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Mark Humphrey / AP
The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro is under construction in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Updated at 7:30 p.m. ET: Construction work continued on a Murfreesboro, Tenn., mosque Wednesday despite a judge’s ruling a day earlier voiding building permits for the controversial project.
Chancellor Robert Corlew III of the 16th District Chancery Court ruled that construction must cease because not enough notice was given about a May 24, 2010, public meeting in which Rutherford County planning commissioners approved the site plan for the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro.
"This is Sharia law," Joe Brandon, plaintiffs’ attorney, said of construction continuing without a valid permit. "They’re thumbing their nose at the state of Tennessee."
Brandon lodged an order Wednesday at the Chancery Court asking that construction at the mosque be stopped completely.
The county had not issued a stop work order by the end of Wednesday, Brandon said.
"If it were you or I, they'd be out there and stop us," Brandon charged. "The county attorney needs to man up and tell them to stop."
Corlew ruled in favor of Kevin Fisher and other Rutherford County residents who sued the Planning Commission. The mosque is free to reapply for permits, he said.
"It's a good day for the plaintiffs; I'm very pleased with the outcome," plaintiff Henry Golcyznky said, adding he was somewhat surprised Corlew ruled in the plaintiffs' favor.
See the original story on NBC Station WSMV of Nashville, Tenn.
"There should have been public notice. People should have been allowed to come in and express or at least understand what was going on," Golcyznky said.
A public notice about the 2010 Planning Commission meeting, in which no public hearing was required over the mosque’s site plan, was published in the twice-weekly Murfreesboro Post, which has a contract to handle Rutherford County’s legal advertising.
Islamic Center members said they hoped to complete the first phase of the mosque by Ramadan, a month-long Muslim holiday beginning this year on July 20, based on the Islamic lunar calendar.
"This decision comes at a crucial time, because we were at a point about to celebrate the opening of our center. which we were hoping to happen, probably within two to three months. It's a sad day in our community," said mosque member Saleh Sbenaty.
Construction of the $2 million, 52,000-square-foot mosque is well under way, with the first phase, a 12,000-square-foot building, nearly complete.
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The mosque was not a party in the lawsuit.
"We really don't know the implications of the ruling that the judge came with. We're still in contact with our legal counsel. ... We're going to see what the next step is going to be," Sbenaty said
If the mosque officials must reapply for permits, then they will, he said.
A construction crew was at the mosque site Wednesday.
"The decision of the court will not be final at the earliest until 30 days after a court order is filed, county attorney Jim Cope said. "Therefore, things will remain in a fluid state during the next several weeks until the parties, ICM, and the court address all the legal issues that remain pending and unresolved."
The judge's ruling drew nationwide attention.
Council on American-Islamic Relations called for the Department of Justice to intervene in the case if the county doesn't issue new building permits to "protect the religious rights of Tennessee Muslims."
CAIR said the judge’s ruling “used phrases and reasoning which could be viewed as indicating that a higher degree of public notice is required for issues related to Tennessee Muslims.”
Earlier story at NBC station WSMV of Nashville, Tenn.
"American Muslim constitutional rights should not be diminished merely because anti-Muslim bigots are able to manufacture a controversy about what would otherwise be normal religious activities," said CAIR attorney Gadeir Abbas.
"If the Rutherford County Planning Commission does not immediately issue new permits for the mosque, we urge the Department of Justice to intervene in this case to support the religious rights of Tennessee Muslims."
Mosque opponents have fought construction for two years, arguing that Islam is not a real religion deserving of First Amendment protections and that the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro has terrorist ties.
The judge dismissed those allegations but held the trial on the narrower claim that the public meeting law was violated.
Larry Flowers is a reporter at NBC station WSMV of Nashville, Tenn.
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The good news is that the people of Tennessee still know how to take the law into their own hands. Not saying they should, but they do know how. An industrious and energetic "good old boy" will surely do something stupid.
Just wait.
Those things usually happen in places like California or Colorado and in rare instances in places like Idaho.
