9 10 101 https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/661ad9b7d058bf44b3b5f92093f3f545.png fff4f5bd1044e1ea7fa0bd7d9bb0b502 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource New Jersey Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Nj_03 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 63 Southside Ave, Somerville, NJ 08876 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tasneem Ahmed, Zylah Markham, Sam Pavur, and Zainab Salako Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Somerville, NJ REL383_SP22 https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/ddc135627e3c3847cd25a404d4b44f16.jpeg 4bf8dc30699729742781000374aa84a6 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. Year Year the case began. 2013 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 8710 Central Ave NE, Blaine MN, 55434 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Brandi Cox, Azia Mitchell, and Amanda Sotolongo Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Blaine, MN REL383_SP22 https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/52c1346a599bfdfc34e902d20af01731.png 22e5c0f5dff0a6be8baf90696ec92907 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.isgl.org/funeral-services/ Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Ma_03 Location The location of the interview Walpole, MA Year Year the case began. 2014 Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In the summer of 2014, Al-Marhama Islamic Burial Services proposed the construction of a cemetery with 3,700 burial plots on three acres of open land in Walpole, MA. The Muslim group is part of the Islamic Society of Greater Lowell, which operates a mosque in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. In response to the Walpole Conservation Commission’s concerns about the use of wetlands located at the property, Al-Marhama reduced the size of its project to 3,400 grave sites (Seltz, 2014, Sep 3). After receiving clearance from the Conservation Commission, the project went before the Planning Board, which determined that Al-Marhama needed permission from the State Department of Environmental Protection and the local Board of Health (ibid.). Public opposition to the cemetery project was organized in an online group, Walpole for Clean Water, which circulated a petition with more than 350 signatures against the project. Adjacent property owners commissioned independent reviews of Al-Marhama’s site plan and hired legal counsel. In response, representatives of the Muslim community stressed that three professional studies had been conducted showing that groundwater contamination was unlikely, assured the residents that they would have protocols in place to avoid burials involving contagious diseases or radiation, and offered to use concrete encasements for all burials (Stuhlman, 2015, May 14). In a series of public meetings in early 2015, the Walpole Board of Health discussed the cemetery project. On May 12, the board had its final public hearing on the project at the local high school, where officers were present to keep the peace (Ferguson, 2015, May 14). Although the analysis from the Department of Environmental Protection found the cemetery did not pose a significant threat to the water supply and that contamination was very unlikely, the local Board of Health voted 4-0, with one abstention, to reject the project because it could contaminate the aquifer. Health Board member Carol Johnson summarized the Board’s decision by stating, "I am not totally convinced that this green cemetery would be responsible for any contamination, however, in good conscience, if there's the slightest, slightest possibility that this cemetery could result in the closing of this well, I need to vote accordingly" (ibid.). However, abstaining Health Board member Mona Bissany explained that chemicals from projects other than cemeteries were more likely to endanger the water supply and noted other burial grounds on aquifers that had been approved in the past (ibid.). Al-Marhama did not choose to appeal the Board of Health’s decision. The community continues to use a section of The Gardens at Gethsemane Cemetery in West Roxbury, MA, to bury deceased members. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Ferguson, K. (2015, May 14). Aquifer risk kills cemetery plan. Wicked Local. <a href="https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/times-advocate/2015/05/14/aquifer-risk-kills-cemetery-plan/34556488007/">Web</a>. </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Seltz, J. (2014, September 3). Walpole aquifer complicates bid for Muslim cemetery. The Boston Globe. <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/south/2014/09/03/islamic-burial-service-proposes-build-muslim-cemetery-walpole/HMJeC51bEIc4fvYwRhfAPM/story.html">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Stuhlman, A. (2015, May 14). New concrete liner plan would come with size concerns. Walpole Times. Available through <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/15554614B2179BC0">NewsBank</a>.</li> </ul> Address Enter the full address, if it is available. At the corner of Rte. 1 and Foxhill Drive between the Hilltop Drive apartment complex and old driving range. Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 4Q42+F8 Walpole, Massachusetts, USA Proposed Project The project plan included converting three acres of forest area into a Muslim cemetery with 3,400 burial plots. The property was in a zoning district where cemeteries were allowed by right. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.isgl.org/funeral-services">Al Marhama Islamic Burial Services</a> Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications In May 2015, after acknowledging the property assessment by the Department of Environmental Protection, the Walpole Board of Health rejected the cemetery proposal in a 4-0 decision, citing fears that green burial practices would pollute the water supply since the site was on the town aquifer. 