8 10 101 https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/657e345e39c4d74d30bd4d2d4824fd17.png 69cdc1bafa7853e83d78b50b5c2e9b26 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Tennessee Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) TN_04 Date 2014 Year Year the case began. 2014 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Nashville, TN Description An account of the resource In December 2016, a federal district court in Tennessee dismisses for lack of subject matter jurisdiction a claim by the Islamic Center of Nashville (ICN) lawsuit challenging a Tennessee property tax exemption law on religious freedom grounds. In February 2014, ICN sought a property tax exemption for its education building, to be applied retroactively, seeking continuity of exempt status as provided by Tenn. Code Ann. 67-5-212(b)(3)(B). The State Board of Equalization denied tax exempt status for the period prior to October 2013, when the Ijara payments were ongoing, but granted exemption from that time onward. ICN appealed the decision before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in January 2015, and after receiving an unfavorable ruling, appealed again to the Tennessee Assessment Appeals Committee, which also found that ICN was not entitled to the exemption prior to October 2013 due to the transfer of property in the Ijara agreement. [Source: www.rluipa-defense.com] Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Florian Pohl Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Lawsuit (RLUIPA) School https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/2e59e949d8c54d384b1a62a07983dd6b.png 4d26b51dcedc89f74a72f85eba825338 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) VA_10 Date 2018 Year Year the case began. 2018 Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.gliaweb.org/">The Greater Lynchburg Islamic Association</a> Address Enter the full address, if it is available. property located at the intersection of Double Bridges Road and Hundley Springs Road in the Promise Land community Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. On July 11, 2018, the Appomattox County Planning Commission announced that the Greater Lynchburg Islamic Association had withdrawn its petition for a conditional use permit (CUP) to operate a cemetery on an 8-acre property zoned agricultural. The county’s planning commission had tabled the petition the previous month in response to strong opposition from residents. The parcel in question was located in the Agricultural Zoning District (A-1) in an area designated Rural Preservation Area by the county’s Future Land Use Map in the Comprehensive Plan. At the same meeting during which the commission announced that the Islamic Association had withdrawn its CUP request, commissioners discussed a motion to increase the review requirements for “religious assemblies.” Public opposition emerged in early June when the Islamic Association’s plan became public to operate a cemetery on a property at Double Bridges Road and Hundley Springs Road. On the local ABC channel’s Facebook page, the article reporting on the plan received hundreds of comments. While some Facebook users supported the project, most comments voiced opposition ranging from concerns over well water contamination and property values to statements targeting Islam and Muslims (Tyree and Hoffman, 2018, Jun 1). The county’s Planning Commission heard public comments on the project before a capacity crowd at its June 13 meeting. Residents spoke up in opposition to the project, citing the adverse impact on the neighborhood’s character, noise, traffic, and loss of property values. Concern over water contamination also featured prominently in remarks. One resident stated, "The bodies are not put into a casket or a vault. They're not embalmed. And that goes into our water" (Langlitz and Wilcox, 2018, Jun 13). In addition, opponents presented a petition signed by 395 citizens urging the commission to reject the CUP request. However, opponents made no explicitly anti-Muslim or anti-Islamic statements at the meeting. Islamic Association President Maqsud Ahmad introduced the cemetery project outlining the need, low impact, and adherence to local and state laws. Support came from a Lynchburg area pastor whose congregation had developed a positive relationship with the Islamic Association over the years. Ahmad expressed that the project would abide by all required regulations, including proper setbacks to ensure groundwater would not be affected. He also signaled the Islamic Association’s willingness to consider alternative burial methods saying, "We can come up with a plastic upside down or a concrete upside down [encasement], which is what they do in Charlottesville” (Langlitz and Wilcox, 2018, Jun 13). The Planning Commission tabled the application following the county attorney’s recommendation to allow additional time for staff review. At the subsequent commission meeting in July, commissioners announced that the CUP request for the cemetery project had been withdrawn. Public documents do not offer information about the reasons for the withdrawal. At the same meeting, the Appomattox Planning Commission discussed proposed changes to the county’s zoning ordinances to increase the review requirements for “Religious Assemblies.” The amendments proposed changing the “Religious Assembly” land use category from permitted to conditional use in four zoning districts, including the Agricultural District (A-1). The change would not affect cemetery projects, which already were conditional use under the current zoning regulations. