https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/ee1cd8df2085c692265bf8425d47fc27.jpeg 3d72dab916297c71f2c83f8e3f6761a7 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://themuslimcemetery.com/ Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Il_20 Location The location of the interview Homer Glen, IL Year Year the case began. 2023 Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 18131 S Meader Rd, Homer Glen, IL 60491 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. H25R+9X Homer Glen, Illinois Proposed Project 40-acre Muslim cemetery with a maximum of 24,000 graves (<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://themuslimcemetery.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Muslim Ummah Cemetery</a>) Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://orlandparkprayercenter.org/">Orland Park Prayer Center</a> Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Public Campaign Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications The cemetery was permitted use under the existing county rules before August 2023, when the Will County Board voted unanimously to require a special-use permit for cemetery development. This change did not apply retroactively to the Muslim Ummah Cemetery. Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In 2020, the Orland Park Prayer Center (OPPC), located about 40 minutes outside Chicago, purchased a 40-acre plot of land to construct the Muslim Ummah Cemetery in Homer Glen, IL. The community of nearly 30,000 Muslims, who are predominantly of Palestinian descent, had previously buried its members in a section of a mostly Christian cemetery until it ran out of space (Abdelaziz, 2024, Mar 15). Kifah Mustapha, the imam at OPPC, applied for the necessary permits and licenses to purchase and develop the land, raised enough money to construct the cemetery, and hired a law firm to represent the group’s interests (ibid.). On April 27, 2023, a petition opposing the cemetery's construction began, gathering over 1,500 signatures (Abdelaziz, 2024, Mar 15). Residents listed numerous concerns, including a lack of transparency, groundwater contamination, increased traffic, and environmental protection. More than 200 people, mostly critics of the proposed cemetery, attended a town hall in May to voice their opposition (ibid.). However, neither the county nor the state’s public health agencies found that the cemetery would create a credible public health concern. In response to the community opposition, Mustapha stated that “Every community had its own struggle, from the Irish to the Jewish community, to the Black and Latino community, so Muslims are no exception. But this goes against what this country is all about. We have the Constitution and laws that protect the rights of a citizen as an individual or as a community” (ibid.). Also in May, the Will County Land Use Committee and Planning and Zoning Commission began to research cemetery ordinances, as cemeteries had not been developed in unincorporated areas of Will County in more than two decades (Mullins, 2023, Aug 20). OPPC filed a permit on June 29 requesting that the Will County Land Use Department approve its use of the remaining 35 acres of the property, in addition to the 5 acres it had been granted initially (Kukulka, 2023, Jul 13). Construction of an access road leading to the Muslim Ummah Cemetery began in July (ibid.). On August 17, the Will County Board unanimously voted to require a special-use permit for cemetery development to “ensure their location minimizes any negative land use on neighbors” (Mullins, 2023, Aug 20). The ordinance change did not retroactively apply to the Muslim Ummah Cemetery, which had already received a permit to construct its cemetery, as well as road work, stormwater management, fencing, and landscaping (ibid.). The Muslim Ummah Cemetery was successfully built and has been fully operational since September 2023. More than two dozen burials have taken place, and there is enough space to accommodate 24,000 graves. Additionally, OPPC plans to expand its cemetery to include a funeral service facility that can transport, wash, and shroud bodies (Abdelaziz, 2024, Mar 15). Doing so would require a zoning change and approval by the Will County Board. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Abdelaziz, R. (2024, March 15). They Desperately Wanted To Build A Cemetery. Then Came The Backlash. Huffington Post. <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/they-desperately-wanted-to-build-a-muslim-cemetery-then-came-the-backlash_n_65f33164e4b0dddcf7bd3501">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Kukulka, A. (2023, July 13). Will County officials say county action won’t stop construction for eco-friendly cemetery. Chicago Tribune. <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/2023/07/13/will-county-officials-say-county-action-wont-stop-construction-underway-for-eco-friendly-cemetery/">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Mullins, M. (2023, August 20). Special-use permit to be required for cemeteries. Daily Southtown. Available through <a href="https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/193877CD9AE34918&f=basic">NewsBank</a>.</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. June 16, 2004 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Homer Glen, IL Description An account of the resource In 2020, the Orland Park Prayer Center purchased a 40-acre plot of land in Homer Glen, IL, to construct the Muslim Ummah Cemetery. Local residents opposed its construction due to concerns about lack of transparency, groundwater contamination, and increased traffic. The Will County Board voted unanimously to require a special-use permit for cemetery development, which did not apply retroactively to the Muslim Ummah Cemetery. The cemetery successfully opened in September 2023. The Muslim community intends to construct a funeral service facility in the future. Approved Built Cemetery Legislation Public Campaign