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 May 2015, the Walpole Board of Health denied Al-Marhama Islamic Burial Services a special permit to construct a cemetery on three acres of land. The board justified its decision by citing potential groundwater contamination because the property sits atop the town’s aquifer. Al-Marhama conducted several environmental studies and offered interment in concrete caskets but did not appeal the board’s decision. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sofia Fonti Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Walpole, MA Cemetery Denied Planning and Zoning Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/a0e8e678290bf2926c27d2342dea0e5e.png 7262f628bba1f355c93a70515844ac90 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Ma_04 Location The location of the interview Dudley, MA Year Year the case began. 2016 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. off Corbin Road [across from 176 Corbin Rd] Proposed Project The Islamic Society of Greater Worcester hopes to build a Muslim cemetery with 16,000 burial plots on 55 acres of vacant farmland off Corbin Road. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://isgw.us/">The Islamic Society of Greater Worcester</a> Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 33F7+4QX Dudley, Massachusetts Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Planning and Zoning Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications After the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester sued the town of Dudley, MA, and the Department of Justice launched its investigation, an agreement was reached allowing a permit for a 6-acre Muslim cemetery with a 10-year moratorium on expansion. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In January 2016, the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester applied to the Dudley Zoning Board of Appeals for a special use permit to build a cemetery with up to 16,000 burial plots on 55 acres of vacant farmland. The town’s zoning regulations allowed for cemetery use with a special permit in the agricultural zone. In the weeks leading up to the first public hearing, Dudley residents launched an opposition campaign. Opponents cited concerns about groundwater contamination due to Muslim burial practices. At the February 4 hearing, several hundred residents attended to present a public petition opposing the cemetery permit (Boeri, 2016, Feb 5). Over the next months, the Zoning Board of Appeals continued public hearings on the project before finally denying the request during its meeting on June 9, 2016. The board based its unanimous decision on the claim that the property was under special-tax status and that the Islamic Society lacked legal standing to purchase it. According to the board, the property owner had not complied with the requirement to notify the town prior to the sale, thereby failing to give the town the right of first refusal (Laplaca, 2016, Jun 9). The Muslim community appealed the Board’s decision to the Massachusetts Land Court (MacQuarrie, 2016, Jul 5). In August, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it had opened an investigation into the town’s denial of the cemetery project as a potential violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) (Serhan, 2016, Aug 18). In December 2016, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester settled the case. The town granted the special permit for a six-acre cemetery with several conditions: a ten-year moratorium on any expansion beyond the six acres, the installation of buffer zones, and a maintenance agreement (LaPlaca, 2017, Mar 2). In April 2017, the Islamic Society released a statement that it would not pursue the cemetery project further out of financial considerations. The group announced it was seeking to reserve about 1,500 burial sites at Hope Cemetery, the municipal cemetery of Worcester (Murtishi, 2017, Apr 14). References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Boeri, D. (2016, February 5). Proposal For Muslim Cemetery In Dudley Meets Opposition From Residents. WBUR. <a href="https://www.wbur.org/all-things-considered/2016/02/05/muslim-cemetery-proposal">Web.</a></li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Laplaca, D. (2016, June 9). Zoning board nixes Muslim cemetery. Telegram. <a href="https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/south-west/2016/06/10/dudley-zoning-board-rejects-muslim-cemetery-application/27954817007/">Web.</a></li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Laplaca, D. (2017, March 2). Dudley board approves Muslim cemetery. Telegram. <a href="https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/south-west/2017/03/03/dudley-board-approves-muslim-cemetery/22006573007/">Web.</a></li> <li style="font-weight:400;">MacQuarrie, B. (2016, July 5). Islamic group accuses Dudley of blocking Muslim cemetery. The Boston Globe. <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/07/05/islamic-group-files-suit-accusing-dudley-illegally-blocking-muslim-cemetery-plans/9TpLhOUWs8S3z2QoGmHPbM/story.html">Web.</a></li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Murtishi, A. (2017, April 14). Dead deal: Islamic Society abandons plan for Dudley cemetery. MassLive Media. <a href="https://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/2017/04/dead_deal_islamic_society_aban.html">Web.</a></li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Serhan, Y. (2016, August 18). One Massachusetts Town's Rejection of a Muslim Cemetery. The Atlantic. <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2016/08/muslim-cemetery-rejection-investigation/496520/">Web.