6 10 101 https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/0723544dbba75b0d8129b86da7eeb63f.jpg 6e22c928ac78d91aaa504464b9b02be5 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 SOMA Architects (2011), A street view image of the proposed Park51 Islamic center in Lower Manhattan [Online image]. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2011/05/05/135951856/developer-plans-for-n-y-mosque-moving-forward 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 York 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_08 Location The location of the interview Lower Manhattan, NY Date December 2009–September 2011 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 43-51 Park Place, Manhattan, NY 10007 Coordinates Enter the coordinates for the location, if they are available. 40.7138° N, 74.0099°W Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Sharif El-Gamal (Soho Properties) and Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf Last Updated Date revised. October 18, 2019 Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. Background on the Case Park 51 was a project that was envisioned as an interfaith Islamic community center and mosque in Lower Manhattan. The developer, Sharif El-Gamal, sought to promote interfaith relations and dialogue through the proposed community center. However, the project was soon dubbed the “ground zero mosque” due to its proximity to the 9/11 attacks. Thus, a national controversy ensued. People that opposed the project viewed it as disrespectful to build an Islamic center so close to the place where Muslim terrorists had killed American citizens in the name of Islam. It was referred to as a “victory mosque.” However, the project’s organizers maintained that the space was to be a place to build peaceful interfaith relations. While the project’ opponents described the project as a mosque, the project’s organizers emphasized that it would be a community center with a prayer space. The official Park 51 website mentioned that although a mosque was part of the plan, the mosque would be run separately from the rest of the Park 51 center and open to all, regardless of religion. Key events* <ul><li> July 2009: An empty building at 45-47 Park Place, New York, NY was purchased by the real estate company Soho Properties. The building, which was previously a Burlington Coat Factory, was purchased for 4.85 million dollars. This purchase was led by real estate agent Sharif El-Gamal and his investment group.</li> <li> December 2009: The New York Times published an article, “Muslim Prayers and Renewal Near Ground Zero,” about the planned Islamic Center. This brought the case into the public eye. </li> <li> Later in the month, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf’s (the leader of the proposed mosque) wife, Daisy Khan, was interviewed on Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor. In her interview Khan explained the purpose of Park 51 and how it would “ deliver a message of tolerance and love” (Seminary 2009).</li> <li> May 2010: The formal plans for Park 51 were proposed in a meeting with the Finance Committee of Local Manhattan Community Board No.1. It was approved with a 12-0 vote. The project was then officially titled the Cordoba House, after a region in Spain where people of different religions coexisted peacefully. </li> <li> Later in the month, Pamela Geller, the executive director of the organization Stop the Islamization of America, began posting about the Park 51 project online.</li> <li> June 2010: The first major protest over the Park 51 project occurred. The protest was organized by Geller and attracted over 1,000 protesters.</li> <li> September 2010: Protesters converged in Lower Manhattan over opposition to the “Ground Zero Mosque.” There were rival demonstrations which resulted in some heated confrontations.</li> </ul>*The description of key events regarding this project draws primarily from information available at History of WTC Muslim Center (2016). National Controversy Numerous American politicians weighed in on what had become a national controversy. Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska, addressed the controversy via twitter saying, "Peace-seeking Muslims, pls understand, Ground Zero mosque is UNNECESSARY provocation; it stabs hearts. Pls reject it in the interests of healing” (History of WTC Muslim Center, 2016). Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the US House of Representatives, issued a newsletter opposing the proposed project. In addition, on August 11, 2010, CNN published a poll (CNN Opinion Research Poll, 2010), which showed that 68 percent of Americans opposed the plan to build the Islamic cultural center (Park 51) two blocks from the site of 9/11. Only 29 percent were in favor of the plan (History of WTC Muslim Center, 2016). However not everyone opposed the project. President Obama said publicly in 2010, "As a citizen, and as President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country. That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan… This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable” (History of WTC Muslim Center, 2016). Some relatives of victims of the September 11th attack felt that the proposal was offensive because of its proximity to the site of the attacks. In addition, the terrorists who committed the attacks did so in the name of their Islamic beliefs. A majority of the opposition to Park 51 came from online sources. Opposition came from Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer, cofounders of the group “Stop the Islamization of America.” They popularized the term the “victory mosque” to refer to Park 51, which later defined the controversy. Pamela Geller stated, “This is humiliating that you would build a shrine to the very ideology that inspired the attacks of 9/11” (“The Man Behind the Mosque,” 2011). The American Center for Law and Justice, filed a lawsuit against the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission over the proposed Park 51 project. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of former firefighter and 9/11 responder, Timothy Brown. In the lawsuit they alleged that 43-51 Park Place was a historic landmark. If the property were declared a historic landmark, this would have made building the project at that site even more difficult. On July 13, 2011, New York Supreme Court Justice Paul Feinman dismissed the lawsuit (Kirpalani, 2011). There were also several public protests in opposition of Project 51. Outcome and Current Status Sharif El-Gamal’s plan for an Islamic cultural center has been put to an end. Instead, it will be replaced with a 665-foot luxury condominium. By 2011, El-Gamal and his investment group gave into public pressure and decided to abandon the idea for an Islamic center. The site is due to open in 2019 and will include approximately 50 apartments and a small Islamic museum and public plaza. However, it will not include a mosque. The site is no longer referred to as “Park 51.” However, the new name of the project has not yet been announced (Kaysen 2017). References Enter list of sources cited using the proper format. Regional <ul><li> Blumenthal, R., & Mowjood, S. (2009, December 8). Muslim Prayers and Renewal Near Ground Zero. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/nyregion/09mosque.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/nyregion/09mosque.html</a>.</li> <li>Fahim, K. (2010, November 23). Islamic Center Seeks 9/11 Recovery Grants for Lower Manhattan. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/nyregion/23mosque.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/nyregion/23mosque.html</a>.</li> <li>Kaysen, R. (2017, May 12). Condo Tower to Rise Where Muslim Community Center Was Proposed. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/12/realestate/muslim-museum-world-trade-center.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/12/realestate/muslim-museum-world-trade-center.html</a>.</li> </ul> National <ul><li>Adler, M. (2010, July 15). Islamic Center Near Ground Zero Sparks Anger. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128544392">https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128544392</a>.</li> <li>Khan, A. (2011, October 17). Rent Dispute Threatens Plans for Controversial NY Mosque and Community Center. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/rent-dispute-threatens-plans-for-controversial-ny-mosque-and-community-center/">https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/rent-dispute-threatens-plans-for-controversial-ny-mosque-and-community-center</a>.</li> <li>Kirpalani, R. (2011, July 13). 'Ground Zero Mosque' Clears Legal Hurdle to Build. Retrieved from <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/ground-mosque-wins-legal-battle-build/story?id=14062701">https://abcnews.go.com/US/ground-mosque-wins-legal-battle-build/story?id=14062701</a>.</li> <li>History of WTC Muslim Center. (2016, December 16). Retrieved from <a href="https://wtcmuslimcenter.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=006679">https://wtcmuslimcenter.