of their rezoning application. However, “the Des Plaines City Council (…) rejected a Bosnian Muslim group's request to allow a religious center in a part of town zoned for manufacturing” (Madhu Krishnamurthy, 2013) The Aldermen’s decision was due to two factors: minimal income loss from taking the property off the tax rolls and potential parking, traffic and other safety concerns due to the size of the congregation (Koop, 2017). Following the denial of the rezoning, on March 4, 2014, AIC sued the city of Des Plaines and five members of its city council. AIC claimed that city of Des Plaines violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA) in addition to the U.S. Constitution's Free Exercise Clause and the U.S. Constitution's Equal Protection Clause. In count 6 and 7, AIC contends that Des Plaines violated the Illinois Religious Freedom Restoration Act (IRFRA) and the Free Exercise Clause of the Illinois Constitution. The result of this case (Am. Islamic Ctr. v. City of Des Plaines, 32 F. Supp. 3d 910) was that all claims against the defendant were denied. One year and a half after the failure of AIC’s suit against Des Plaines, the U.S. Justice Department sued against the city of Des Plaines, claiming that the city council’s decision violated related federal laws, especially the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA),“arguing that officials imposed parking standards and other zoning criteria not used for non-Islamic groups”. At that point, AIC had been without a place of worship. “The Justice Department's lawsuit called for the city to grant approval of the worship center. But the building was sold to a developer in September 2015, and the city later approved property tax incentives for the new owner” (Koop, 2017). Following the intervention of the Justice Department, the Des Plaines city council sought to resolve the case out of court. “City Manager Mike Bartholomew said while it's possible the litigation could drag out for a while, officials believe it's likely to be resolved in 2016 … City officials have said the justice department has taken an ‘unnecessary stance’ and the city is welcoming to all religious faiths” (Placek, 2016). At the same time, the Department of Justice was trying to move the case to a trial. After three months, the Des Plaines city council voted on an agreement with AIC that quickly passed. On June 9, 2017, the City of Des Plaines announced a settlement in the dispute with the Society of American Bosnians and Herzegovinians over the use of the property at 1645 Birchwood Avenue in Des Plaines and agreed to pay the organization $580,000 as compensation. Around the same time, SABAH found a place to worship: a former Lutheran church they converted to a mosque in Franklin Park. References Enter list of sources cited using the proper format. <ul><li>Krishnamurthy, M. (2013, June 17). Des Plaines committee rejects rezoning property to allow Islamic center. Daily Herald. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130716/news/707169960">https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130716/news/707169960</a>. </li> <li>Skinner, C. (2015, September 30). Feds sue Des Plaines over religious zoning rejection. McHenry County Blog. Retrieved from <a href="http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2015/09/30/feds-sue-des-plaines-over-religious-zoning-rejection.">http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2015/09/30/feds-sue-des-plaines-over-religious-zoning-rejection.</a></li> <li>Placek, C. (2016, January 31). Could Islamic center suit against Des Plaines be resolved this year? Daily Herald. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160131/news/160139836/">https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160131/news/160139836</a>.</li> <li>Koop, Ch. (2017, March 1). Religious bias suit is headed to trial. Chicago Daily Herald. Retrieved from <a href="https://advance-lexis-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:5N0Y-B7G1-DY6F-J1Y8-00000-00&context=1516831">https://advance-lexis-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:5N0Y-B7G1-DY6F-J1Y8-00000-00&context=1516831</a>.</li> <li>Pashman, M. B. (2017, May 11). Mosque, feds reach settlement with Des Plaines over zoning. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-des-plaines-islamic-center-settlement-met-20170606-story.html">https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-des-plaines-islamic-center-settlement-met-20170606-story.html</a>.</li> <li>Resolution of RLUIPA dispute. (June 7, 2017). US State News. Retrieved from <a href="https://advance-lexis-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:5NS4-8P41-JDKC-R0KG-00000-00&context=1516831">https://advance-lexis-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:5NS4-8P41-JDKC-R0KG-00000-00&context=1516831</a>.</li> </ul>Court Filings <ul><li>Soc'y of Am. Bosnians & Herzegovinians v. City of Des Plaines, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26542, 2017 WL 748528 (United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, February 26, 2017, Filed). Retrieved from <a href="https://advance-lexis-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/api/document?collection=cases&id=urn:contentItem:5MYX-VS91-F04D-70FV-00000-00&context=1516831">https://advance-lexis-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/api/document?collection=cases&id=urn:contentItem:5MYX-VS91-F04D-70FV-00000-00&context=1516831</a>.</li> <li>Am. Islamic Ctr. v. City of Des Plaines, 32 F. Supp. 3d 910, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38177 (United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern DivisionMarch 24, 2014, Filed). Retrieved from <a href="https://advance-lexis-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/api/document?collection=cases&id=urn:contentItem:5BTM-1VM1-F04D-7114-00000-00&context=1516831">https://advance-lexis-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/api/document?collection=cases&id=urn:contentItem:5BTM-1VM1-F04D-7114-00000-00&context=1516831</a>.