</a></li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource In June 2016, the Dudley, MA Zoning Board denied the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester's request for a cemetery permit on 55 acres of farmland, citing special-tax status and legal standing issues. According to the Board, the property owner had not notified the town before the sale, violating the right of first refusal. The Islamic Society sued Dudley, alleging "prejudicial treatment," prompting a Department of Justice investigation. The case drew national attention. In December 2016, an agreement allowed a 6-acre cemetery with a 10-year expansion moratorium. In April 2017, the Islamic Society withdrew the project due to financial issues and sought burial sites at Worcester’s Hope Cemetery. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sofia Fonti Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Dudley, MA Approved (initial denial) Built Cemetery DOJ Relocated Withdrawn https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/bc9e8736b3acab37ebb7becf710a1024.png df9347e25abffa073037b0da625a739b 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 Hasan Siddiqui of Tyrone Township addresses residents at the Nov. 14 Tyrone Township Planning Commission meeting. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://www.tctimes.com/news/muslim-run-cemetery-plan-revised-noise-traffic-burial-practices-addressed/article_99c21386-2c85-11e8-8a2f-f34ba4315e32.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/. 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. Mi_09 Location The location of the interview Tyrone Township, MI Year Year the case began. 2017 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 7155 Denton Hill Rd, Fenton, MI 48430 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. P77V+CF Fenton, Michigan Proposed Project Development on 10 acres of land; original plan for 3,847 gravesites, later reduced to about 1,500. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://rawdacemetery.com/">Rawda Cemetery</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications On June 19, 2018, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the special land use permit for the proposed 1,500-plot cemetery. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In November 2017, Hasan Siddiqui submitted his initial plan for a ten-acre cemetery with a maximum of 3,847 gravesites on his family-owned property in Tyrone Township, MI, open to everyone, regardless of their faith. On November 14, 34 residents attended the Tyrone Township Planning Commission’s meeting to discuss the proposed cemetery project, voicing their concerns about groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and excessive noise (Jagielo, 2017, Nov 17). Every property in the surrounding area is on a well, and neighbors believed that a traditional Muslim burial in which bodies are wrapped in a shroud and placed directly into the earth with a stone placed on top would negatively affect their water supply (Jagielo, 2018, Mar 20). In response to the residents’ concerns, Tyrone Township planner Brian Keesey stated that there is no definitive evidence of cemeteries' positive or negative effect on property values (Jagielo, 2017, Nov 17). No vote was taken at the Planning Commission meeting. The next month, Livingston County took soil borings and studied the flow and direction of the water to determine the cemetery’s effect on the neighborhood’s groundwater (Controversial “green cemetery” approved, 2018, Jun 22). Afterward, the cemetery was cleared as being safe. County regulations state that burial sites must be at least 75 feet from a residential well, which the site exceeded (Jagielo, 2018, Sep 6). In March 2018, Siddiqui submitted a revised proposal to the Planning Commission, which reduced the size of the cemetery to 1,589 graves, increased the amount of open space, located burial sites farther from the road, and established set hours of operation to ensure that heavy machinery would not be operated in the evening (Jagielo, 2018, Mar 20). The Planning Commission sent the proposal to Livingston County officials to clarify if the revised plan met county requirements. On June 19, the Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the special land use permit for the cemetery (Controversial “green cemetery” approved, 2018, Jun 22). Despite the approval, it was reported that opposition towards the cemetery continued at subsequent board meetings and in the local press (Jagielo, 2018, Sep 6). After obtaining state approval and developing the land, the <a href="https://rawdacemetery.com/">Rawda Cemetery</a> has been built and is fully operational. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Controversial “green” cemetery approved in Tyrone Township. (2018, June 22). Tri-County Times. <a href="https://www.tctimes.com/news/controversial-green-cemetery-approved-in-tyrone-township/article_13b14bd0-763c-11e8-aaed-2bb430c8593f.html">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Jagielo, T. (2017, November 17). Community debates proposed Muslim-run cemetery. Tri-County Times. <a href="https://www.tctimes.com/news/community-debates-proposed-muslim-run-cemetery-concerned-that-muslims-are-buried-in-shrouds-not-vaults/article_dc88074e-cbc7-11e7-8acf-dbb82a6206c8.html">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Jagielo, T. (2018, March 20). Muslim-run cemetery plan revised. Tri-County Times. <a href="https://www.tctimes.com/news/muslim-run-cemetery-plan-revised-noise-traffic-burial-practices-addressed/article_99c21386-2c85-11e8-8a2f-f34ba4315e32.html">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Jagielo, T. (2018, September 6). Would you live next to a “green” cemetery? Tri-County Times. <a