https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/88a8b93da67aef0d007341e0931954e8.jpg 7b9ca8fafb588e967c5ffcda18e3c476 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Georgia Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Ga_06 Location The location of the interview Kennesaw, Cobb County, GA Date November 2014-April 2015 Summary Enter a brief description of the case (no more than 600 characters). This should be one or two sentences. A Muslim community from Kennesaw, Ga, intends to convert a space in a strip mall into a storefront masjid after realizing that the distance of other masjids make attending congregational Jummah (Friday) prayers inaccessible to many of those with commitments. Upon proposing this plan to the Kennesaw City Council, they are asked to attend a public hearing. This is unprecedented, as a strip mall Pentecostal church was recently approved without a hearing. Regardless, the masjid’s board members agree. Although this is intended to be a board meeting to discuss zoning concerns, it is clear that oppositions fueled with Islamophobia take the stage. An amended version of the masjid’s motion is denied 2-3; the original plan is then revisited, yet once again denied 4-1. Two weeks later, after media attention at the local and national levels, the original motion is approved unanimously. The masjid’s board members (with the assistance of the Department of Justice) file a successful lawsuit to avoid any denial or discrimination in the future. Address Enter the full address, if it is available. 2750 Jiles Rd, Kennesaw, GA 30144 Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 29FG+R8 Kennesaw, Georgia Proposed Project 2200 sq. ft space in a strip mall, with two separate entrances for men and women; occupancy of maximum 150 people; expected amount for daily prayers is 10-20; 60-80 at peak Friday times; appropriate amount of parking spaces Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. Masjid Suffah Type of Opposition Public Campaign, Vandalism, Legal Action, Local Ordinance Local ordinance (public protest), zoning dispute Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications Denied, then approved Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. Masjid Board Members Create Proposal For members of the Kennesaw’s Muslim community, the closest masjid that they could attend was about a 30-minute drive. This meant an hour for commute alone, not including unanticipated traffic flow, in addition to the prayer service which lasts roughly another hour. For those in the community with workplace commitments or childcare obstacles, this meant missing what is considered the most important prayer in Islam: Jummah prayers. Jummah prayers are congregational prayers that take place on Fridays, in the way that Christians come together on Sundays. However, inaccessibility unfortunately made Kennesaw’s Muslim residents miss Jummah prayer. Five members of the community realized that they could seize the opportunity to establish a masjid in Kennesaw to make it easier for Muslim residents to attend congregational prayers (personal communication, March 1, 2019). They found a suitable space in a strip mall alongside other small businesses to convert into a storefront mosque. Petition to City Council for Temporary Use Permit Issues surrounding the permitting process for Masjid Suffah were numerous. Starting with meetings between Masjid officials and city councilmembers in early November and progressing through a city council meeting on November 17, the acceptance of the application was dragged out. The process had no precedent. Space in a similar shopping center had been let out to a Pentecostal Church less than six months prior (Brangham 2014, Dec 20). The board members of the masjid attended the city council meeting on November 17 during which public comment was invited. The board members remember the majority of queries at the meeting were about Islam and not about zoning issues (personal conversation, March 1, 2019). The city council decided the table the issue for two weeks until the next regularly scheduled meeting on December 1 and asked the applicants to have information meetings (public hearing) with their neighbors in the interim. During the follow-up meeting of the city council on December 1st, the attorney acting on behalf of the city, Randall Bentley, asked the masjid if they were willing to agree to several stipulations, including a maximum Land Use permit of 24 months, a cap on the number of attendants and parking spaces, and a promise not to challenge the city legally under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which protects religious buildings like Masjid Suffah from discrimination under zoning and landmarking laws. The masjid agreed, and this amended motion was proposed by Councilmember Welsh and seconded by Council member Killingsworth. It failed by a 2-3 margin, with only Welsh and Killingsworth in support. The motion to retain the original plans for the masjid construction was then voted on and failed 4-1, with only Councilmember Welsh in favor. Councilmember Welsh, the only initial “yes” vote and herself a devout Catholic, reported that after her “yes” vote, her private information, including her home address, Facebook, and pictures of her children had been released on a hate site. Despite “being rattled” by the negative attention, hate, and threats from her constituents (Brangham 2014, Dec 20). Reversal of City Council Vote and Lawsuit Exactly two weeks from the first vote, the original motion was passed unanimously, although not without significant