Fayette County, TN

The Muslim Society of Memphis proposed a cemetery in Fayette County, Tennessee, encountering substantial local opposition due to fears of terrorism and health risks. Despite initial setbacks and a withdrawn application, the Society eventually secured approval. The cemetery, now operational, ensures regional burial needs for Muslims are met.

Florian Pohl

2004

The intended cemetery site was a 5-acre section of a 27-acre tract zoned for rural residential use.

Approved (initial denial)

In Fayette County, Tennessee, the Muslim Society of Memphis proposed establishing a cemetery on an unused sod farm approximately 20 miles east of the city. This proposal led to significant local opposition. The intended cemetery site was a 5-acre section of a 27-acre tract zoned for rural residential use. The Muslim Society required a “special use" zoning exemption from the Fayette County Planning Commission to proceed. Although the planning commission approved the request, a committee of the elected county commission disapproved it, leading to the withdrawal of the application before a full vote by the county commission.

Local residents expressed a range of concerns at a planning commission meeting. Some feared that the cemetery could be used as a terrorist staging ground or pose health risks due to the traditional Muslim practice of not embalming their dead (Baird, 2004, Dec 25). Belinda Ghosheh, one of the property owners, reported feeling threatened by the hostile atmosphere at the county commission meeting (ibid.).

Dr. Zaman, president of the Muslim Society of Memphis, mentioned that the proposal had been under discussion for three years (Ferguson, 2005, Jan 4). Despite the planning commission's initial approval and the presence of 17 existing cemeteries in the area, including one directly across the road, strong resistance led to the withdrawal of the application. The decision to withdraw was also influenced by a concern that a rejection would preclude future applications for the same site.

Following the local protest, Dr. Zaman reported that the Department of Justice had contacted him, expressing interest in investigating whether the opposition violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (Ferguson, 2005, Jan 4). He indicated that the Muslim Society of Memphis was exploring other legal avenues to establish the cemetery on the same land, highlighting the group's determination to secure a burial place for their community (ibid.).

Eventually, the Muslim Society of Memphis succeeded in getting the project approved. Today, they proudly list the cemetery on their website as the "[f]irst Muslim Cemetery in Mid-South on 27.5 acres of beautiful rolling land by I-40E, complete with a durable Masjid, capable of accommodating the regional burial needs of Muslims for centuries."

References

• Baird, W. (2004, December 25). Cemetery plans spur anti-Muslim sentiment. Mobile Register (AL), p. 07. Available from NewsBank.
• Ferguson, B. (2005, January 4).  Tennessee residents reject plans for Muslim cemetery. Arab News. Web.