href="https://www.tctimes.com/news/would-you-live-next-to-a-green-cemetery/article_684eadde-b10d-11e8-b5d8-53e1d6f474cf.html">Web</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/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Tyrone Township, MI Description An account of the resource In November 2017, the Tyrone Township Planning Commission held a public meeting at which a Muslim developer’s proposal for a green cemetery was discussed. The proposal drew critique from residents primarily concerned with the potential impact on groundwater. After commissioning an Environmental Impact Report, the developer submitted a revised proposal to the commission in March 2018. The revised plan lowered the number of burial sites, increased open space, located burial sites farther away from the property line, and established limited hours of operation. The Township Board unanimously approved the revised site plan in June 2018, though opposition continued at subsequent board meetings and in the local press. Approved Built Cemetery Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/f6fae81b0747c6c942c8215935a5ec34.JPG a12784c67a5ce56af20b1b146e60af01 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. Mn_08 Location The location of the interview Castle Rock Township, MN Year Year the case began. 2014 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 1120 220th Street West, Farmington, MN 55024 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. JWG6+JH Farmington, Minnesota Proposed Project The Al Maghfirah Cemetery Association attempts to build a 73-acre cemetery on land zoned for residential use. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://mncemetery.org/">Al Maghfirah Cemetery Association</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Planning and Zoning, Legislation, Crime against Property Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications After initial denial, the Al Maghfirah Cemetery Association filed against the township in October 2015. In February 2016, a Dakota County District Court judge sided with the cemetery, ruling that the rejection was “arbitrary and capricious.” Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In November 2014, the Castle Rock Township Board of Supervisors denied a conditional use permit (CUP) to the nonprofit Al Maghfirah Cemetery Association for a proposed cemetery in Castle Rock Township. The 73-acre project was intended as a long-term burial solution for the Minnesota Muslim community, as smaller burial spots in the nearby Burnsville and Roseville were reaching capacity (van Berkel, 2015, Nov 3). The association planned to develop 20 acres to accommodate an estimated 35,000 burials (Judge tells, 2016, Feb 2). Following the denial, the Castle Rock Township Planning Commission changed the zoning language for the specified area, removing cemeteries from acceptable conditional land usage. The Cemetery Association filed a discrimination lawsuit in the Dakota County District Court in May 2015, which was decided in favor of the Cemetery Association in January 2016. The Court ruled that the Board’s decision was “arbitrary and capricious” and ordered the Board to grant the CUP (Nelson, 2016, Feb 2). In the years following the case, the cemetery property has been vandalized and was subject to arson. The Al Maghfirah Cemetery Association entered talks to purchase the Castle Rock land in February 2014, conditioning the purchase on a conditional use permit for a cemetery and funeral home. The application was recommended for approval by the Castle Rock Township Planning Committee in June 2014 with the removal of the funeral home and a fence. However, the Township’s Board of Supervisors subsequently rejected the application for a litany of reasons. The Board’s main concern was the loss of tax base, arguing that the township would lose $17,000 annually in property taxes. The board also cited the size of the project, the lack of public availability, the city's three other cemeteries, and the region's existing Muslim cemeteries (Nelson, 2016, Feb 2). The Cemetery Association then purchased the property and attempted to submit a new application, but was denied twice by the Board with the original decision as justification. In the lawsuit that followed, the Al Maghfirah Cemetery Association alleged discrimination. The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) called for the Department of Justice to investigate whether the Board’s denial constituted discrimination against Muslims and a violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). The Association also pushed back against the narrative that the tax impact would be significant, citing that the land made up 0.3 percent of the municipality’s total land and that the township only directly received $1,300 of the total $17,000 in annual taxes (Nelson, 2016, Feb 2). On the first day of the court proceedings, Hassan Mohmud, the director and imam of the Minnesota Da’wah Institute, commented on the diverse group of Muslims gathered to watch. He said, "This is historic for me… This is the first time I have seen them all united" (van Berkel, 2015, Nov 4). After the judge ruled in favor of the Cemetery Association, Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the CAIR-MN called the ruling a “victory,” saying that “[d]iscrimination should not be hidden in language of land use” (Judge tells, 2016, Feb 2). Despite a favorable court ruling, the township rejected the Association’s proposal for the cemetery and funeral home in 2017. The 2016 court ruling had permitted cemetery use but not a funeral home. Meanwhile, the land remained undeveloped, containing two large buildings that became targets of vandalism and property damage in 2017 and 2021. In August 2017, the property was defaced with spray-painted profanities, swastikas, and the message “Leave, you R dead.” This incident was investigated as a hate crime. The property was targeted again in October 2021 with an