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=006679</a>.</li> <li> CNN Opinion Research Poll (2010). Interviews with 1,009 adult Americans. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.procon.org/sourcefiles/CNN%20ground%20zero%20poll.pdf">https://www.procon.org/sourcefiles/CNN%20ground%20zero%20poll.pdf</a>. </li> </ul>Multi-media References <ul><li>Associated Press (Producer). (2011). +4:3 Islamic Centre close to Ground Zero opens to public [Streaming video]. Retrieved from Associated Press Video Collection database.</li> <li>Seminary, A. (2009, December). Religious Leader: Muslim Leader Daisy Khan responds to the question of prayer space at Ground Zero [Streaming video].Retrieved October 27, 2019, from <a href="https://vimeo.com/33167007">https://vimeo.com/33167007</a>.</li> <li>D. (2011, September 27). The Man Behind the Mosque. Frontline. Retrieved October 15, 2019, from <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/man-behind-mosque/">https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/man-behind-mosque</a>.</li> </ul> Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. A New York real estate man, Sharif el Gamal, wanted to build a mosque and community center on Park Place. Park Place is two blocks from ground zero, the place where 9/11 occurred. The project was met with major controversy. Eventually the project known as Park 51 or Cordoba House began to be called the “ground zero mosque.” The term “ground zero” mosque was used because of the proposed building’s proximity to the World Trade Center, the site of the September 11 attacks. Proposed Project The project that was proposed was an Islamic cultural center. The center was to include a Muslim prayer space, a swimming pool, a preschool, and a 9/11 memorial (Fahim, 2010). Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign/Protest; Legal Campaign/Lawsuit Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The project was called off by its developer Sharif El-Gamal in 2011. El-Gamal abandoned the idea for an Islamic cultural center. His new design is of a luxury 43-story condominium. 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 Lower Manhattan, NY Description An account of the resource A documented account of Case No. NY_08, occurring in Lower Manhattan, NY 10007 in 2011 and 2012. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rachael Obe https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/70ce41af5ddc7ef6423038e546f869ac.png 18055724f968e96dd9f11f088c91656c 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 Mississippi 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. Ms_02 Location The location of the interview Madison, MS Year Year the case began. 2009 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 1465 US-51, Madison, MS 39110 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. FWR2+2W Madison, Mississippi Proposed Project The proposed site plan showed an 11,000-square-foot structure that included an Islamic Center, the Mississippi Muslim Associations’s headquarters, and a free health clinic–with a maximum occupancy of 650. The 5-acre property just outside the City of Madison was zoned residential and required a special exception for houses of worship. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.mmaic.org/">Mississippi Muslim Association</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Planning and Zoning Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The project is ultimately approved with restrictions, including the stipulation that it only be used as a place of worship and not also as a health clinic. Construction began in 2011 and has been completed. The Magnolia Islamic Center remains open for use. Last Updated Date revised. August 2, 2021 Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In 2009, the Mississippi Muslim Association (MMA) applied for a permit from the Madison County Planning Commission to build the 11,000-square-foot Magnolia Islamic Center. The new Islamic center would serve 100-150 local Muslim families and allow them to avoid long drives to MMA’s mosque in Jackson. Initially, the City of Madison had stated that the property was in a certified area for sewage service by the city, but city officials later withdrew that statement saying that MMA would have to gain a permit from the Mississippi Department of Health to build an alternative waste management system. As a result, the County Planning Commission denied MMA’s request in April 2009 (Lynch, 2009, Jul 9). MMA appealed the decision. On August 3, 2009, the Madison County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to grant MMA the request for a special exception but with several conditions that included the provision of water and sewer. Given the City’s denial of sewer service, the conditions put MMA’s project in jeopardy. Residents opposing the project held that the mosque did not fit the character of the neighborhood, jeopardized prospects for future commercial development in the area, and would lead to declining property values. While the area was zoned residential, the planned mosque was located on a strip of land that officials and residents expected to become a commercial strip in the future. Residents stated that the mosque would look awkward within this commercial area. At the initial Board of Supervisors meeting on August 3, 2009, many residents showed up in opposition and presented a petition against the project with over 400 signatures. Opponents hired attorney John Reeves who asserted that the preliminary approval contained many stipulations such as the requirement of a sewage master plan, which could prevent the construction of the Islamic Center (Warren, 2011, Jan 7). Following preliminary approval in August 2009, the Magnolia Islamic Center initially received certification only for a smaller onsite septic system. After re-certification several months later, the County Supervisors verified the onsite wastewater treatment plant once it had received assurance from the local water supplier and the Mississippi Department of Health that the center had met requirements for water and sewer treatment. On March 22, 2010, after a delay of nearly a full year, the Board of Supervisors gave final approval (3-2) to the project in its original scope, but with the stipulation that it only be used as a place of worship, and not also as a health clinic (Lynch, 2010, Mar 22). Following its approval, the Magnolia Islamic Center was able to break ground on the project later in 2010. Construction has been completed and the Magnolia Islamic Center is currently in full operation. References <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">Lynch, A. (2009, July 9). Reeves lends weight to mosque opposition. Jackson Free Press. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2009/jul/09/reeves-lends-weight-to-mosque-opposition/">www.jacksonfreepress.com</a>. </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Lynch, A. (2010, March 22). Mosque construction planned in April. Jackson Free Press. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2010/mar/22/mosque-construction-planned-in-april/">www.jacksonpreepress.com</a>. </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Warren, A. (2011, January 7). Year in review. Northside Sun. Retrieved from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/134C50E51AF4A668">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 Madison, MS Description An account of the resource In April 2009, the Madison County Planning and Zoning Board rejects the Mississippi Muslim Association’s building application for a mosque over concerns about sewage and water utilities after the City of Madison refuses to provide sewage service. Hundreds of residents petition the local government to oppose the project with some expressing anti-Muslim opinions. With a delay of almost a full year, the County Board of Supervisors narrowly approves the project in late March 2010 after the Muslim group demonstrates the ability to provide an adequate master plan for sewage. 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 Health Clinic Mosque Planning and Zoning Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/eea22fd50140634b1e53e7564a671a35.png e02e75849cbfa80b7cfb05071da7c05a 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 Gregory, C. (2016). What it Takes to Build a Mosque in New Hampshire. [Online image]. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-mosque-new-hampshire/">https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-mosque-new-hampshire</a>. https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/5227574b462ed3d1cd680d351c9e021c.png fa8b64d4fddf48f541f072585b847525 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 Kreiter, S. (2017). Mohammad Islam, chairman of the local Islamic Society’s building committee, surveyed the unfinished structure [Online image]. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/10/14/muslims-pray-for-long-awaited-mosque-opening/Ece4uAs4HzA38j75jVyk7O/story.html">https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/10/14/muslims-pray-for-long-awaited-mosque-opening/Ece4uAs4HzA38j75jVyk7O/story.html</a> https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/0abd66ca6d05d73df30ed16239953629.png 23e35248378e5fb612c27dcd210cafe1 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 Kreiter, S. (2017). Habid Ullah, Islamic Society of New Hampshire member; Mohammad Ewiess, mosque board president; and Mahboubul Hassan, board member, examined the mosque [Online image]. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/10/14/muslims-pray-for-long-awaited-mosque-opening/Ece4uAs4HzA38j75jVyk7O/story.html">https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/10/14/muslims-pray-for-long-awaited-mosque-opening/Ece4uAs4HzA38j75jVyk7O/story.html</a>. https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/0939a75bcf89fc46b93580975971df91.png 65ff80c494ca896f1a046fa6f994e5cb 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 Gregory, C. (2016). Hassan. [Online image]. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-mosque-new-hampshire/">https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-mosque-new-hampshire</a>. https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/8867706f9159c67b931953cf0b490de4.png 62e5b050d1b2789d0ac9df081429daf5 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 Gregory, C. (2016). Mohammad Islam, a Bangladeshi émigré, is the building committee chiar. [Online image]. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-mosque-new-hampshire/">https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-mosque-new-hampshire</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 New Hampshire 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. Nh_01 Location The location of the interview Manchester, NH Date 2003-2007 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 19 Karatzas Ave, Manchester, NH 03104 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. XHXM+WV Manchester, New Hampshire Coordinates Enter the coordinates for the location, if they are available. 42°59'59.2"N 71°24'55.1"W Proposed Project The Islamic Society of New Hampshire proposed the building of a 13,000-square-foot three-level building on a remote hillside property in Manchester, New Hampshire. If completed, the structure will have a prayer room, tutoring center, basement for meetings, kitchen, and a domed roof. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.isofnh.org/">Islamic Society of New Hampshire</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Vandalism/Threat; Legal Campaign/Lawsuit Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Delayed but moving forward with some difficulty. Last Updated Date revised. October 26, 2019 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. Residents of Greater Manchester, New Hampshire, have been trying to build a mosque for nearly two decades in hope of finding a fixed place to gather and pray. Many have tried to stop the construction, claiming the local Muslim population would put their health and safety at risk or even suggesting that the mosque would be used for underground terrorist activity. Starting in 2003, multiple lawsuits were filed by members of the community in hope of delaying the building and ultimately bringing both local and national attention to the controversy. By 2007, however, all suits had been dropped and the Society continued to build. Today, the Islamic Society of New Hampshire is still working on funding the mosque but the work is moving forward. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. The Islamic Society of New Hampshire In 1987, a Saudi Arabian student named Sheikh Ahmed Shedi began his undergraduate education at the New Hampshire College (now known as Southern New Hampshire University). He wanted to find a place in New Hampshire that could serve as a mosque for the growing local Muslim population. This space ended up being Shedi’s apartment (ISGM, 2012). Five years later, in 1992, Hussein A. Dayib from Kenya and Khurshid Alam from Pakistan took leadership of the new group and officially created the Muslim Student Association at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). The group struggled to find a suitable space for regular prayer and community organizing. They moved from Shedi’s apartment to an Audio-Visual Studio to a Dance Studio and finally to a room in SNHU’s New Hampshire hall on their North Campus in 1993 (ISGM, 2012). Two years later, the University decided to sell North Campus in a consolidation effort, leaving the Muslim Student Association stranded again. Over the following years, there was a significant influx of refugees from predominantly Muslim countries into the United States and New Hampshire. It wasn’t long until the Muslim Student Association became the Islamic Society of Greater Manchester (ISGM), a not-for-profit organization hoping to build New Hampshire’s first mosque. Mohamed Ewiess, current president of the Islamic Society, says the motive for this project comes from the Quran: “Whoever builds a mosque for Allah, then Allah will build for him a house like it in Paradise” (ISNH, 2019). That same year, in 1998, the Islamic Society purchased 2.75 acres of land on Karatzas Avenue, adding another acre in 2007, and began work on the mosque (ISGM, 2012). Building a Mosque on Bald Hill Trouble began for the Islamic Society of Greater Manchester (also known as Islamic Society of New Hampshire or ISNH) as soon as construction on their new land began at the start of 2003 (Hayward, June 2003). After the Islamic Society tore down the standing building, the city of Manchester insisted they couldn’t start construction until all property owners along the street spent over $500,000 in repairing Karatzas Avenue (Donahue, 2016). The city ultimately dismissed the case because the request was found to be unjustifiable, but the case raised awareness about possible financial complications for the Society in the future. They had expected the project to cost no more than $2 million, but even that proved to be a stretch. A core issue for ISNH was that a conventional interpretation of the Quran advises against taking interest-bearing loans, making fundraising extremely difficult for the Islamic Society (Hayward, May 2003). Instead, they began hosting annual fundraisers and have continued to host them for the past twenty years, bringing in about $150,000 for construction. While the fundraisers were significant events for the community, difficulties continued as they were not reaching their expected goals. Three months after signing an agreement with a local architect, the September 11th attacks took down the twin towers, and almost all outside funding for ISNH’s mosque disappeared (Jacobs, 2017). Still, the Society had allies. For example, Bob Baines, mayor of Manchester, NH from 2000 to 2006 spoke out in support of the Islamic Society’s plan: “Manchester has always been a city noted for its ability to accommodate a multiplicity of races, ethnicities, and religions” (Donahue, 2016). The local government overall has been supportive of ISNH’s plans in an attempt to integrate this Muslim community into their own. But the overwhelming response from neighbors and citizens of the area post-9/11 until around the year 2007 was negative. In 2003, a lawsuit was filed by Milton and Sally Argerious saying the Society’s mosque would be trespassing on their property (Hayward, May 2003). Two years later, a judge ruled against the couple and dropped all charges. Frank Scarito also filed a lawsuit in 2003 aiming to prove that in allowing the construction, Manchester was failing to “protect the public health, safety, and welfare” of its citizens (Donahue, 2016). In 2006, Doug Lambert, a local blogger, targeted the Islamic Society of New Hampshire in a post. He suggested that the mosque would serve as “ammo dumps and hideouts for murderous thugs,” and he compared ISNH to a Nazi organization (Lambert, 2006). Despite the hate and attempted blocks, four years after receiving their permit, the ISNH moved forward with construction in 2007. Current Status Since 2007, the Islamic Society of New Hampshire’s main issue has been funding. Area tradespeople took on some of the construction work, and annual fundraisers continued to raise money (Jacobs, 2017). By 2013, the exterior was complete, and now in 2019, the interior is cleaned up, and the ISNH is almost ready to receive full certificate of occupancy (ISNH, 2019). Due to the building’s vacancy over the past decade, it’s become a target. One year, two kids smashed almost all the windows causing over $30,000 in repairs. The Society says it’s also not uncommon to find evidence of trespassers on their property (Donahue, 2016).Additionally, Bald Hill, the mosque’s site, is an incredibly difficult piece of land with rocky outcrops and uneven ground. It has required extensive and expensive work to overcome. These setbacks, while individually minor, have only slowed the construction of Manchester’s mosque. Since the Society’s founding, three other mosques have been built in New Hampshire, but many members of Manchester’s Muslim community are still hopeful. Twenty years later, ISNH has raised around $1.5 million but needs another $2.5 million to complete the project (Jacobs, 2017). Today, the congregation has grown from only 25 families in 1998 to almost two hundred with citizens from over 25 countries (Donahue, 2016). ISNH moved into the first floor of three, at the end of 2018, but full completion of the mosque is still on a distant horizon (Garrova, 2018). References Enter list of sources cited using the proper format. Local <ul><li>Garrova, R. (2018, June 12). Breaking Fast in A Mini-Mall, Manchester Muslims Hope to Move into New Mosque Soon. New Hampshire Public Radio. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.nhpr.org/post/breaking-fast-mini-mall-manchester-muslims-hope-move-new-mosque-soon#stream/0">https://www.nhpr.org/post/breaking-fast-mini-mall-manchester-muslims-hope-move-new-mosque-soon#stream/0</a>.</li> <li>Hayward, M. (2003, May 9). Mosque proposal prompts a debate. New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, NH). Available from NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current: <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AD&maxresults=20&f=advanced&val-base-0=%22Mosque%20proposal%20prompts%20a%20debate%22&fld-base-0=alltext&bln-base-1=and&val-base-1=2003&fld-base-1=YMD_date&docref=news/0FAF0D06BAD6D2BB#copy">https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=&sort=YMD_date%3AD&maxresults=20&f=advanced&val-base-0=%22Mosque%20proposal%20prompts%20a%20debate%22&fld-base-0=alltext&bln-base-1=and&val-base-1=2003&fld-base-1=YMD_date&docref=news/0FAF0D06BAD6D2BB#copy</a></li> <li>Hayward, M. (2003, June 27). Mosque gets permits, but issues remain. New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, NH). Available from NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current: <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/0FC029BE9C7638CA">https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/0FC029BE9C7638CA</a>.</li> <li>Islamic Society of Greater (2012, January 12). History of the Islamic Society of Greater Manchester (ISGM). Islamic Society of Greater Manchester. Retrieved from <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120113004416/http:/www.isgm.net/Aboutus/index.php?mid=4">https://web.archive.org/web/20120113004416/http://www.isgm.net/Aboutus/index.php?mid=4#</a>.</li> <li>Islamic Society of New Hampshire, ISNH. (2019). Islamic Society of New Hampshire. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.isofnh.org/">https://www.isofnh.org/</a>.</li> <li>Lambert, D. (2006, June 22). Harmless as a "Modest Maiden". Granite Grok: Dominating the Political Bandwidth in New Hampshire. Retrieved from <a href="https://granitegrok.com/blog/2006/06/post_4">https://granitegrok.com/blog/2006/06/post_4</a>.</li> <li>Wang, B., & Associated Press. (2005, March 28). Islamic Community Putting Down Roots. Concord Monitor. Retrieved from <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120509191933/http:/www.concordmonitor.com/article/islamic-community-putting-down-roots">https://web.archive.org/web/20120509191933/http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/islamic-community-putting-down-roots</a>.</li> </ul>National <ul><li>Donahue, B. (2016, August 16). What it Takes to Build a Mosque in New Hampshire. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-mosque-new-hampshire/">https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-mosque-new-hampshire/</a>.</li> <li>Jacobs, S. (2017, October 14). Muslims in New Hampshire pray for long-stalled mosque's opening. The Boston Globe. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/10/14/muslims-pray-for-long-awaited-mosque-opening/Ece4uAs4HzA38j75jVyk7O/story.html">https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/10/14/muslims-pray-for-long-awaited-mosque-opening/Ece4uAs4HzA38j75jVyk7O/story.html</a>.</li> <li>Stevens, R. (2015, November 9). A mosque grows slowly amid opposition in New Hampshire. The Eagle-Tribune. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.eagletribune.com/news/new_hampshire/a-mosque-grows-slowly-amid-opposition-in-new-hampshire/article_8db5e937-53ee-5cfa-8d99-eb3ddec4eca1.html">https://www.eagletribune.com/news/new_hampshire/a-mosque-grows-slowly-amid-opposition-in-new-hampshire/article_8db5e937-53ee-5cfa-8d99-eb3ddec4eca1.html</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 Manchester, NH Description An account of the resource A documented account of Case No. NH_01, occurring in Manchester, NH, 03104 from 2003 to 2007 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Eve Berrie https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/18da713f881df0c736101edddf659291.jpg 9335ff9a0454244c1869b26d84a79d1f 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://www.facebook.com/AlHedayaIslamicCenter/photos/a.1410488695727615/2298300376946438">https://www.facebook.com/AlHedayaIslamicCenter/photos/a.1410488695727615/2298300376946438</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 Georgia 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_02 Location The location of the interview Marietta, GA Date 2002 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 968 Powder Springs St, Marietta, GA 30064 Proposed Project mosque (70-foot minaret) Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.masjidhedaya.com/#">Islamic Circle of North America</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 Marietta, GA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2002 https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/9d1d3b8f936bd0646c2710f2d87ea27f.jpeg e3c9d456b69e8ca9f702158e3e750879 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_03 Location The location of the interview Marriotsville, MD (Howard County) Year Year the case began. 2019 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 11424 Old Frederick Rd, Marriottsville, MD 21104 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 83CR+29 Marriottsville, Maryland Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://maryumcenter.com/">Maryum Islamic Center</a> [<a href="https://www.facebook.com/maryumislamiccenter/">Fb site</a>] Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Bias-related incident Proposed Project The Muslim group purchased a former church building on 5-acre property to use as Islamic center. Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The Maryum Islamic Center was able to continue its fundraising events and other functions following the incident. The congregation closed on the property in May 2020 and opened the facility for normal operations shortly thereafter. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. When forced to vacate the space that it had leased for several years in Howard County, the Maryum Islamic Center (MIC) began looking for a permanent place of worship. The Center reached a purchase agreement for the former Hosanna Korean Baptist Church on a 5-acre property in Marriottsville. The project was disrupted by online threats targeting members of MIC in response to an advertisement of the group's fundraising dinner for the new property. The threats made against the mosque appeared to reference the Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand a few days earlier (Security increased following threat, 2019, Mar 22). After they had to vacate the rental property, the ICM members worshiped in a temporary rental space while fundraising for their move into the former Hosanna Korean Baptist Church. In order to cover the costs of this property, the MIC began hosting several fundraisers. On March 21, 2019, the Maryum Islamic Center received an online threat in response to an invitation to a fundraising dinner. The threat was addressed to the Center saying, “You know the only thing you don’t want us to do is really show up right. And here’s what I say I got your address … maybe you’ll be next” (CAIR welcomes stepped-up security, 2019, Mar 23). The use of “maybe you’ll be next” was understood as a reference to the mosque massacres in New Zealand, which had occurred just six days before the threat was made. In response to the incident, Howard County Police increased their presence at and around the mosque and its fundraising events, which CAIR commended (ibid.). Since the incident, the Maryum Islamic Center has continued its fundraising and was able to close on the new property in May 2020. The congregation was able to begin using the property shortly after minor renovations were completed. References <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">CAIR welcomes stepped-up security after online threat targeting Maryland mosque. (March 23, 2019). Impact News Service. Retrieved from <a href="https://advance-lexis-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:5SHX-W0X1-JDG9-Y3R3-00000-00&context=1516831">https://advance.lexis.com</a>. </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Security increased following threat at Howard Co. mosque. (March 22, 2019). CBS Baltimore. Retrieved from <a href="https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2019/03/22/security-increased-following-threat-at-howard-co-mosque/">https://baltimore.cbslocal.com</a>. </li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. July 12, 2021 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 Marriotsville, MD Description An account of the resource In March 2019, the Maryum Islamic Center receives online threats in response to a fundraising dinner for a new Islamic Center in Howard County. The threats come less than a week after the mosque massacres of Christchurch, New Zealand. As authorities investigate the threats, CAIR commends local law enforcement agencies for increasing their efforts to keep the local Muslim community safe. 