Fact is, the muslim bunch will not assimilate. In the end its their way or execution. Take a look at the Neatherlands and France. Look how these peaceful muslims have caused trouble all over muslim stuff. You want them here, you move them to your town. The muslim world was danceing in the streets when 9-11 went down. Have you all forgotten? I would never all any of them to imigrate here. Never.Look at Britan. Nothing but trouble.
If the government wants to stop immigration from muslim countries, fine.
On American soil, the constitution guarantees religious freedom. You can't trample on their religious freedom without trampleing on mine (and yours) as well. Don't take away my freedom to make me "safe".
The government is whizzing in the wind. They have no valid, legal, constitutional, grounds to deny the permit. The Mosque will win. The permit will be issued, and they'll build the mosque.
If you don't like freedom, leave.
Jarhead, your ASVAB score must have been in the single digits.
rusty-jarhead: I am sure the native cultures here in America had the same conversation when the Christians arrived and started forcing the indigenous peoples to convert to their faith. Nothing but trouble.
Just thought of something sad. It's going to be very difficult to explain to our veterans how we have betrayed them again. It will be even harder to explain to the parents of the fallen how we have willingly let the enemy into our country that their child fought so valiantly to protect. Fighting and dying to keep the country strong and united looks like another obsolete policy. Very confused time in our country.
I think the veterans are smarter than you give them credit for. They understand what they're fighting for. Freedom. The very freedom these people are exercising to build this mosque.
If you have some evidence that the people in this mosque are terrorists, let's hear it. If all you have is, "ALL muslims are terrorists", you're beyond clueless.
I'll let you explain it to them and their parents - you seem well versed. Begin with the Preamble... Then the Bill of Rights.. Also explain how the people of a community don't have any say as to the outside influences they want within their town.
What "outside influences"?
Some Americans are Muslim. It seems that you can't wrap your head around that fact.
Johnboy...I understand your fears...but I have to ask myself...have you ever served in the military ??? see my comment posted below and sleep well tonight...the BRAVE are on duty and are keeping watch...
I am trying my best to understand what most of you are talking about. I thought it was just over procedures for building permits. I understand the community should have a right to decide what types of businesses are erected in parts of towns or cities. I wouldn't want a strip bar next to my house or my neighbor turning his front yard into a parking lot or used car lot. So why is it that when a permit is being brought up that the community shouldn't be able to dispute or approve a project that may affect their way of life? What this article seems to be about is the lack of notification of the permit request. Now who is supposed to post this and decide on a date for such a meeting? Should the city or county be responsible to notify the neighbors or should there be a sign posted on the site of what is being proposed along with the information you need to protest or view the proceedings? I would think the person or persons requesting a permit would be responsible for following proper procedures. In either case someone didn't do what needed to be done and if so arguments should be heard for or against. What would happen if I was building a home and was ordered to stop work until a problem was resolved but instead decided to continue regardless of what a judge said? Could I be held in contempt of court? I'm sure this isn't the first time something like this has happened. Being in construction most of my life, I've seen some strange things. I've even seen money change hands between an inspector and a contractor. Could that be the case here?
They had a permit, they did not need a public hearing..It was done imo because of bigotry.
Okay so yes I do agree that it is a topic for the first ammendent rights, but do you have to be an american citizen to earn that right? Are they? Where is the funding coming from 2 mil dollars is nothing to shake a stick at and I dont think that we can just forget the turnmoil and threat to the US.
Who thinks that Islam is in fact a true religion? I dont. Anything that allows for honor killing in my book is not a religion. So who actually will police and determine what the true definition of religion is?
The federal government decides whether a religion is "true" or not. Islam is fully recognized by the federal government and it's followers have all the same religious protections as any other recognized faith.
Where are all the righties bitching about judicial activism? No public meeting required, yet the judge pulls the permits because the notice wasn't given, the same notice that was published Murfreesboro Post. Something stinks in Tennessee, and it's bigotry.
Sounds like public notice was done and reasonable. Sounds also that the plaintiffs and legal team is using the judicial system to harass the Mosque owners.