</li> <li>Society of American Bosnians & Herzegovinians v. City of Des Plaines. (2016, September 26). Retrieved from <a href="https://www.becketlaw.org/case/society-american-bosnians-herzegovinians-v-city-des-plaines/?section=caseDetail">https://www.becketlaw.org/case/society-american-bosnians-herzegovinians-v-city-des-plaines/?section=caseDetail</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/. Title A name given to the resource Des Plaines, IL (SABAH) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Runze Zhou Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Description An account of the resource A documented account of Case No. IL_15, occurring in Des Plaines, IL, 60018 from September 2013 to February 2017. https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/a0e8e678290bf2926c27d2342dea0e5e.png 7262f628bba1f355c93a70515844ac90 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Ma_04 Location The location of the interview Dudley, MA Year Year the case began. 2016 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. off Corbin Road [across from 176 Corbin Rd] Proposed Project The Islamic Society of Greater Worcester hopes to build a Muslim cemetery with 16,000 burial plots on 55 acres of vacant farmland off Corbin Road. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://isgw.us/">The Islamic Society of Greater Worcester</a> Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 33F7+4QX Dudley, Massachusetts Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Planning and Zoning Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications After the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester sued the town of Dudley, MA, and the Department of Justice launched its investigation, an agreement was reached allowing a permit for a 6-acre Muslim cemetery with a 10-year moratorium on expansion. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In January 2016, the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester applied to the Dudley Zoning Board of Appeals for a special use permit to build a cemetery with up to 16,000 burial plots on 55 acres of vacant farmland. The town’s zoning regulations allowed for cemetery use with a special permit in the agricultural zone. In the weeks leading up to the first public hearing, Dudley residents launched an opposition campaign. Opponents cited concerns about groundwater contamination due to Muslim burial practices. At the February 4 hearing, several hundred residents attended to present a public petition opposing the cemetery permit (Boeri, 2016, Feb 5). Over the next months, the Zoning Board of Appeals continued public hearings on the project before finally denying the request during its meeting on June 9, 2016. The board based its unanimous decision on the claim that the property was under special-tax status and that the Islamic Society lacked legal standing to purchase it. According to the board, the property owner had not complied with the requirement to notify the town prior to the sale, thereby failing to give the town the right of first refusal (Laplaca, 2016, Jun 9). The Muslim community appealed the Board’s decision to the Massachusetts Land Court (MacQuarrie, 2016, Jul 5). In August, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it had opened an investigation into the town’s denial of the cemetery project as a potential violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) (Serhan, 2016, Aug 18). In December 2016, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester settled the case. The town granted the special permit for a six-acre cemetery with several conditions: a ten-year moratorium on any expansion beyond the six acres, the installation of buffer zones, and a maintenance agreement (LaPlaca, 2017, Mar 2). In April 2017, the Islamic Society released a statement that it would not pursue the cemetery project further out of financial considerations. The group announced it was seeking to reserve about 1,500 burial sites at Hope Cemetery, the municipal cemetery of Worcester (Murtishi, 2017, Apr 14). References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Boeri, D. (2016, February 5). Proposal For Muslim Cemetery In Dudley Meets Opposition From Residents. WBUR. <a href="https://www.wbur.org/all-things-considered/2016/02/05/muslim-cemetery-proposal">Web.</a></li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Laplaca, D. (2016, June 9). Zoning board nixes Muslim cemetery. Telegram. <a href="https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/south-west/2016/06/10/dudley-zoning-board-rejects-muslim-cemetery-application/27954817007/">Web.</a></li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Laplaca, D. (2017, March 2). Dudley board approves Muslim cemetery. Telegram. <a href="https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/south-west/2017/03/03/dudley-board-approves-muslim-cemetery/22006573007/">Web.</a></li> <li style="font-weight:400;">MacQuarrie, B. (2016, July 5). Islamic group accuses Dudley of blocking Muslim cemetery. The Boston Globe. <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/07/05/islamic-group-files-suit-accusing-dudley-illegally-blocking-muslim-cemetery-plans/9TpLhOUWs8S3z2QoGmHPbM/story.html">Web.</a></li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Murtishi, A. (2017, April 14). Dead deal: Islamic Society abandons plan for Dudley cemetery. MassLive Media. <a href="https://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/2017/04/dead_deal_islamic_society_aban.html">Web.