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 Bias-related Incident Built CAIR Mosque https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/2b3e4b9ec902e6c18fdcf7c32e0e5fff.png fb374d2604673c50567b19c80325f69b 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) Case No. Ky_02 Location The location of the interview Mayfield, KY Year Year the case began. 2010 Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In 2010, Khadar Ahmed, a member of the local Somali community, applied for a permit with Mayfield’s Board of Zoning Adjustments to rent a commercial storefront for use as a mosque and community center. The property was to be rented to serve approximately 150 Somali immigrants who worked at the nearby Pilgrim’s Pride chicken plant. The storefront property was located in a zoning district of Central Mayfield where the board had previously approved two similar permits for churches. The Board had initially approved Ahmed’s permit on Aug 10th but reversed the approval at a special board meeting on Aug 24th, stating that members of the community had not been given an opportunity for public comment on the matter. After the ACLU provided Ahmed with legal representation, the Board once again reversed its decision citing “pending or threatened litigation” (Right to worship, 2010, Oct 10). The permit was finally approved on November 9th. The Board’s initial approval was based on existing zoning for commercial properties and the precedence of other religious buildings permitted within close proximity to the site. Following the Board’s approval of the permit on the 10th, public opposition to the mosque grew until the meeting on the 24th, where the meeting room was filled past capacity. Over 250 residents packed into the building, with more than 100 participants forced to stand in the hallways outside the meeting room. There were no members of the Muslim community present at the 24th meeting, as law enforcement had turned them away after the seating capacity inside the building had been reached. Speakers received applause after stating that they would oppose the erection of a mosque anywhere in town. Some citizens wore shirts with the phrase “I’m an American, I believe in the Christian Church” (Kendall, 2010, Sep 30). The board cited parking and capacity concerns as reasons for their decision to reject the mosque’s permit. Both during and after the meeting, the Somali community was unable to defend their interests due to a significant language barrier and a lack of familiarity with local laws and procedures. After the rejection, the ACLU sent a letter to the Board stating that the rejection of the permit violated the rights of Ahmed and the Somali community. They pointed out that the rejection was based on false assumptions about the behavior of those visiting the Islamic Center and warned that the city’s denial was a violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) of 2000. The ACLU hired attorney William Deatherage to represent Ahmed and the Somali community. Following the involvement of the ACLU on behalf of the Muslim community, the Board voted to approve the permit during a subsequent meeting on November 9th. In February of 2011, it was reported that the Islamic Center no longer used the rental property for worship. The ACLU confirmed that this was the result of a financial inability to afford the rental fee for the space (Money troubles close Mayfield mosque, 2011, Feb 5). References <ul><li style="font-weight:400;">Kendall, T. (2010, September 30). From the Bottom. Paris Post-Intelligencer, The (TN). Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/1428E94EE6D498F8">NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Money troubles close Mayfield mosque, ACLU says. (2011, February 5). The Associated Press News Service. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/1413E0EB6687A9A8">NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current</a>. </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Right to worship - Battle over Mayfield mosque has statewide ramifications. (2010, October 15). The Daily Independent (Ashland, KY). Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/132E6B8D6B0E8D70">NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current</a>. </li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. July 24, 2021 Proposed Project The Muslim community seeks to use a small storefront building in the downtown business district as a mosque for a maximum occupancy of 40 worshipers. Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Administrative Denial Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Following final approval in November 2010, the Somali community turns the commercial storefront into the Mayfield Islamic Center. In February 2011 it is reported that the community is no longer financially able to keep the Mayfield Islamic Center in operation. 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 Mayfield, KY 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 In late August 2010, the Mayfield Board of Zoning Adjustments nullifies its previous permit for a group of Somali-born Muslims to use a rented storefront building in the downtown business district for worship. The Board later reverses its decision again and approves the permit after the Kentucky ACLU provides the Somali community with legal support. ACLU Approved Mosque 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/61dc6cf6780d3f2c0bac73ca511384bf.jpg 3f95b8e2d2f3df335637006ba2ddaec1 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.myrecordjournal.com/News/Meriden/Meriden-News/Mosque-sues-Meriden-over-permit-denial.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 Connecticut 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) CT_03 Location The location of the interview Meriden, CT Date 2019 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 999 Research Pkwy, Meriden, CT 06450 Year Year the case began. 2019 Proposed Project The Omar Islamic Center sought to convert a property that once housed a fiber optics equipment manufacturing company into a mosque and Islamic center. The property—vacant for more than a decade--was located on a 3.65-acre site featuring a two-story, 31,000 sq. ft. building and a 110-space parking lot. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Omar Islamic Center Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Zoning Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The project was initially denied but subsequently approved after the OIC's legal challenge. However, the property owner withdrew the offer to donate the building to the OIC, so the project did not move forward. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In March 2019, the Meriden Planning Commission unanimously denied the Omar Islamic Center’s special permit request to move to the first floor of 999 Research Parkway, a building that had sat vacant for seventeen years. The Omar Islamic Center, started in 2018 by Muslims who live and work in Meriden and nearby towns, sought the building to establish their first permanent place of worship (United States Department of Justice [DOJ], 2020, Nov 5). Additionally, the site would provide office space for the community, with professionals renting the building’s second-floor offices (Meriden Planning Commission Minutes, 2019, Feb 13). Initially, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the case, where community members voiced their support and opposition to the proposal. Community and commission members stated that the center would bring unwanted truck traffic and property tax changes (Meriden Planning Commission, 2019, Feb 13). During the following meeting, the application was rejected. The Planning Commission cited that the mosque did not match the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) designation of the zone for industrial, office, and commercial spaces as their reasoning for denying the mosque (ibid.). The Commission was primarily concerned with the zoning purpose of the site, as they had previously rejected plans for a school at the same location (Mosque situation awaits resolution, 2020, Nov 12). However, these zoning practices and permit rejection were challenged in court. In April 2019, the Omar Islamic Center filed suit against the city, alleging that the commission violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and Connecticut Religious Freedom Act (CRFA) (Omar Islamic Center, Inc