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Langlitz, R. and K. Wilcox (2018, June 13). Appomattox Co. Planning Commission hears community concerns for proposed cemetery. ABC 13 News. Retrieved from <a href="https://wset.com/news/local/appomattox-co-planning-commission-hears-community-concerns-for-proposed-cemetery">https://wset.com/news/local/appomattox-co-planning-commission-hears-community-concerns-for-proposed-cemetery</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Tyree, E. and Ch. Hoffman (2018, June 1). Neighbors concerned about proposed cemetery infecting well water. ABC 13 News. Retrieved from <a href="https://wset.com/news/local/neighbors-concerned-about-proposed-cemetery-infecting-well-water?fbclid=IwAR0LmITKyCf58LUNMR-U8OVJ31EgiY-IpuMG9SdUl%E2%80%A6">https://wset.com/news/local/neighbors-concerned-about-proposed-cemetery-infecting-well-water?fbclid=IwAR0LmITKyCf58LUNMR-U8OVJ31EgiY-IpuMG9SdUl%E2%80%A6</a>.</li> </ul> Location The location of the interview Appomattox County, VA Proposed Project The Greater Lynchburg Islamic Association requested a CUP for an 8.05-acre property zoned A-1, Agricultural Zoning District. The parcel was designated Rural Preservation Area by the county’s Future Land Use Map in the Comprehensive Plan. Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign: Social media (Fb) opposition; attendance at Planning Commission meeting; petition (395 signatures) Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Withdrawn -- The County Planning Commission announced a month after it had tabled the petition that the property owner had withdrawn the CUP request. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Appomattox County, VA Description An account of the resource On July 18, 2018, the Appomattox County Planning Commission announced that the Greater Lynchburg Islamic Association had withdrawn its petition for a conditional use permit to operate a cemetery on an 8-acre property zoned agricultural. The county’s planning commission had tabled the petition the previous month in response to strong opposition from residents. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Florian Pohl Cemetery Public Campaign Withdrawn https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/df60b3a1fa79c878974cb05bebe1905f.jpeg d82e6f8a68659d27dc5219819443c9cc 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_05 Date 2013 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 2401 Courthouse Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23456 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 Beach, VA Description An account of the resource Councilman Bill DeSteph of Virgina Beach, Virginia, says a city council approved mosque is a threat to national security and has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. He provides no evidence to support his claim, and is the only council member to vote against the mosque. [Source: CI] Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Approved Mosque Public Campaign Public Speech Under Construction https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/0fa362eaf0261a815ed305d6474eae64.png ce4894f458d8580053f07c6e5b0e20b3 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_02 Date 2012 Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Islamic Center of Richmond Location The location of the interview Glen Allen, VA (Henrico County) Year Year the case began. 2012 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 Glen Allen, VA Description An account of the resource The Islamic Center of Richmond seeks and receives permission from Henrico County to expand its current facility into a two-story, roughly 30,000-square-foot structure to house a mosque, a daycare center and a school. Shortly after construction begins in May 2012, a resident who lives near the center filed an appeal of the county’s decision to approve the expansion, citing traffic and parking concerns. At a public hearing in June 2012, residents voice concerns about traffic, safety and lighting. County officials state that the plans met all county requirements and that they will continue to monitor the project’s compliance with county regulations. Approved Built Expansion Legal Campaign Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/9715ca4a330081046a9df81ca3a5eea0.png 91161a882190712de077ff5366a3dc8e 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_03 Date 2012 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 5000 Shady Grove Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23059 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. M9FW+C4 Glen Allen, Virginia Proposed Project <a href="https://weicrva.org/"></a> Location The location of the interview Short Pump, VA (Henrico County) Year Year the case began. 2012 Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://weicrva.org/">West End Islamic Center</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign 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 Short Pump, VA Description An account of the resource In 2012, the West End Islamic Center proposes to knock down its single-story temporary mosque and replace it with a 35,000-square-foot facility that would include a mosque, classrooms, a daycare, a kitchen, offices and a conference room. Some residents oppose the plans at a Henrico County Planning Commission meeting, voicing concerns such as increased traffic, insufficient parking and maintaining the historic look of the neighborhood. The planning commission unanimously approves the mosque proposal in July 2012. [Source: Pew 2012] Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Approved Mosque Public Campaign Purpose-Built Under Construction https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/041826c06b3b79f5109c1febefc80c61.png 2b12da41c6e2aff8b36a3a07f9bbc717 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. Id_01 Location The location of the interview Kuna, ID Year Year the case began. 