attempted arson; tires were placed inside the building, and a large gas pipe was cut, resulting in damages exceeding $150,000. Following public news of the incident, community members from the metropolitan area assembled to assist in clearing the property. Hussein remarked on the multi-faith solidarity, stating, “Today, really, it’s a true test of our community that we came out to support, to clean up after their mess to show them we are not going anywhere — that we are more united now than we’ve ever been before” (Community cleans, 2021, Nov 1). The Al Maghfirah Cemetery Association submitted another application for a conditional use permit, this time incorporating plans for a funeral home. After eight years of legal battles over land use and property crimes, the Association finally received the permit from the township in June 2022 (Ansari, 2022, Nov 29). The Association announced that the land would be developed in several stages. The initial stage involves clearing approximately five acres to accommodate around 5,000 burial plots, a parking lot, walking paths, and an Islamic center for funeral prayers and rites. The completed cemetery is projected to be the largest in Minnesota dedicated solely to Muslim burials (ibid.). References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Ansari, H. (2022, November 29). Muslim cemetery clears major hurdle toward opening after eight years of legal fights and vandalism. Sahan Journal. <a href="https://sahanjournal.com/culture-community/al-maghfirah-cemetery-association-muslim-cemetery-castle-rock-minnesota/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Community cleans up prospective Muslim cemetery site after vandalism. (2021, November 1). KSTP. <a href="https://kstp.com/minnesota-news/community-cemetery-cleanup/6287490">Web</a>. </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Judge tells township it must issue permit for Muslim cemetery: Denial called 'arbitrary, capricious'. (2016, February 2). St. Paul Pioneer Press, p. A5. 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%252F15B3EDB5ED0FF708"> NewsBank</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Nelson, E. (2016, February 2). Dakota County Judge rules in favor of Islamic cemetery: Castle Rock Township must issue a permit after its denial was deemed “arbitrary.” Star Tribune, p. 01B. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/15AC562A86C421C8">NewsBank</a>. </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">van Berkel, J. (2015, November 3). Bias is alleged after veto of Muslim cemetery plan: Association says southern Dakota County township unfairly reversed course. Star Tribune, p. 01B. 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%252F158E57BB0FEF48E0">NewsBank</a>. </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">van Berkel, J. (2015, November 4). Muslim leaders take quest for cemetery in Castle Rock Township to Court. Star Tribune. <a href="https://www.startribune.com/muslim-leaders-take-quest-for-cemetery-in-castle-rock-township-to-court/340019631">Web</a>. </li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource In November 2014, the Castle Rock Township Board of Supervisors denied the Al Maghfirah Cemetery Association’s application for a conditional use permit on 73 acres of land zoned residential. The rejection cited the size of the project, loss of tax base, and the lack of public availability. The Association filed a discrimination lawsuit in response. In January 2016, the Dakota County District Court ordered the Township to issue a conditional use permit, ruling that the loss of tax base constitutes an “arbitrary and capricious” justification. Since the ruling, the property has been vandalized twice. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ben Damon Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Castle Rock Township, MN Approved (initial denial) Cemetery Crimes Against Property Lawsuit (RLUIPA) Legislation Planning and Zoning Under Construction https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/e1462a6e6ea1029ad0291bfba7df8cbd.png f69c3a1103e5e5fc7f34203145cb159e 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 Cox (2017, Mar 16) 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. Mn_10 Location The location of the interview Chisago County, MN Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 26025 Lofton Ave, Chisago City, MN 55013 Year Year the case began. 2016 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 84GH+MG Chisago City, Minnesota Proposed Project 16-acre property with 2 acres for cemetery use Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="http://www.icbmn.org/main/">The Islamic Community of Bosniaks of Minnesota</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Planning and Zoning Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications In March 2017, the Chisago County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously, 4-0, to reverse its December decision and grant ICBMN a permit to proceed. Last Updated Date revised. June 12, 2024 Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In 2016, the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Minnesota (ICBMN), sought a conditional use permit (CUP) from the Chisago County Board of Commissioners to build a small cemetery on land zoned agricultural. ICBMN had been using Muslim sections of cemeteries in Roseville and Burnsville, but they lacked enough plots for future burials (Giles, 2017, Jan 23). As a result, the congregation of about 1,200 Bosnian Muslims purchased sixteen acres of land in Chisago Lake Township. Two acres would be used for the cemetery with a maximum of 800 graves, and the rest would remain farmland. Though Chisago County is more than 45 miles from ICBMN’s mosque in Minneapolis, the land was significantly more affordable than an urban location. In December 