v. Meriden et al., 2019). In the suit, the Omar Islamic Center alleged that the “[City of Meriden] violated [the Center’s] constitutional rights by prohibiting it from operating a mosque on a property located in Meriden, Connecticut.” Additionally, the lawsuit charged the commission as having "created a reason for denial that no place of worship could surmount" (Mosque situation awaits resolution, 2020, Nov 12). In response to this controversy, the Meriden City Council held a special virtual meeting, where they authorized $45,000 to be used in a settlement with the Omar Islamic Center as well as urged the planning commission to reverse their decision and approve the center’s special permit application (City of Meriden, 2020, June 18). At a special meeting later that week, the planning commission unanimously approved the Omar Islamic Center’s request to turn the first floor of 999 Research Parkway into a mosque (Meriden Planning Commission, 2020, Jun 23). The controversy drew the attention of the Department of Justice’s Religious Liberty Task Force, which launched an investigation in July 2019. In November 2020, the DOJ filed suit against the City of Meriden, alleging their rejection of the mosque and zoning code violated the RLUIPA (Collins, 2020, Nov 5). In the suit, the federal government claimed, “the Defendants’ actions in denying the Center’s application for a special exception permit imposed an unjustified substantial burden on the Center’s exercise of religion” (DOJ, 2020, Nov 5). On the same day that the Justice Department filed suit, city and federal officials came to an agreement in which the suit was dropped in exchange for the modification of the city's zoning policies as well as mandatory RLUIPA training for city officials (Vondracek, 2020, Nov 6). Though the planning commission approved the mosque, and the city council offered a $45,000 settlement in 2020, the case was not settled that year. The Omar Islamic Center leased a small space in neighboring Middletown, Connecticut, at 24 Broad Street as the controversy continued. Additionally, while the suit was being decided, the building owner decided not to donate the property to the center (United States District Court of Connecticut, Sept 30). Because “[t]he donation of the [999 Research Parkway] Property [was] contingent on the Center obtaining the appropriate zoning approvals” (DOJ, 2020, Nov5), it may be assumed that the zoning controversy contributed to the owner’s decision to revoke their offer to donate the site. The Omar Islamic Center’s lawsuit continued its way through the court system. In September of 2022, the court issued an opinion that the zoning regulations of Meriden violated the Free Exercise and Equal Protection Clauses and that the Center was entitled to damages, including the costs of leasing and renovating their alternate location. However, the court also ruled in favor of the city on claims made under the CRFA because “the construction of a house of worship does not constitute religious exercise” under the act (Seeman 2023, Jan 6). The Omar Islamic Center was never moved to 999 Research Parkway. Instead, the mosque remains located at 24 Broad Street, Middletown, CT, a small building poorly suited to the community’s spacial, parking, and location needs. References <ul> <li>City of Meriden. (2020, June 18). City Council Virtual Special Meeting Minutes. Retrieved from <a href="https://meridencityct.documents-on-demand.com/Document/63d87fff-81bc-ea11-a300-000c29a59557/cit-min-06182020.pdf">https://meridencityct.documents-on-demand.com/Document/63d87fff-81bc-ea11-a300-000c29a59557/cit-min-06182020.pdf</a>. </li> <li>Collins, D. (2020, November 5). Feds, Connecticut city settle over rejection of mosque plans. Associated Press. Available at <a href="https://apnews.com/article/connecticut-john-durham-meriden-8d8e973de690a9df0f0f6460a1e12d85">https://apnews.com/article/connecticut-john-durham-meriden-8d8e973de690a9df0f0f6460a1e12d85</a>.</li> <li>Meridian Planning Commission. (2020, June 23). June 23, 2020 Special Meeting Minutes. Retrieved from <a href="https://meridencityct.documents-on-demand.com/Document/0af6dd6c-deb7-ea11-a2fe-000c29a59557/pc-min-06232020%20Draft.pdf">https://meridencityct.documents-on-demand.com/Document/0af6dd6c-deb7-ea11-a2fe-000c29a59557/pc-min-06232020%20Draft.pdf</a>.</li> <li>Meriden Planning Commission. (2019, February 13). February 13, 2019 Meeting Minutes. Retrieved from <a href="https://meridencityct.documents-on-demand.com/Document/51c1ba15-c936-e911-a2c9-000c29a59557/pc-min-02132019%20(Draft).pdf">https://meridencityct.documents-on-demand.com/Document/51c1ba15-c936-e911-a2c9-000c29a59557/pc-min-02132019%20(Draft).pdf</a>.</li> <li>Mosque situation awaits resolution. (2020, November 12). Record-Journal. <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%252F17EBABC5E07A4520">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%252F17EBABC5E07A4520</a>.</li> <li>Omar Islamic Center, Inc v. Meriden et al. (C.T. District Court, 2019). <a href="https://dockets.justia.com/docket/connecticut/ctdce/3:2019cv00488/132359">https://dockets.justia.com/docket/connecticut/ctdce/3:2019cv00488/132359</a>.</li> <li>Seeman, Evan. (2023, January 6). Court Rules Meriden, CT’s Zoning Regulations Discriminatory. National Law Review. Available at <a href="https://www.natlawreview.com/article/court-rules-meriden-ct-s-zoning-regulations-discriminatory">https://www.natlawreview.com/article/court-rules-meriden-ct-s-zoning-regulations-discriminatory</a>.</li> <li>United States Department of Justice. (2020, November 5). Justice Department settles claims against City of Meriden, Connecticut, involving denial of mosque. [Press Release]. <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-settles-claims-against-city-meriden-connecticut-involving-denial-mosque">https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-settles-claims-against-city-meriden-connecticut-involving-denial-mosque</a>.</li> <li>Vondracek, C. (2020, November 6). Meriden, Connecticut, Justice Department reach mosque agreement. Washington Times. <a href="https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/nov/6/meriden-connecticut-justice-department-reach-mosqu/">https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/nov/6/meriden-connecticut-justice-department-reach-mosqu/</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 Meriden, CT Description An account of the resource In March 2019, the Meriden Planning Commission denied the Omar Islamic Center's request to establish a mosque and community center at 999 Research Parkway due to zoning mismatches. This decision sparked a legal battle alleging religious discrimination under RLUIPA and CRFA. In addition to a private lawsuit against the city by the Omar Islamic Center, the DOJ investigated and filed suit against Meriden, leading to a settlement involving zoning policy changes and training. Despite the commission eventually approving the mosque, the property owner withdrew their offer, and the center now operates from a smaller space in Middletown. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hilary Barkey, Aidan Chung, Pierce McDade, and Jacqueline Thrailkill Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Adaptive Reuse Approved (initial denial) DOJ Islamic Center Lawsuit (RLUIPA) Not Built Planning and Zoning REL230_SP24 https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/81716a2f121477b733e7a3773296774e.jpg ac3af9148496773b79d4847086a88046 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_02 Location The location of the interview Morton Grove, IL Date 2002 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. The Village of Morton Grove denies a Muslim school a special use permit to add a mosque and increased classroom space on its 4.5-acre property. The denial follows intense opposition from community members voicing concerns over traffic, parking, and noise. However, expressions of anti-Muslim sentiment and an incident of vandalism also occur. A legal case following the denial involves complaints against the city and the school by a neighborhood opposition group as well as an RLUIPA lawsuit brought by the school against the village. The Department of Justice’s Community Relations Services mediates a settlement in the RLUIPA case. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 8601 Menard Ave, Morton Grove, IL 60053 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 26QH+3H Morton Grove, Illinois Proposed Project mosque (new mosque construction; and expansion of existing facilities for school) Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://mccchicago.org/">Muslim Community Center</a> (Muslim Education Center) Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance administrative denial; public campaign; legal campaign; bias-related incident Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications approved (with restrictions; after private lawsuit and DOJ mediation) Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. With two schools and two mosques, the Muslim Community Center (MCC) is one of the largest and oldest Muslim organizations in the Chicago metro area. In December 2019 it celebrated its 50th anniversary. The controversy over the expansion project for its Muslim Education Center (MEC), K-8 school, dates to November 2002 when MCC submitted a site plan to add a mosque and increased classroom space on its 4.5-acre property in the Village of Morton Grove. The proposal met with vocal resistance from neighbors who raised concerns over traffic, parking, and noise. However, expressions of anti-Muslim sentiment and an incident of vandalism also occurred. The village denied MCC’s petition after six months and hours of testimony before various commissions and boards. The legal dispute that followed involved complaints against the city and MCC by a neighborhood opposition group as well as MCC’s RLUIPA case against the village. The RLUIPA case was resolved in June 2003 when a settlement mediated by the Department of Justice’s Community Relations Services allowed MCC to receive a special use permit subject. Although the SUP was subject to more than 30 restrictions and despite ongoing public and legal campaigns, MCC held its first communal prayer in the new mosque in late August 2008. MCC’ submission of expansion plans in Morton Grove came after multiple months of debate on traffic and parking. Neighbors had complained before the villages Traffic and Safety Commission (TSC) about street parking during MCC events, particularly during communal Friday prayers and Ramadan gatherings. While initially MCC had used its gym to hold prayer services for students and staff, it later began opening its doors to members of the local Muslim community for congregational Friday prayers. Discussions before TSC were attended by about 150 residents who urged the village to curb street parking by visitors during MEC events. An agreement reached with neighbors included restrictions on street parking. MCC further promised to address off-street parking in an expansion plan it was in the process of submitting (“Muslim Center Parking Pact Nears Finish,” 2002, October 10). The site plan MCC submitted with its special use application in November 2002 included classroom additions to the existing school building as well as a mosque for around 600 worshippers. Initial design plans for the mosque also showed a 45-ft dome and a 60-ft minaret. Parking issues were addressed by raising the number of off-street parking spaces from 70 to 144. During discussions before the village’s Appearance Commission and the Traffic and Safety Commission opponents rehashed concerns about parking from previous months (“Panel Reviews Mosque Traffic,” 2002, December 12). A revised plan that raised off-street parking to 210 spaces was discussed first before the Plan Commission on February 19, 2003. Over the next three months the Plan Commission and the Village Board heard more than 13 hours of testimony. Ultimately, the Village Board voted in late April to follow the Plan Commission’s unanimous recommendation for denial (“Morton Grove Rejects Plan for Mosque,” May 1, 2003). Concerns over traffic, parking, and noise remained central in the public debate over MCC’s expansion project, but opponents’ campaigns were also colored by expressions of anti-Muslim sentiment and an incident of vandalism. “There’s a lot of underlying agendas and hidden agendas here,” Village Administrator Larry Arft had commented during the earlier parking controversy (“Village Denies Charge of MCC Area Parking,” 2002, November 14). One Patrick Kansoer emerged as a central figure in the neighborhood opposition. After the Village Board had denied MCC’s application in April 2003, Kansoer requested the village stop all general worship at the school alleging that MCC was violating village ordinances by operating a house of worship without a special use permit. Later the same year Kansoer and other residents formed the Morton Grove Organization (MGO) that filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the village for failing to enforce its zoning ordinance. The group later amended their lawsuit to include a charge of “conspiracy” against the village (“Resident Group Files Revised Suit,” 2004, February 19). In what could count as outright displays of anti-Muslim bigotry or, at best, grave insensitivity, MGO members staged several public events as their lawsuit made its way through the court system. In one such case, the group protested the discussion over a settlement agreement between the village and MCC by displaying pigs on MGO members’ lawns (Katz, 2004, June 17; also see Routliffe, 2003, September 25). In late September 2003, MCC filed a federal lawsuit in which it asked for $5 million in damages from the village. Among others, the lawsuit alleged that the village had violated RLUIPA’s equal terms and unreasonable limitations provisions (Falsani, 2003, October 1). The Department of Justice responded to the lawsuit by opening a formal investigation. At the same time, mediators from the DOJ’s Community Relations Service began facilitating face-to-face meetings between the village, MCC and neighbors (”Village, MCC Begin Talks,” 2004, January 1). Although MGO had left the mediation proceedings by April, the village and MCC announced in early June that they had reached a settlement. As a result of the settlement MCC brought a revised SUP application before the village. It included a reduced maximum occupancy of 525 worshipers and off-street parking for 244 vehicles. Over the next six months, the application made it through the village’s regular hearing process until, on November 22, 2004, the Village Board finally approved the Special Use Permit. The approval, however, came with more than 30 restrictions including a reduction in the height of both the dome and the minaret, a 10 p.m. curfew on non-religious use, and no high-school classes (Katz, 2004, December 30). A dispute over a right-of-way MCC sought for additional off-street parking was only temporarily resolved and resulted in further court proceedings later on (Katz, 2008, January 24). Part of the agreement over the special use permit required MCC to suspend all non-school related events at its site during construction. After renting space in public buildings for Friday services and Ramadan events for more than two years, MCC held the first congregational prayer service in its new mosque on August 31, 2008. References Enter list of sources cited using the proper format. <ul><li>Commission discusses Muslim center parking. (2002, September 12). Morton Grove Champion, p. 6. Available from NewsBank</li> <li>Editorial: A fair shake for MCC plan. (2002, November 21). Skokie Review, p. 16. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Falsani, Cathleen. (2003, October 1). Muslim group seeking mosque sues Morton Grove. Chicago Sun-Times, p. 30. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Katz, Nick. (2008, January 24). Judge rules for MCC in land lawsuit. Morton Grove Champion. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Katz, Nick. (2005, November 17). MCC breaks ground for mosque addition. Morton Grove Champion, p. 5. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Katz, Nick. (2005, March 17). Muslim Community Center drops lawsuit against village. Morton Grove Champion, p. 003. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Katz, Nick. (2004, December 30). MCC Mosque plan finally approved. Morton Grove Champion (IL), p. 005. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Katz, Nick. (2004, June 17). Trustees OK MCC pact. Morton Grove Champion, p. 3. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com. </li> <li>Katz, Nick. (2004, June 10). Neighborhood group to pursue lawsuit. Morton Grove Champion, p. 003. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>MCC neighbors plan lawsuit against village. (2003, June 26). Morton Grove Champion. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com. </li> <li>MCC submits plan for mosque addition. (2002, December 5). Morton Grove Champion, p. 8. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Mendieta, Ana. (2004, June 9). Village reaches deal on mosque - Muslim site in Morton Grove to host 500 worshippers. Chicago Sun-Times, p. 18. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Morton Grove rejects plan for mosque. (2003, May 1). Skokie Review (IL), p. 9. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Muslim center parking pact nears finish. (2002, October 10). Morton Grove Champion, p. 8. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Muslim center submits revised mosque plan. (2003, February 13). Skokie Review, p. 8. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Panel rejects mosque plan. (2003, April 10). Morton Grove Champion, p. 12. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Panel reviews mosque traffic. (2002, December 12). Skokie Review (IL), p. 9. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Resident group files revised suit. (2004, February 19). Morton Grove Champion, p. 3. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Routliffe, Kathy. (2003, September 25). Police, FBI investigate threat letter. Morton Grove Champion, p. 3. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Sweeney, Annie. (2002, December 24). Vandal shatters glass at suburban Muslim center. Chicago Sun-Times, p. 14. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Suit seeks to block prayers at center. (2003, September 11). Morton Grove Champion, p. 3. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Village, MCC begin talks. (2004, January 1). Morton Grove Champion, p. 3. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> <li>Village denies charge on MCC area parking. (2002, November 14). Morton Grove Champion, p. 6. Retrieved from https://infoweb-newsbank-com.</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. June 29, 2020 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 Morton Grove, IL Description An account of the resource The Village of Morton Grove denies a Muslim school a special use permit to add a mosque and increased classroom space on its 4.5-acre property. The denial follows intense opposition from community members voicing concerns over traffic, parking, and noise. However, expressions of anti-Muslim sentiment and an incident of vandalism also occur. A legal case following the denial involves complaints against the city and the school by a neighborhood opposition group as well as an RLUIPA lawsuit brought by the school against the village. The Department of Justice’s Community Relations Services mediates a settlement in the RLUIPA case. 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 Approved Built DOJ Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/ed3b6381b5715fd7d64d22b0269cfe34.jpeg c0d32334d3d73efa5adbbf5f2b8638e0 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) TN_01x Date 2012 Proposed Project cemetery on 1.5 acres of a 15-acre property owned by the Muslim community Year Year the case began. 2012 Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications approved with conditions Location The location of the interview Tennessee Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Islamic Center of Murfreesboro Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In 2012, the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro (ICM) faced opposition to its plans to construct a Muslim cemetery. The quest to secure the required permits for its cemetery occurred within the context of ongoing public and legal challenges to a mosque project the ICM had faced since 2010. Although the details of the ICM’s mosque project are <a href="https://usmc.oxomeka.org/items/show/13">described separately in this archive</a>, the broad outlines of this case, which garnered national attention in 2010, are outlined here to provide the context for the Muslim community’s efforts to secure the rights for the cemetery. In March 2009, the Murfreesboro Muslim community began planning for a larger mosque to serve its growing population, eventually purchasing land on Veal Rd in 2010. The Rutherford County Planning Commission approved the mosque's construction on May 24 (Broden, 2014, Jan 9). However, this decision sparked controversy, leading to protests and inflammatory remarks from influential figures. This opposition escalated to a lawsuit against Rutherford County on September 17, 2010, with plaintiffs making Islamophobic arguments. Rutherford County Chancellor Robert Corlew swiftly dismissed the lawsuit, but subsequent legal battles ensued. In April 2012, Corlew sided with the mosque's critics, citing insufficient public notice regarding the construction. The Department of Justice intervened on July 8, filing a lawsuit on behalf of the mosque and arguing a violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Protections Act (RLUIPA). The DOJ appealed Corlew's decision to allow the mosque to open under a temporary occupancy permit in early August 2012. In June 2014, the Supreme Court finally resolved the matter, rejecting to hear the opposition’s appeal two years after the initial permit approval (Haynes, 2014, June 2014). Against the backdrop of ongoing litigation concerning the ICM’s mosque project, the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro faced additional challenges when it tried to construct a Muslim cemetery on its property. Since 2010, the ICM had discussed building a burial ground adjacent to the mosque after one ICM member was buried on the mosque's property under a conditional-use permit (Murfreesboro mosque seeks cemetery permit, 2012, Nov 1). Like the ICM’s mosque building project, the conditional-use permit was met with opposition. Opponents were concerned that the body would "contaminate the water because it was not in a casket and vault" (ibid.). Mosque leaders argued that the burial had followed Tennessee law, but protest persisted. On November 1, 2012, the ICM applied for a special-use permit to construct its cemetery. The approval process for the cemetery was contentious, with public hearings and debates highlighting concerns about traffic disruption and groundwater issues. On January 8, 2014, after a public hearing and a 3-2 vote, the cemetery was approved, albeit with conditions imposed by board member Joe Meshotto. These conditions included maintaining burial records, setting a minimum grave depth of five feet, limiting the number of burial plots to 1,500, restricting grave marker height to one foot, and tying the permit strictly to religious use of the property (Broden, 2014, Jan 9). Despite the ICM's agreement to these conditions, opposition persisted, notably exemplified by Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.), who criticized on social media the application of the Tennessee Religious Freedom Act, which was applied in favor of the cemetery, for enabling religious groups to circumvent other laws (Murphy, 2014, Jan 24). In March 2014, public outcry culminated in a lawsuit challenging the cemetery's approval, echoing the anti-Islamic sentiments seen in previous legal battles over the ICM's mosque (Stockard, 2014, Mar 26). On June 18, 2014, Judge Paul Summers dismissed the case against the cemetery's construction, affirming the validity of the special-use permit and the legality of the zoning appeals board's actions (Broden, 2014, Jun 19). Unlike the mosque project, the cemetery's approval did not require intervention from the Department of Justice, marking an end to years of controversy and litigation surrounding the ICM's projects. By the end of 2014, the ICM secured its rights to proceed with the mosque and cemetery projects, concluding a tumultuous period of opposition and legal challenges. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Broden, S. (2014, Jun 19). Judge dismisses mosque cemetery lawsuit. Daily News Journal. <a href="https://www.dnj.com/story/news/2014/06/19/judge-dismisses-mosque-cemetery-lawsuit/11098267/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Broden, S. (2014, Jan 9). Murfreesboro mosque cemetery approved. The Tennessean.<a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2014/01/08/murfreesboro-mosque-cemetery-approved/4394147/"> Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Haynes, C. (2014, June 23). First Amendment: Religious freedom trumps Islamophobia. The Holland Sentinel, p. 6. Available from<a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/14EA2D1CB87D9028"> NewsBank</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Murfreesboro mosque seeks cemetery permit. (2012, November 1). The Associated Press State & Local Wire. Available from<a href="https://advance-lexis-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/api/document?collection=news&id=urn:contentItem:56YD-0N31-JBGK-F2TB-00000-00&context=1516831"> NexisUni</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Murphy, T. (2014, Jan 24). GOP Congressman Blasts Proposal for Muslim Cemetery. Mother Jones. <a href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/01/gop-congressman-blasts-proposal-muslim-cemetery/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Stockard, S. (2014, Mar 26). Tempers flare at Judicial building over Muslim cemetery. Murfreesboro Post.<a href="https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/murfreesboropost/tempers-flare-at-judicial-building-over-muslim-cemetery/"> 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/. Title A name given to the resource Murfreesboro, TN [Islamic Cemetery] Description An account of the resource In March 2014, opponents of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro cemetery seek a court order to stop the project by challenging the county's approval of the project. Following the approval in January, Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.) is reported to have made disparaging comments on his Facebook page about the cemetery. The campaign echoes themes from 2010 when opponents sought to stop ICM's expansion project. The cemetery sits on 1.5 acres of the 15-acre ICM property. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, and Shahmeer Khan Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Approved Built Cemetery Legal Campaign Public Speech REL230_SP24