2014 Proposed Project The ICBB applied to build a 10-acre cemetery for about 6,000 burial plots on 36 acres of land outside of Kuta, ID. An on-site mosque was considered as part of a separate future application. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 15000 Cloverdale Rd, Kuna, ID Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/icbboise/?ref=page_internal">Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Boise</a> Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications County Commissioners vote to deny opponents’ appeal at a public hearing on September 10, 2014, but impose minor conditions for the project to move forward. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In 2014, the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Boise (ICBB) submitted a proposal to use 10 acres of land for a cemetery outside of Kuta, ID. At the time, the ICBB served approximately 380-400 families from across the valley. The project was spearheaded by Imam Midhat Smajic, who pointed to the need of his growing community to bury loved ones according to Muslim burial practices. For several years, the community had buried their deceased in a separate section of the Morris Hill Cemetery, a government-funded cemetery complex in Boise. The ICBB’s proposal affirmed that their Islamic burial practices would comply with Idaho’s regulations governing cemeteries (Muslim cemetery proposed, 2014, Sep 1). Smajic and other members of the ICBB worked with the Ada County Planning and Zoning Commission to approve their cemetery plans. The proposed cemetery site was zoned for conditional use as a cemetery and did not require any special exceptions or variances. Thus, the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission approved it. Following this, a resident appealed the decision to the County Commission, expressing concerns about potential ground contamination and the spread of disease. The resident also stated that the cemetery’s visual or aesthetic impact would negatively affect property values. A public hearing was scheduled to discuss the appeal. “Any time you're dealing with religious items, there's a lot of passion that goes with that too," said Dave Case, Chairman of the Ada County Commission. "That tends to bring out a lot of people who want to provide their testimony and want to be heard, and that's what the whole process is about" (Zepelin, 2014, Sep 10). During their public meeting on September 10, the Ada County Commissioners voted to deny the appeal but imposed minor conditions on the cemetery project. Despite the approval amid public opposition, no information is currently available regarding the completion or operational status of the cemetery project. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Muslim cemetery proposed for Kuna creates stir. (2014, September 1). Idaho Press-Tribune (Nampa, ID), p. 4. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/1501109D0E8C9C00">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Zepelin, S. (2014, September 10). Plans move forward for Muslim cemetery near Kuna. NBC - 7 KTVB (Boise, ID). Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/15045A8A06098840">NewsBank</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/. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Kuna, ID Description An account of the resource In 2014, the Ada County Planning and Zoning Commission issues a conditional use permit (CUP) for an Islamic cemetery near Kuna. The Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Boise wants to use parts of a 36-acre lot as a burial ground. The property is already zoned for conditional use as a cemetery. Kuna residents appeal the decision to the County Commission, stating health concerns. County Commissioners deny the appeal at a public hearing but impose minor conditions for the project to proceed. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sofia Fonti Approved Cemetery Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/efaad8dd08be02abc3defe208e05ab2e.png d0d4ab714d64b6e4207b3086f0220746 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource The Muslim Community Help Center was denied approval to turn a field near U.S. 27 and Maples Road into a cemetery. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Request for 3,000-grave Muslim cemetery denied. (2019, December 18). CBS-15 Local News. Available at https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/request-for-3000-grave-muslim-cemetery-denied. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Year Year the case began. 2019 Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. In_02 Location The location of the interview Allen County, IN Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 8631 Decatur Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46816 Proposed Project The Muslim Community Help Center attempted to build a 14-acre cemetery with 3,648 graves with bodies placed in concrete vaults on land zoned agricultural. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063216039951">The Muslim Community Help Center Cemetery Association</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Planning and Zoning, Public Campaign Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 86HP2V4X+H5 Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The project was denied in December 2019 by the Allen County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA). The board did not state any reasons for the denial, but during the public hearing, questions were raised about the cemetery's size and the lack of a perpetual care fund for cemetery maintenance. In February 2021, The BZA approved a modified proposal. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In December 2019, the Allen County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) rejected a proposal by the Muslim Community Help Association to establish a new cemetery. The group, primarily composed of refugees from Myanmar, sought their own cemetery due to the growing size of their community. The proposal was for a cemetery with 3,648 graves on a field behind a former church building. The Muslim community had purchased the church property earlier that year, converting it into a Muslim worship center known as Masjid Quba. The land, zoned for agricultural use, had previously been part of the church’s community gardening program. It required a special exception or conditional use permit (CUP) to be used as a cemetery. At the BZA meeting, a local real estate agent assisted the Muslim Association. Despite assurances that the Association was registered with the state and would comply with all relevant regulations, including the use of concrete vaults for burials, the zoning board denied the request by a vote of 4-1. During the meeting, board members did not explain why they voted against the cemetery (Rodriguez, 2019, Dec 20). Board member David Bailey was the sole dissenter, arguing that the board had limited jurisdiction over the matter. However, his motion to approve the plan failed due to a lack of a second (ibid.). Key concerns community members and the zoning board raised included questions about the group's capability to manage and maintain the cemetery, including the need for a perpetual care fund and a clear maintenance plan. Neighbors also expressed worries about the burial practices. The Muslim tradition of not embalming bodies sparked concerns about potential environmental impacts and the feasibility of reverting the land to agricultural use. Additionally, the overall size and the proposed number of grave sites raised concerns (Darby, 2019, Dec 18). In February 2021, the Muslim community reapplied for a cemetery permit with the help of a Fort Wayne attorney, Pat Hess, who represented the group at the Allen County Board of Zoning Appeals (Rodriguez, 2021, Feb 18). The Association’s new proposal for the cemetery was similar to the earlier one but included several key revisions. The number of gravesites was reduced from 3,648 to 890, and an access drive from Hessen Cassel Road was eliminated. Additionally, the application reserved space for future burials in two property segments, though the number of graves planned for those sections was unspecified. The Muslim community also indicated that funeral homes would be responsible for services and body preparation, and those activities would not occur on-site (ibid.). Despite some concerns from nearby residents about the septic system and potential drainage issues, the board approved the proposal unanimously after ensuring that the cemetery would comply with state guidelines and establish a perpetual care fund. The language specifying that burials were limited to Muslims was removed to avoid any appearance of discrimination (Rodriguez, 2021, Feb 18). A news article from March 2023 reported that the cemetery was under construction and that the Association held a fundraiser to support the project (Benkowski, 2023, March 19). References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Benkowski, G. (2023, March 19). Muslim Community Help Center holds fundraiser for cemetery. CBS 15 Local News. <a href="https://www.wane.com/top-stories/muslim-community-help-center-holds-fundraiser-for-cemetery/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Darby, C. (2019, December 18). Request for 3,000-grave Muslim cemetery denied. CBS-15 Local News. <a href="https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/request-for-3000-grave-muslim-cemetery-denied">Web</a>. </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Rodriguez, R. S. (2021, February 18). Muslim burial grounds get OK. The Journal Gazette. <a href="https://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/20210218/muslimburialgrounds-get-ok">Web</a>. </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Rodriguez, R. S. (2019, December 20). Proposed Muslim cemetery rejected: Zoning board votes 4-1 against Decatur Road plan. The Journal Gazette, p. 1C. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1780BC4767E07B18">NewsBank</a>.</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. June 12, 2024 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Allen County, IN Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Description An account of the resource In December 2019, the Allen County Board of Zoning Appeals rejected by a vote of 4-1 a cemetery proposal by the Muslim Community Help Association of Fort Wayne, citing insufficient planning and justification behind the proposed size of the cemetery and management of the property. The 14-acre site for 3,648 burial plots had been advanced as contingent use on land zoned agricultural. The Help Association applied again in 2021 with a slightly modified proposal addressing some of the concerns raised in the 2019 public hearing before the board. The new proposal was unanimously approved in February 2021. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ben Damon Approved (initial denial) Cemetery Planning and Zoning Public Campaign Under Construction https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/7fd95985a74020c6c38960da0252b767.png d796876cd74379ce66fb602d0447db77 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 Indiana 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. In_01 Location The location of the interview Carmel, IN Year Year the case began. 2018 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. corner of 141st St and Shelborne Rd Proposed Project The foundation wanted to build a 35-foot-tall mosque with a footprint of 13,000 sf, a flattened bronze dome topped with a crescent moon, and a 75-foot-tall decorative minaret. The majority of the 15-acre property would be reserved for green space. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Islamic Life Center (Assalam Foundation) 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 Carmel, IN Description An account of the resource In April 2018, opponents of the proposed Islamic Life Center in Carmel file a lawsuit to challenge the Board of Zoning Appeals’ approval of the project. After a serious of contentious public hearings that drew record crowds, the board had granted the Muslim group a special use permit to construct a mosque in a residential area. Approved Legal Campaign Mosque Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/f231b64280ee5e3dac77c28a3090c314.png bde96bedb45b1a3a040c90ddc701e22d 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. Ms_03 Location The location of the interview Horn Lake, MS Year Year the case began. 2021 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 4600 Church Rd, Horn Lake, MS 38637 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. WWMH+9R Horn Lake, Mississippi Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Administrative Denial Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications In February 2021, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to deny the permit for the proposed mosque. The Board of Aldermen voted 5-1 in April to uphold this decision, citing insufficient water mains for fire sprinklers, potential violations of noise ordinances, and increased traffic. Following a lawsuit filed on behalf of the Muslim community, a consent decree from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi ordered the approval of construction of the mosque. In September 2022, the Planning Commission voted 4-3 to allow the construction of the cemetery on the same property as the mosque. Despite concerns about soil contamination and discrimination against women, the Board of Aldermen unanimously voted in October to approve the conditional use permit for the cemetery with restrictions. Proposed Project The Muslim community proposed subdividing the 80-acre property for residential development (Turkey Creek Subdivision) and for a cemetery/mosque project. The mosque's site plan envisioned a 10,000-square-foot building with 44 parking spaces for 156 worshipers. The 1.2-acre cemetery would accommodate up to 520 burials. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.abrahamhouseofgod.com/">Abraham House of God</a> Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In 2019, DeSoto County resident Ray Elk met with the mayor of Horn Lake, MS, and the Board of Aldermen to propose the construction of the Abraham House of God, a 10,000-square-foot mosque on 80 acres of land with a 156-person worship room and 44 parking spaces. Northern Mississippi did not have a mosque, which meant the approximately 15 Muslim families living in DeSoto County needed to travel more than 30 minutes to the nearest mosque, located in Tennessee. (Weaver, 2021, Nov 3). In August 2020, local residents expressed anti-Muslim sentiments at a meeting of the city’s Planning Commission (Randall, 2022, Jan 4). Their opposition towards the proposed mosque continued at another Planning Commission meeting in February 2021, where they voiced their concerns about increased traffic and potential violations of noise ordinances, despite repeated assertions that the mosque would not contain loudspeakers issuing calls to prayer (Burgess, 2021, Apr 22). The Planning Commission unanimously denied Elk’s application for permits to construct the mosque. Though houses of worship are permitted by right on land zoned Agricultural Residential (AR) in Horn Lake, they still require site plan approval from the Planning Commission. In April 2021, the Board of Aldermen voted 5-1 to uphold the Planning Commission’s decision to deny approval of the site plan, citing concerns over insufficient water mains for fire sprinklers, potential violations of noise ordinances, and increased traffic (Burgess, 2021, Apr 22). Elk announced that he planned to sue the city over its decision, stating that “this is what my country was built on, freedom of religion. I am just practicing my right. This is my right to have any faith I want” (ibid.). The next month, Horn Lake Mayor Allen Latimer held an executive session behind closed doors with the Board of Aldermen to discuss the proposed mosque and impending lawsuit (Masse, 2021, May 5). Alderman Charlie Roberts changed his mind, expressing support for the mosque. “If we can have Baptist churches, Methodist churches, Pentecostal churches on every corner and have the freedom to religion, we also should be able to allow our Islamic Muslim friends to have the same worship,” Roberts said at the meeting. “I support the freedom of religion, and I will stand behind the freedom of religion for everybody” (Marion, 2021, May 19). In November 2021, the ACLU of Mississippi