""This is Sharia law," Joe Brandon, plaintiffs’ attorney, said of construction continuing without a valid permit. "They’re thumbing their nose at the state of Tennessee."" Sounds like Mr. Brandon is a nut case using "This is Sharia law" to create public fear and hate. But then again this is Tennessee.
IMO, both sides look bad in this case. The 'not a true religion' and 'Shariah law' comments make the plaintiffs look bad, while continuing work on the project after the permit was voided does make it appear that the defendants are "thumbing their nose at the state of Tennessee".
SAD day indeed.The judge orders work to stop and the Muslims still build.If it were an American contractor who started to build without a permit They would have been shut down and told to dismantle the build,Then apply for a permit to build.
But no The muslims think they own the whole world and with our politicians giving them everything they want ,they will control the USA.
No more mosques in the USA.Go back to where you came from and live under your SHARIALAW there..If you try to get SHARIA LAW started here ,Then Its civil war, As an AMERICAN,I am free and will remain so,Now get out
In any other place, voiding a building permit would immediately allow police to barricade the site and prevent workers from entering. Of course, nobody wants to offend any Muslims, because they might blow up your neighborhood if they become offended.
In most other places the building would continue. You are clueless. The lawsuit is brought against the planning commission and no stop order was issued.
of course if this was for a church where the pastor was to get up and say how all gays should be put behind barbed wire fences there would be no cause for alarm about building that type of church
No need to fear the muslim world for it will self destruct. It works against the nature of man. We are living in the begaining of its self destruction. We must do our duty by stomping out the muslin extreamist for now. It will take some time. Look how long it took for the christians and the Catholic church to come around. Remember the dark ages and the burnings at the stake by so-called Christians. Western culture has grown to be superior to mid-eastern culture thanks to the Islamic religion and that pisses them off the most. Alla has failed them , they just can't get over it for now.
How about a nice pork BBQ on the grounds and bury the rest of the porker there. That would be a nice neighborly gesture reaching out to those Muslim stuff.
Suround them with a giant hog pen and barrels of sour corn mash. That should do just fine. Mooslims cannot be right in the head to not like pulled pork BBQ.
Don't forget Jewish law. They don't eat pork either. Are you planning to throw them out of the country too? I'm surprised people aren't complaining about Halakha law superseding US law, as silly as that might be.
I think you will find your position untenable if you just think on it for a moment.
All of this should come down to a few points.
Would a servant of Islam be a US citizen given the US Constitution says the state will not recognize any religion. There is a definite conflict of interest as is evidenced by the simple observation of the Islamic Religion in practice around the world. It seems to be better to be dead than for a follower to not hold the extreme laws of murder and persecution. I read all the time where the proponents of Islam say the Religion is the most tolerant on earth, but at the same time, fathers and mothers are murdering their children because they are becoming too Western or have non-Muslim boyfriends as with the story of the wanted "Honor Killer" Yaser Said that killed his two daughters.
If we were to honor the laws of Islam, would we need to throw away our own laws and moral codes to a point that children and women were tortured and murdered at the will of Allah? I have been reading up on Islam's history, law and other aspects of it and frankly speaking it is a scary thing to think of coming to America.
You stupid liberals think you can keep a pet Rattlesnake without the possibility of getting bit. After all, that is what a rattlesnake does so why be surprised. The doctrine of Islam is to take the unbelievers by force if necessary. If you need to kill the Infidels in the process, you are simply doing them a favor because that is the place where all blessings will come to you, not here in this life. Ask yourself on question and try to be honest. Do you believe that being a liberal will get you any special consideration on the streets of Iran? If you go over there and talk about the great things Free will or loving your fellow man will bring you. How about asking to date a pretty girl?
MCR and the stupid comment of "The Confederacy lives" . If you had a brain in your head you might realize the problems of today are eons beyond the Civil War or petty arguing. The quite movement of Islam into the country is just the quiet before the storm as history shows.
There is only one way I can see to get some kind of assurance that Muslims are true Americans. Take the same oath every new immigrant takes as well as a person serving in the Armed Forces. However, we have seen how well that works after the doctor at Ft. Hood shot all of those people.
Maybe we should have "them" wear a yellow star, or perhaps a moon & star symbol?