difficulty. The threat of a lawsuit from the masjid and the potential involvement of a federal judge put significant pressure on the Council to rectify its actions. The additional fact of masjid officials being in contact with the Department of Justice, even unofficially, made it extremely politically fraught for the Council not to allow construction. Following the reversal, the masjid decided to sue the City Council to prevent further action from being taken against the masjid. Dillard, an attorney who has previously won similar cases in Alpharetta and Marietta, known as a religious freedom expert, submitted the filing on December 30th (Klepal 2015, Jan 1). Public Protest Some of the key issues community members brought up in the initial City Council Meeting on November 17, 2014, explored the idea of traffic congestion, availability of parking, community and business disturbances, and the masjid’s effects on the commercial activities at the shopping center. David Nicholas, a community member, argued, “It is a retail space and compatibility may be an issue. Section e-6 addresses adequate parking and 60-80 people will attend but will be there at various times during the day. If there are 127 parking spaces, that many people will be more than half of the available parking. Growth does not seem limited” (Kennesaw City Council Hearing, Nov 17, 2014, p.11). Maria Nicholas, the wife of David Nicholas, also addressed the issue of public disturbances that could be seen within areas like nursing homes. She posed questions regarding noise levels from traffic and the mosque itself that could be a potential hazard to the elderly (ibid.). Owners of several stores pondered the question of what the mosque would or would not bring to their businesses and the possibility. In response to the issues raised at the meeting, Attorney Dillard argued for the leasing of the permit due to the fact that zoning cannot be denied over the fear of traffic and anticipated parking issues (ibid.). Several questions about the type of religious practice at the proposed masjid were voiced at the city council meeting on November 17 but resurfaced with greater intensity at the mandated public hearing Monday, November 24 (Galloway 2014, Dec 5). The subsequent city council meeting on December 1 did not allow public comment but protesters gathered outside city hall before the session with signs reading “Ban Islam,” and “Islam wants no peace.” Protesters also held American flags as well as the old Georgia state flag that includes the Confederate battle flag. Some protester openly carried firearms (ibid.) Aftermath The masjid’s journey extended far past issues of zoning and local xenophobia. Media attention at the local and national levels propelled this case into discussions of religious freedom and the true impact of the First Amendment. Reporting done by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Huffington Post, and PBS highlighted the importance of the Kennesaw case after a long battle against not only the city council but also against protestors from the Kennesaw area as well from areas farther away. After a difficult beginning, the mosque is now successful and has brought together the Muslim community of Kennesaw in even greater ways. Since the issues with city council, Masjid Suffah opened up the storefront mosque and members are currently finishing up interior development. They regularly hold daily worship sessions, including the Friday prayers. Other activities at the masjid include meals to mark the end of Ramadan fasting and donations to surrounding underserved communities. Building a Permanent Space Members of this masjid have initiated plans to build a large, permanent multi-purpose space of 3.5 acres and 200 parking spaces for both regular worship and for children to play. Zoning and budget affairs have already been worked out and architecture plans have been submitted to the city council. The project is also privately funded, making it difficult to predict when it will be completed. Masjd Suffah continues to face some of the same obstacles with parking concerns from residents and permit issues delaying construction. References Enter list of sources cited using the proper format. Local: Selby, Emily (2016, July 05). Kennesaw mosque thriving after bumpy beginning. Marietta Daily Journal. Web. Regional <ul><li>Galloway, Jim (2014, December 3). Behind Kennesaw's rejection of a storefront mosque. The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Web.</li> <li>Klepal, Dan (2014, December 31). Federal lawsuit filed as precaution over Kennesaw mosque. The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Web.</li> </ul>National <ul><li>Brangham, William (2014, December 20). Freedom of religion? Mosque debate in Georgia town reveals sharp divide. PBS News Hour Weekend. Web.</li> <li>Shahshahani, Azadeh (2015, March 11). Mosque Controversy in Georgia. Huffington Post. Web.</li> </ul> Local Government Documents <ul><li>City of Kennesaw (2014, November 17). Minutes of Mayor & City Council Meeting. City of Kennesaw. Web.</li> <li>City of Kennesaw (2014, December 1). Minutes of Mayor & City Council Meeting. City of Kennesaw. Web.</li> </ul> Last Updated Date revised. August 23, 2019 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 Kennesaw, GA Description An account of the resource A documented account of Case No. GA_06, occurring in Kennesaw, GA. 30144 in Cobb County from November 2014 to April 2015 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Approved Built DOJ Lawsuit (RLUIPA) Mosque Planning and Zoning Public Campaign