</a></li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Serhan, Y. (2016, August 18). One Massachusetts Town's Rejection of a Muslim Cemetery. The Atlantic. <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2016/08/muslim-cemetery-rejection-investigation/496520/">Web.</a></li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource In June 2016, the Dudley, MA Zoning Board denied the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester's request for a cemetery permit on 55 acres of farmland, citing special-tax status and legal standing issues. According to the Board, the property owner had not notified the town before the sale, violating the right of first refusal. The Islamic Society sued Dudley, alleging "prejudicial treatment," prompting a Department of Justice investigation. The case drew national attention. In December 2016, an agreement allowed a 6-acre cemetery with a 10-year expansion moratorium. In April 2017, the Islamic Society withdrew the project due to financial issues and sought burial sites at Worcester’s Hope Cemetery. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sofia Fonti Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Dudley, MA Approved (initial denial) Built Cemetery DOJ Relocated Withdrawn https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/93726b18b5903fbbfcc93738358abe4d.png 80e88ef886d930751c8004889edf9ed7 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 Dick. J and BJ. L (2010). Zoning for Islamic Center in DuPage County Debated. [online image]. Retrieved from Oct. 10th. 2019 from: <a href="https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/west-chicago-islam-residential-zoning-98293589.html">https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/west-chicago-islam-residential-zoning-98293589.html</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/. 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_13 Location The location of the interview DuPage County, IL (West Chicago) Date August 2011-June 2013 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. The Islamic Center of Western Suburbs bought a single-family home in West Chicago in 2008 and transformed it to a prayer space without seeking the government’s legal permits. People complained about the traffic and flooding issues. After the Islamic Center proposed an application for conditional use, it was rejected by DuPage county with a vote of 15 versus 3. The Islamic Center of Western Suburbs filed a lawsuit arguing the decision violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) as well as First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments rights. In June, 2013, DuPage County’s zoning board voted to pass the proposal on a 10-7 vote. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 28W774 Army Trail Road near West Chicago in DuPpage County, IL 60185 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. WRV8+M9, Wes Chicago, Illinois Proposed Project The Islamic Center applied for a conditional use permit to convert a 212-square-feet residential property into a prayer space. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.icwsmasjid.org/">Islamic Center of Western Suburbs</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Local Ordinance/Legislation; Lawsuit Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The project moved forward several years later. The county board passed the proposal finally in June 2013, agreeing that the house could be used for religious purposes. The conditional-use permit was limited to a 5-year term and included a list of conditions. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. Key Events In 2008, the Islamic Center of Western Suburban bought a house at 28W774 Army Trail Road and used it as a religious institution and food pantry. They made landscape changes in creating parking lots for their worshippers and held prays without applying for legal permits from the county. In 2010, the county board ruled them violating the zoning ordinances for their unpermitted uses of the legal property. The Islamic Center agreed to pay $7,000 in fine. The district’s zoning rules stated that houses for certain non-residential uses should be approved by the county. On August 11th, 2011, the Islamic center submitted a conditional use application. On December 15th, 2011 and January 30th, 2012, public hearings were held, when the local residents raised concerns of flooding and traffic. In March, 2012, the county’s Zoning Panel reviewed the application and suggested to deny the proposal by a 6-1 vote. In April, 2012, the county development committee amended its application by a vote of 3-2. It added the conditions that the Islamic Center had proposed to county development committee and zoning board of appeals into the application. Ultimately, on May 8th, 2012, the county board reviewed the application and denied the approval on a 15-3 vote. Following the denial, the Islamic Center filed a lawsuit against the County of DuPage County in August 2012 for violating the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) as well as First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The District Court ruled and directed the DuPage County to reconvene the hearings about application and initiate a new vote. On June 26th, 2013, the DuPage Board reviewed the application again and agreed to the request with a 10-7 vote. (Robert, 2013 June. 26th) Along with the approval, a list of conditions, including the one to limit total numbers of visitors to 166 a day and another one to limit the property to less than 30 worshippers in each of its daily prayer, were imposed on the Islamic Center. Background on the local and Muslim communities According to the Chicago Tribune, there were more than 400,000 Muslims in Illinois in 2010 compared to 50,000 Muslims in 1970s. Muslim leaders in Illinois were mostly well-educated and were able to exert