2016, the County Planning Commission, an advisory entity to the Board of Commissioners, voted 4-2 to approve ICBMN’s proposal with conditions. The permit called for constructing a parking lot, a building to house lawn maintenance equipment, and planting trees to act as screening (Knutson, 2016, Dec 7). At the meeting, local residents expressed concerns about the cemetery’s impact on property values, the appearance of a fence or gate, and groundwater contamination (Du, 2017, Jan 10). In response, the Planning Commission stated that there were already several cemeteries near the proposed site, area farms have always had fences and gates, and there is no proof that natural burials contaminate the earth (ibid). Despite the Planning Commission’s recommendation to approve the project, the Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to reject the proposed cemetery later that month. Commissioner Ben Montzka expressed his disappointment and theorized that “maybe it would have been easier, if it had been a majority religion, if it had been a Lutheran cemetery or maybe a Baptist cemetery” (ibid.). Following the Board’s decision, ICBMN announced that it would look elsewhere to construct its cemetery and hoped to receive an invitation from a suburban county with available land (Giles, 2017, Jan 23). In March 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced it was investigating the Board’s denial of the permit (Chisago County Board, 2017, Mar 16). Additionally, ICBMN expressed interest in suing Chisago County for religious discrimination. As a result, on March 15, the Board voted unanimously, 4-0, to reverse its previous decision and grant ICBMN a CUP to proceed with its cemetery project. The Board’s attorney had advised them to approve the permit, stating that “there is no insurance coverage for any Department of Justice inquiry. As depositions of yourself and your staff begin, costs will roll up exponentially” (ibid.). While news coverage of the cemetery project has been sparse since 2017, the initiative has progressed quietly. The ICBMN currently lists the cemetery on its official website as an operational facility where it provides funeral services to its members. This suggests that despite the limited media attention, the project has indeed moved forward, and the cemetery is now in use. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Chisago County Board approves Muslim cemetery amid looming discrimination lawsuit. (2017, March 16). Twin Cities. <a href="https://www.twincities.com/2017/03/16/chisago-county-board-approves-muslim-cemetery-amid-looming-discrimination-lawsuit/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Du, S. (2017, January 11). Fear of Muslims prompts Chisago County to reject Bosnian cemetery. CityPages. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170111141314/http://www.citypages.com/news/fear-of-muslims-prompts-chisago-county-to-reject-bosnian-cemetery/409916235">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Giles, K. (2017, January 23). Turned away in Chisago County, Bosnian Muslims search anew for cemetery land. Star Tribune. <a href="https://www.startribune.com/turned-away-in-chisago-county-bosnian-muslims-search-anew-for-cemetery-land/411596145/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Knutson, D. (2016, December 7). Muslim cemetery proposal clears county Planning Commission. Hometownsource.com. <a href="https://www.hometownsource.com/the_post_review/news/local/muslim-cemetery-proposal-clears-county-planning-commission/article_fbeaefc6-5df8-5dcd-88cb-6c3d5b8a7922.html">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">The Associated Press. (2017, March 16). Chisago County Board approves Muslim cemetery amid looming discrimination lawsuit. Twin Cities. <a href="https://www.twincities.com/2017/03/16/chisago-county-board-approves-muslim-cemetery-amid-looming-discrimination-lawsuit/">Web</a>.</li> </ul> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Chisago County, MN Description An account of the resource In December 2016, the Chisago County Board of Commissioners denied the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Minnesota’s proposal for a small cemetery. Local residents had expressed concerns about property values, traffic, and aesthetics. After the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it would investigate the denial and the Muslim community considered suing the County, the Board unanimously agreed in March 2017 to reverse its previous decision and approve the conditional use permit. Approved (initial denial) Built Cemetery DOJ Planning and Zoning Public Campaign https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/b583aa74b0b0d6687b7e01fb452cb357.jpeg 4871ebd19ad48b4dcc75e15fc300a029 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 http://www.lvislamiccemetery.org/photo-gallery/picture13/ 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. Nv_01 Location The location of the interview Las Vegas, NV Year Year the case began. 