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 This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024).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