influence. For DuPage county, it was not its first time being sued for not granting a conditional-use permit to a Muslim community. The Irshad Learning Center sued DuPage county in 2010 over a planned Islamic education facility near Naperville (see Case No. IL_01). The federal judge overturned the county’s decision and ordered the county board to issue the required permits and to pay the Irshad Learning Center $445,000 (Robert, 2013, June 26th). Details about the proposed project The Islamic center applied for a conditional-use permit to convert a house into a prayer space, allowing Muslims in the community to come and pray five times daily. It proposed to let not more than 30 people be in the 212-square-feet house at a time and to make certain landscapes changes such as parking lots to accommodate those attending prayers (Robert, 2011, Dec. 17th). Details about the conflict as it unfolded The county of DuPage rejected the proposal for several reasons: First, residents were afraid of potential flooding if the house was being used as a prayer place because of the limitations of the original septic system that had been designed for single-family use. In addition, the proposed landscape changes would alter the food plain where residents’ basements had flooded previously. (Mary, 2013. May. 31st). Second, county officials and residents voiced concerns about the impact of the proposed 20-space parking lot on traffic. Neighbors complained that it blocked their drive ways when people attended daily prayers. County officials were also concerned that worshippers would park on the neighboring Pine Court. Third, officials and residents believed that it was an improper use for a house that had been built for residential uses instead of religious purposes. Outcome and Current Status In March 2013, the court directed the county to reconvene hearings about the application according to 2011 zoning standards (Versaci 2013). In June 2013, the DuPage County Board approved the application by a vote of 10 to7 with some added conditions: The conditional-use permit would expire after 5 years. Other conditions included a maximum number of 166 visitors per day, fewer than 30 attendees at any one of the daily prayers, and not holding congregational Friday services or festivities during Ramadan at the site. References Enter list of sources cited using the proper format. National: Susan Hogan. (February 1, 2010). Illinois’s Muslims: The population of Islam Followers Here has Grown Substantially. N.P.R. Retrieved from: <a href="https://www.nprillinois.org/post/illinois-muslims-population-islam-followers-here-has-grown-substantially#stream/0">https://www.nprillinois.org/post/illinois-muslims-population-islam-followers-here-has-grown-substantially#stream/0</a> Regional <ul><li>Robert Sanchez. (June 26, 2013). DuPage board OKs Islamic prayer center. Chicago Daily Herald. Retrieved from <a href="https://advance-lexis-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:58RX-DFW1-JBRC-V0K9-00000-00&context=1516831">https://advance-lexis-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:58RX-DFW1-JBRC-V0K9-00000-00&context=1516831</a>.</li> <li>Versaci, M. B. (2013, May 31). Proposed West Chicago Islamic Center causes resident worries, legal dispute. West Chicago Press, The (IL). Available from News Bank: Access World News – Historical and Current: <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/146A7A5CD7C70940">https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/146A7A5CD7C70940</a>.</li> <li>Robert Sanchez. (May 11, 2011). Islamic center resubmits permit. Chicago Daily Herald. Retrieved from <a href="https://advance-lexis-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:52VF-22X1-JBRC-V0G7-00000-00&context=1516831">https://advance-lexis-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:52VF-22X1-JBRC-V0G7-00000-00&context=1516831</a>.</li> <li>Robert Sanchez. (December 17, 2011). Plan for mosque near West Chicago starts over. Chicago Daily Herald. Retrieved from <a href="https://advance-lexis-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:54HJ-S4W1-DY6F-J2B8-00000-00&context=1516831">https://advance-lexis-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:54HJ-S4W1-DY6F-J2B8-00000-00&context=1516831</a>.</li> </ul>Court filings: Islamic Ctr. of W. Suburbs v. County of Dupage, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 179042, 2012 WL 6605011 (United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division December 18, 2012, Filed). Retrieved from <a href="https://advance-lexis-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/api/document?collection=cases&id=urn:contentItem:579F-H0W1-F04D-71KR-00000-00&context=1516831">https://advance-lexis-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/api/document?collection=cases&id=urn:contentItem:579F-H0W1-F04D-71KR-00000-00&context=1516831</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/. Title A name given to the resource DuPage County, IL Description An account of the resource A documented account of Case No. IL_13, occurring in DuPage County, IL, from August 2011 to June 2013 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tina Zhan https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/dac91cd9ff61ba7d5e9f9e0854b36a9b.jpeg bee198dcd880c72e9b9a71c0353edbcd 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 Oklahoma 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. Ok_01 Location The location of the interview Edmond, OK Year Year the case began. 