and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Horn Lake, claiming that their denial of the proposed mosque violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and the First Amendment (Weaver, 2021, Nov 3). On November 18, it was reported that the city and Elk were working to settle the lawsuit (Dees, 2021, Nov 18). On January 3, 2022, Judge Michael P. Mills of the Northern District of Mississippi issued a consent decree ordering Horn Lake officials to approve the mosque (Chaney, 2022, Jan 4). Mills found that the denial of the proposed mosque violated RLUIPA and the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause, stating that the case “presents very serious, and if proven factually accurate, strong allegations of religious discrimination” (Randall, 2022, Jan 4). It was reported that both parties agreed to the consent decree “in the interest of avoiding costly and protracted litigation” (ibid.). The city was ordered to approve a plan for the mosque’s construction within 14 days, act quickly in the future to address building-related matters like permitting, and pay $25,000 for expenses related to appealing the denial. City officials, employees, and insurers were released from any further monetary claims for damages, and the federal district court maintained jurisdiction over the case for five years to ensure the consent decree was enforced (ibid.). In April 2022, Elk met with the city’s Planning Commission to propose the construction of a 1.2-acre Muslim cemetery on the same property as the mosque. The plan was tabled until September 26, when the Planning Commission voted 4-3 to grant a conditional use permit (CUP) with restrictions (Randall, 2022, Oct 14). Members of the Planning Commission stated that Horn Lake had never approved a cemetery in its history and shared their concerns regarding soil contamination and discrimination against women, as comparisons were made to the Dar ar-Rahma Cemetery in Tennessee, which does not allow women to attend burial services (ibid.). In response, Elk stated that he was unfamiliar with that rule. One of the conditions attached to the permit was that no discrimination would be allowed against women, in addition to other restrictions regarding the cemetery’s rules and guidelines, timeline of its construction, and future expansion process (ibid.). Addressing a query from Planning Commissioner Little regarding the cemetery's public or private nature, Elk offered to dedicate an area for non-Muslims to be buried, similar to how Christian cemeteries have sections for Muslim burials, highlighting inclusivity and accommodation within the community cemetery project (ibid.). In October 2022, the Board of Aldermen met to discuss the cemetery’s conditional use request (Bakken, 2022, Oct 18). They voted unanimously, 7-0, to approve the CUP with five conditions: planting a mix of trees and plants along the perimeter to absorb any microorganisms, constructing the cemetery in the approved soil types identified in the state soil report, following the city’s subdivision regulations if the property is subdivided at a later date, ensuring there is at least one yard of subsoil at the bottom of all burial sites to protect against groundwater contamination, and going through the approval process if the site is expanded (ibid.). Additional Planning Commission conditions were not included, as they related to the cemetery's operation and not its actual zoning. A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Abraham House of God on October 23, 2022. The mosque was expected to take about a year to build (Bakken, 2022, Oct 18). Construction does not appear to have finished, as the mosque’s website states it is coming soon. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Bakken, B. (2022, October 18). Mosque cemetery plan gets Horn Lake board approval. DeSoto County News. <a href="https://desotocountynews.com/desoto-county-news/mosque-cemetery-plan-gets-horn-lake-board-approval/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Burgess, K. (2021, April 22). Horn Lake rejects application for mosque; applicant may take city to court. The Commercial Appeal. <a href="https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2021/04/22/horn-lake-rejects-mosque-applicant/7335507002/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Chaney, K. (2022, January 4). Horn Lake ordered to approve plans for first-ever mosque in Desoto County, Mississippi. Localmemphis.com. <a href="https://www.localmemphis.com/article/life/faith/horn-lake-ordered-approval-mosque-desoto-county-mississippi-federal-judge/522-69bc4455-fefa-4d03-97a8-a55c3ee80e66">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Dees, T. (2021, November 18). City of Horn Lake working to settle lawsuit over proposed mosque. FOX13 Memphis. <a href="https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/city-of-horn-lake-working-to-settle-lawsuit-over-proposed-mosque/article_0ca776a2-a713-5ed3-b941-b8931f0747c4.html">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Marion, G. (2021, May 19). “Stop It Before They Get Here”: Horn Lake Repeatedly Denies Mosque Permit. Mississippi Free Press. <a href="https://www.mississippifreepress.org/stop-it-before-they-get-here-horn-lake-repeatedly-denies-mosque-permit/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Masse, J. (2021, May 5). Horn Lake officials discuss proposed mosque as lawsuit looms. FOX13 Memphis. <a href="https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/horn-lake-officials-discuss-proposed-mosque-as-lawsuit-looms/article_44e235ce-eb9c-53fc-825a-79a2e1d013cf.html">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Randall, M. (2022, January 