2015 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 7620 Bermuda Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89123 Proposed Project private, nonprofit cemetery on two acres of land Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Islamic Foundation of Nevada Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Approved, with conditions Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. As the Muslim population in Las Vegas grew steadily, there arose a need to develop a community and its accompanying infrastructure to support this expansion. Dr. Osama Haikal, a longstanding resident of Las Vegas, played a pivotal role in this endeavor by founding the <a href="https://lvislamicacademy.org/ohia-mission/">Omar Haikal Islamic Academy</a> and the <a href="https://omarhaikalmasjid.com/">Omar Haikal Masjid</a>, named after his father. Dr. Haikal also spearheaded a cemetery project located near the Masjid and Academy. This project was approved by the Clark County Board of Commissioners, including Steve Sisolak, who would later become the governor of Nevada. In early 2015, Dr. Osama Haikal sought a special-use permit to build a cemetery on his property. The Clark County staff endorsed his application for approval. Following this, the Town Board convened and reiterated its support for approval. The matter then proceeded to the Clark County Planning Commission, which recommended approval with certain conditions (Sisolak, 2015, Apr 2015). Following approval—with about a dozen conditions—by the County’s Planning Commission in early 2015, some residents appealed to the Board of Commissioners with concerns over possible flooding, water contamination, and impact on property values (Lopardi, 2015, Mar 18). In March 2015, County commissioners unanimously approved the cemetery project. However, Haikal agreed to implement several additional improvements and conditions for the project to address neighbors' concerns. These included a taller wall, increased landscaping, and specific operational hours to avoid burials during dark hours or high traffic, such as when students arrive or leave nearby schools (Brean, 2015, Mar 18). Additional conditions required that the cemetery have no signage, a modest funeral home resembling a small house, and flat graves marked with simple ground-level plaques. While no caskets would be used, bodies buried at the cemetery would be enclosed in concrete vaults (ibid.). After a protracted struggle spanning several months, the cemetery was eventually authorized and opened, signifying a noteworthy accomplishment for the neighborhood. The cemetery's successful construction is a significant step toward building the necessary infrastructure to accommodate the local Muslim community’s expanding population. <a href="http://www.lvislamiccemetery.org/">Las Vegas Islamic Cemetery</a> is running alongside the Haikal Islamic Academy and Masjid. One review online discusses the cemetery and how it is well-run. References <ul> <li>Brean, H. (2015, March 18). Valley’s first Islamic cemetery approved over neighborhood opposition. Las Vegas Review-Journal. <a href="https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/valleys-first-islamic-cemetery-approved-over-neighborhood-opposition/">Web</a>.</li> <li>Lopardi, M. (2015, March 18). Action News at 5PM. ABC - 13 KTNV (Las Vegas, NV). Available at <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%252F154293F3C887D680.">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li>Sisolak, S. (2015, April 7). Letters: Cemetery approved on legal merits. Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV), p. B008. Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/1548E0DF3213DAD0">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/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, and Lauren Yee Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Las Vegas, NV Description An account of the resource Dr. Osama Haikal played a crucial role in addressing the growing Muslim population in Las Vegas by establishing the Omar Haikal Islamic Academy, Omar Haikal Masjid, and a cemetery project near the Masjid. In early 2015, he sought approval for the cemetery, facing initial concerns over flooding and property values. After modifications like a taller wall and specific operational hours, the project gained unanimous approval from County commissioners. The Las Vegas Islamic Cemetery's successful completion reflects community progress and indicates efforts to accommodate the expanding Muslim population alongside essential infrastructure like the Haikal Islamic Academy and Masjid. Approved Built Cemetery Public Campaign REL230_SP24 https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/b3104cfc5945e25666e7d9e9c722e86d.png 1ca6f46cf1eb7689eac436c9a568cbdc 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 Bosniak Islamic Cultural Center in Carlisle, Pa. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://www.phillyvoice.com/pa-township-turns-down-proposed-islamic-cemetery/ 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. Pa_04 Location The location of the interview West Pennsboro Township, PA Year Year the case began. 2015 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 315 McAllister Church Rd, Carlisle, PA 17015 Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Bosniak Islamic Cultural Center of Carlisle Proposed Project 80-plot cemetery on land zoned agricultural Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign, Zoning and Planning Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Approved (overturned following initial denial) Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. Carlisle, Pennsylvania, is home to around eighty Bosnian families who immigrated there after the end of the 1995 Bosnian War and formed the Bosniak Islamic Cultural Center, which in November 2014 applied to build a cemetery in Dickinson Township. However, the proposal was denied, as the township’s zoning did not specify that cemeteries were permitted, and there were concerns about the landlocked nature of the property and its proximity to residential properties (Walmer, 2015, Mar 23). In 2015, the Bosniak Islamic Cultural Center requested the construction of their cemetery at a different site in West Pennsboro Township. The zoning of the property was agricultural and allowed for cemetery use. In February 2015, despite objections from West Pennsboro Township citizens, the township zoning board recommended the Board of Supervisors approve the Bosniak Islamic Cultural Center’s eighty-plot cemetery. However, the township’s Board of Supervisors rejected the application in March 2015, citing concerns over groundwater contamination. Expressing