2012 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 525 N University Dr, Edmond, OK 73034 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. MG6F+8V Edmond, Oklahoma Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. The Islamic Society of Edmond (ISE) had built a 680 square foot mosque across the street from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1990 to serve the local Muslim community. In 2012, the organization had their plans for an expansion put on hold by the Edmond Planning Commission, until ISE finalized some decisions about the project. In 2013, ISE applied for a special-use permit which would allow them to add a 8,307 square foot expansion to the existing mosque. This addition would serve as a fellowship activity building and the existing mosque would serve as the main prayer space. The addition would include meeting rooms, classrooms, offices, etc. After the Edmond Planning Commission recommended that the City Council approve the permit, citizens began sending in letters of complaint to public officials. Members of the public showed their opposition at the Edmond City Council meeting where they cited concerns regarding traffic, parking, neighborhood aesthetic, the large size of the building, and the dangers of possible affiliations with terrorist organizations. The City Council denied the special-use permit on December 12, 2013. In May 2015, a revised proposal for a considerably smaller fellowship hall adjacent to the existing mosque structure and with additional parking spaces received approval from the City Council. Prior to the July 2012 meeting of the Edmond Planning and Commission to discuss the Islamic Society’s expansion plans, public officials received letters and phone calls from members of the public asking commissioners to “consider the grandchildren” and called the mosque a "a headquarters for terrorist affiliate organizations" (Expansion of Edmond mosque causing controversy, 2012, July 24). At the meeting, ISE proposed a 10,500 square foot addition to the property, but the matter was postponed by the Planning Commission because the Islamic Society needed to finalize some of the details of the plan. When the society refined their plans for a 8,307 square foot fellowship hall and applied again for a special-use permit in 2013, they were met with similar opposition from the public. The most commonly-voiced concern was parking and traffic. The Islamic Society had included 33 additional spaces in their expansion to match the expected occupancy of 97. (Local law required 3 parking spaces per permanent seat in churches.) In addition, the neighboring Church of Latter Day Saints offered the use of 14 of their parking spaces, and many of those who attended the mosque for prayer were students who walked to the mosque. Members of the public also complained about the size of the mosque and encouraged the commissioners to look into possible terrorist ties of the organization and its leadership. Despite these expressed concerns, the Edmond Planning Commission recommended that the Edmond City Council approve the addition as proposed. At the following city council meeting, residents voiced more of the same concerns. The Council rejected the special-use permit citing parking concerns and saying that the expansion was too large. Members of the Islamic Society of Edmond pointed out that nearby churches in the same zoning areas were much bigger than the proposed expansion. In April 2015, about a month before the Islamic Society of Edmond brought another proposal to the Edmond City Council, their mosque was vandalized. At the mosque, members found bacon wrapped around door handles and scattered around the parking lot. Following the incident, the Oklahoma chapter of Council on American-Islamic relations called for law-enforcement to look into the incident as a hate crime. The revised proposal the Islamic Society submitted with its application for a special-use permit in 2015 reduced the size of the fellowship hall to around 1,100 square feet and increased the number of parking spaces from 33 to 61. The City Council approved this permit with the conditions that no loudspeakers are used for the call-to-prayer and other minor parking/traffic adjustments. The Islamic Society of Edmond finished the construction of the fellowship hall in 2018. Proposed Project The initial proposal in 2012 was for a 10,500-square-foot mosque expansion across from the University of Central Oklahoma. In 2013, ISE submitted a revised application for an expansion of 8,307 square feet. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://edmondmasjid.org/">Islamic Society of Edmond</a>; Fb page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/edmondmasjid">https://www.facebook.com/edmondmasjid</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Planning and Zoning Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications In May 2015, the City Council approved a revised proposal for the construction of an 1,100 square fellowship hall adjacent to the existing mosque. The proposal increased the number of additional parking spaces from 31 to 66. The expansion was completed successfully in 2018. 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 Edmond, OK Description An account of the resource In July 2012, the group requested city permission to expand its mosque to five times its current size. After notifying the community of the expansion plans, the Edmond Planning Commission received letters from residents concerned about terrorism. One called the mosque “a headquarters for terrorist affiliate organizations.” Another letter referred to the controversy surrounding a planned mosque in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and expressed concerns about “what our grandchildren are going to face.” A planning commission official stated that only nonreligious concerns, such as building codes and regulations, will be considered. [Source: Pew 2012] Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Bryce Bentinck Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Approved Built CAIR Expansion Planning and Zoning Public Campaign