4). Federal court orders Horn Lake to approve mosque. DeSoto Times-Tribune. <a href="https://www.desototimes.com/news/federal-court-orders-horn-lake-to-approve-mosque/article_3bc5cf16-6d81-11ec-ac43-77bd6d34a3da.html">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Randall, M. (2022, October 14). Horn Lake to consider Muslim cemetery request. DeSoto Times-Tribune. <a href="https://www.desototimes.com/news/horn-lake-to-consider-muslim-cemetery-request/article_653ef044-4be2-11ed-8889-ab6423a9da63.html">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Weaver, H. (2021, November 3). A Mississippi City Blocked a Proposed Mosque Due to Anti-Muslim Prejudice. We’re Suing. American Civil Liberties Union. <a href="https://www.aclu.org/news/religious-liberty/a-mississippi-city-blocked-a-proposed-mosque-due-to-anti-muslim-prejudice-were-suing">Web</a>.</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. June 20, 2024 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Horn Lake, MS Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Concept art for planned Abraham House of God in Horn Lake. (2021). [Online image]. Retrieved February 5, 2022, from https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2021/04/22/horn-lake-rejects-mosque-applicant/7335507002. Description An account of the resource In April 2021, Horn Lake city officials rejected a proposed mosque on property zoned for houses of worship. The ACLU of Mississippi and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP filed an RLUIPA lawsuit on behalf of the Muslim community in November 2021. In January 2022, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi issued a consent decree to approve the construction of the Abraham House of God, DeSoto County’s first mosque. Later that year, the Board of Aldermen unanimously voted to allow the construction of a Muslim cemetery on the same property, despite opposition by local residents. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang ACLU Approved (initial denial) Cemetery DOJ Lawsuit (RLUIPA) Mosque Planning and Zoning Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/3100fa635c42ddba7bad71403f495f2d.jpeg 6d0db8a6e484447ac554b563f410244a 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 Minnesota Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Mn_01 Location The location of the interview Bloomington, MN Year Year the case began. 2011 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 8201 Park Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN 55420 Proposed Project The Al Farooq Youth and Family Center sought to convert a Lutheran school building to serve as an Islamic center, mosque, school, community center. 25 parking spaces were to be added. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.daralfarooq.com/?fbclid=IwAR3OiPhxw6ovzTtXNFxGnGByCVDMk5TjaqWv-_SodYEtUQeydqxYAHfWaTQ">Dar al Farooq Center</a> Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The project was approved under a conditional-use permit. Under this, the DFC is required to abide by the City Code as well as requirements put forth in regard to parking/traffic. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. Located in Bloomington, Minnesota, Dar al-Farooq Center (DFC) is the largest community center serving Muslims in Minnesota and the surrounding four states. While DFC serves a majority Black Somali population, the center’s membership is diverse, representing at least 26 countries. Controversy over the center’s presence in Bloomington began in March 2011, when a public hearing notice of Dar al-Farooq’s application for a conditional use permit was published in the local Bloomington Sun Current (Planning Division, n.d.). Dar al-Farooq sought to accommodate its growing congregation by expanding out of its smaller Minneapolis location into an empty building in Bloomington. Vacated by a Lutheran high school in 2009, the building includes a gymnasium as well as shared athletic fields and parking amenities with the city (Hank, 2011). During a Bloomington city council meeting in April 2011, council members discussed potential parking and capacity issues related to the use of the former school building by Dar al-Farooq. A day later, the council approved Dar al-Farooq’s application for use of the existing building as a community center, school, daycare, and place of assembly (Planning Division, n.d.). The approval was met with resistance during a city council meeting two weeks later from Bloomington resident Sally Ness. Ness claimed that Bloomington city council members approved Dar al-Farooq’s application out of fear of a lawsuit rather than the “facts specifically regarding capacity” (Mayer-Bruestle, 2016). She voiced additional concerns about capacity-related issues such as increased traffic she felt would make the neighborhood unsafe for children. Responding to the limited community resistance, Hyder Aziz, executive director of Dar al-Farooq, said in an interview with the Bloomington Sun Current that “[p]art of [DFC]’s mission will be to coexist with neighborhood residents and respond to concerns that are raised when the building is in operation” (Hank, 2011). In August 2011, the sale of the school building to Dar al-Farooq was finalized (Planning Division, n.d.). As the center opened its doors in 2012, complaints about its operations and membership bubbled up among community members whose comments were used by anti-Muslim actors to amplify the controversy. In September, prominent Blogger Pamela Geller published a letter from an anonymous Smith Park