public opposition, West Pennsboro Township residents said the cemetery would “disturb their quality of life,” citing concerns about groundwater contamination and a decline in property value (DeKok, 2015, Mar 24). A resident called the building of the cemetery a “slap in the face” to veterans, further reinforcing the idea that Islam is seen as un-American (Walmer, 2015, Mar 23). Around 120 residents came to the township hall to protest the building of the Islamic cemetery (ibid.). A geologist testifying for the Bosniak community stated that Islamic burials would not impact nearby water wells. Moreover, the attorney for the group also emphasized that the burial practice did not violate state law, especially since the center had agreed to bury bodies five feet deep. The Township Board Chairman, Donald Agar, claimed that the proposed site would not be appropriate for a cemetery of any faith (DeKok, 2015, Mar 24). The head of the Bosniak Islamic Cultural Center of Carlisle, Alija Sejmenovi, told journalists he would appeal the township supervisor’s decision (ibid.). In April 2015, the Bosniak Islamic Cultural Center appealed the Board of Supervisors' decision, stating that the application's denial had not been evidence-based and that the board had overstepped its position. In May 2015, Judge Kevin Hess finally overturned the rejection and approved the group's cemetery development (Vaughn, 2016, May 4). Since then, there has been little information on any progress with the cemetery project. The case did not receive extensive coverage from media outlets. However, it was mentioned in several articles discussing the spread of Islamophobic backlash of Muslim burials (e.g., Lavoie, 2016, Apr 25). Most media coverage of the case was negative, with news outlets describing the Islamophobic actions of the township supervisors and city residents. Regarding the larger public response, Marian Kulp, a resident, wrote a letter calling for peace and freedom of religion (Kulp, 2015, Apr 7). References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">DeKok, D. (2015, March 24). Pennsylvania township nixes proposed Islamic cemetery, appeal likely. Reuters. Web.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Kulp, M. E. (2015, April 7). Everyone has right to proper burial [Letter to Editor]. The Sentinel (Carlisle, PA). 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%252F15493E0CF9EB9360.">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Lavoie, D. (2016, April 25). Backlash greets plans for Muslim cemeteries around the US. Associated Press. <a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-58d4287818d94658ac52db51ddd94f36">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Vaughn, J. (2016, May 4). Ask/Answered: Fate of Islamic cemetery. The Sentinel (Carlisle, PA). Available from <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/15CAD83D4C15F2C8">NewsBank</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Walmer, D. (2015, March 23). West Pennsboro Township officials vote down Bosniak Cemetery. The Sentinel. Available from <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=West%20Pennsboro%20Township%20cemetery&fld-base-0=alltext&bln-base-1=and&val-base-1=2015&fld-base-1=YMD_date&docref=news/15444CEA21F27DA0">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/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, and Lauren Yee Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource West Pennsboro Township, PA Description An account of the resource In 2015, the Bosniak Islamic Cultural Center applied to build a cemetery in West Pennsboro Township. Despite the agricultural zoning allowing for cemetery use, the township board rejected the application in March 2015, citing groundwater contamination concerns. Residents protested, expressing fears about property value decline and quality of life. The Bosniak community argued that Islamic burials wouldn't affect water wells and didn't violate laws. After an appeal, Judge Kevin Hess overturned the rejection in May 2015. Media coverage highlighted Islamophobic sentiments, but some residents advocated for religious freedom and peace. Approved (initial denial) Cemetery Planning and Zoning Public Campaign REL230_SP24 https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/d2d38ada40d0a41542363bfd5dcaeb62.png 04d20bb5c1b67c0b6578e3d7a7fd5c22 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource Monks, M. (2014, October 21). Islamic center in Covington gets OK to stay. The River City News. Retrieved from https://www.rcnky.com/articles/2014/10/21/islamic-center-covington-gets-ok-stay. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://www.rcnky.com/articles/2014/10/21/islamic-center-covington-gets-ok-stay Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Kentucky Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) No. Ky_04 Location The location of the interview Covington, KY Year Year the case began. 2014 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 1416 Garrard St, Covington, KY 41011 Proposed Project Community Center Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Islamic Association of Northern Kentucky Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource In October 2014, the Islamic Association of Northern Kentucky receives a conditional use permit for its learning center on Garrard Street. Neighbors had filed complaints over the use of the center for Friday congregational worship. Other issues included noise, parking, and traffic. The Association agreed to resolve the parking concerns and to refrain from using a call to prayer. Representatives from the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Cincinnati chapter and several supporters attended the hearing. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Covington, KY Approved CAIR Community Center Public Campaign