resident on her blog that claimed DFC was disrupting neighborhood peace, specifically by creating increased traffic and noise, and that mosque-goers were harassing neighborhood residents. In 2015, a community-wide discussion of how DFC’s facilities should be used, involving both mosque-goers and other residents of Bloomington, prompted the city to address DFC’s place within Bloomington. In March 2015, the city of Bloomington reached an agreement with the center to clarify the shared use of DFC’s facilities (Hanks, 2015). This laid out terms of use for indoor DFC facilities, an outdoor athletic field, community gardens, and Smith Park as a whole. Despite this agreement, a small number of local residents continued to resist DFC’s presence, questioning whether it abided by the conditions set forth by its conditional-use permit. In a 2016 city council meeting, the “Friends of Smith Park'' group submitted a petition signed by four residents that called for the enforcement of DFC’s permit conditions by the City of Bloomington. Citing traffic and noise concerns, the group claimed that the city had violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) by allowing DFC to operate outside its permit conditions (Hanks, 2016). No action was taken by the city in response to the petition. In November 2016, Mosques in America: A Guide to Accountable Permit Hearings and Continuing Citizen Oversight was published by the Center for Security Policy, an anti-Muslim think tank, discussing how readers can prevent the building of mosques in their neighborhoods. Within the book, the Center for Security Policy accuses DFC of deceiving city officials in order to move into Bloomington. Since the opening of the center in 2012, community and city government resistance has been limited while external agitation has grown steadily. On August 5, 2017, Emily Claire Hari, Michael McWhorter, and Joe Morris carried out a non-fatal bombing attack at DFC. Emily Claire Hari was convicted on federal hate crime charges and sentenced to life in prison for her role in the attack (Department of Justice, 2021). In 2020, an imam was attacked (Peters, 2021). In 2021, the mosque’s operations were interrupted by an intruder (ibid.). Dar al-Farooq continues to operate out of its Bloomington location. References <ul> <li>Department of Justice. (2021, September 13). Dar-al Farooq mosque bomber sentenced to 53 years in prison. Available at <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/dar-al-farooq-mosque-bomber-sentenced-53-years-prison">https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/dar-al-farooq-mosque-bomber-sentenced-53-years-prison. </a></li> <li>Hanks, M. (2016, August 3). Bloomington neighborhood formalizes concerns regarding Islamic center. Bloomington Sun-Current (Eden Prairie, MN). Available at <a href="https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_current/news/local/bloomington-neighborhood-formalizes-concerns-regarding-islamic-center/article_92155a51-8734-5eac-80b6-949ef35064aa.html">https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_current/news/local/bloomington-neighborhood-formalizes-concerns-regarding-islamic-center/article_92155a51-8734-5eac-80b6-949ef35064aa.html</a>.</li> <li>Hanks, M. (2015, March 12). Bloomington, Al Farooq approved revised agreement. Bloomington Sun-Current (Eden Prairie, MN). Available at <a href="https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_current/news/local/bloomington-al-farooq-approved-revised-agreement/article_508ab17e-f1f1-5dc6-9928-5d6549a99a72.html">https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_current/news/local/bloomington-al-farooq-approved-revised-agreement/article_508ab17e-f1f1-5dc6-9928-5d6549a99a72.html</a>.</li> <li>Hanks, M. (2011, November 30). Bloomington City Council approves platting for Muslim community center. Bloomington Sun-Current (Eden Prairie, MN). Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB4F3D1A01B2A&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F13B5F538AD5F3818">NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current</a>.</li> <li>Mayer-Bruestle, A. (2016, July 26). MN Neighborhood Group says Mosque is Overusing Local Park. Alpha News. Available at <a href="https://alphanews.org/mosque-neighbors-petition-council/">https://alphanews.org/mosque-neighbors-petition-council/</a>.</li> <li>Peters, J. (2021, April 9). Man apprehended by police at Dar Al Farooq Mosque after entering during Friday prayers. Sahan Journal. Available at <a href="https://sahanjournal.com/news/dar-al-farooq-arrest-minnesota/">https://sahanjournal.com/news/dar-al-farooq-arrest-minnesota</a>.</li> <li>Planning Division. (n.d.). Al-Farooq Youth and Family Center (AFYFC). Available at <a href="https://www.bloomingtonmn.gov/plan/al-farooq-youth-and-family-center-afyfc">https://www.bloomingtonmn.gov/plan/al-farooq-youth-and-family-center-afyfc</a>.</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. March 20, 2022 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 2011, a Lutheran school building in Bloomington, MN was converted into the Dar al Farooq Center. Since then, there have been controversies over the center’s disruption of the lives of other residents, as well as how facilities should be shared among mosque-goers and the general Bloomington public. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Aiden Parrish, Natalia Ruich, and Ananya Singh Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Bloomington, MN Adaptive Reuse Approved Built Crimes Against People Crimes Against Property Islamic Center Prior Church Use Public Campaign REL383_SP22