I do not see how the mooslums will take hold in America. If so , the libtards will be the first to be purged. The Christians will answer with bullets.
skrekk, no need for mooslums to wear a moon or star, they stick out like a libtard fag.
Why do they stick out? Because they don't wear a silly hat from last century or a big old belt buckle?
Gimme that OLD-TIME religion!
When the human world beats itself back into the DARK AGES or further, it won't be due to the bullets and bombs, it will be due to religion.
Yoshi
I doubt that. The trend is toward godlessness.
And brainlessness as well it appears.
Once again, religion shows it's ugly side. In America, to some people - in particular evangelical Christians - the term "freedom of religion" means only if it's a Christian religion. Another "my god is better than your god". These people who call themselves both Americans and Christians would do well to look at themselves in the mirror and realize they're being neither. Tennessee.....are you now trying to be the toilet of America? FFS
Once again, the libs are talking BS. Thank God you can speak BS in America. In the mooslum world you would lose your head. I'll take the ugly Christians any day.
Let'em build thier mosque and worship the same as sny other religion dose in thier house of prayer...BUT...keep your religion in yuor house of prayer and not condemm anyone for not believing the same as you...this is AMERICA after all and I and thousands of others have fought and died on foreign soil to defend the right to freedom of religion...so worship and believe in who or what ever you choose...just don't try to impose your beliefs on others...AMERICA...LAND OF THE FREE...HOME OF THE BRAVE !!!!!!!!!!!
That my friend would be: THE LAND OF THE FREE ..... BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE !!!!!!!!!
I support the people building the mosque. There is no reason for them to stop constuction no matter how many stupid judges they can pull out of an outhouse.
This judge should be horse whipped. I am by no stretch of the imagination supportive of the Muslim religion; sadly my mind has been poisoned by what a small majority of them has done throughout the world....BUT, to deny a people a right to practice their religion is a violation of the United States Constitution. This crap must stop at some point.
I am not against them building. But the neighbors do have the right of freedom of speech also. They have the right to voice their opinion after all we leave where the majority rule not minority. If the process for building permit where not meet all they have to do is reapply. Anyone of any faith would have to comply the ordances passed in the area for a building permit. What is so hard to understand?
I pray all is well with you and yours...Tell your husband thanks from a Viet Nam Vet
As soon as @!$%#-ra law is mentioned, I want to expel these people. This country was founded on Christian law and these "special purpose people" seem to beleive they have some special rights,( because our founding fathers limited the laws for rational europeans who did not seek special privledges) and special laws. I have become prejustice because these groups expect that we live by their rules. They need to go back to their country, from where they escaped from, and not change their host country.
I am afraid that this will all end with a civil war, with most rational Americans fighting for our rights and these POS's fighting for their special rights.
GO BACK HOME
If you think the US was "founded on Christian law", how exactly does that differ from Sharia law, Kosher law, Mosaic law, Canon law, etc?
Why should the secular government enforce the laws of your cult?
Besides, America was founded under common law mostly by Deists. Wiki "Jefferson Bible" some time. You might be surprised.
I have NOTHING against 'other's' religious beliefs... EXCEPT when the 'practices' of THAT religion directly affects others. Islam...? Do they not live by the "Old Testament" in ways that thier "LAWS" are that of "executing" people over what "other religions" would consider "immoral" or perhaps 'trivial' but punishable in certain "humanitarian ways" ways? THIS being said, even though our "CONSTITUTION" is basically 'null & void' thanks to "Obama" (?)... Letting the "settlement" of these 'extremists' UNDER a supposed "church / religion" & building such an 'establishment', WHAT would keep THEM from taking the 'whatever laws' into thier OWN hands? WHAT LAW do WE have to STOP them under the seperation of church & state? Don't get me wrong but I LOVE ALL people. I HATE thier ways when what they do, & believe it is "righteous", yet not anything to do with "MAKING PEACE"... Then? I cannot AGREE to letting these "ALIENS" build an "establishment" that does NOT have a "PURELY PEACEFUL" purpose. It is being done for reasons that are NOT of our "EVER LOVING GOD" but to push thier 'sovereignty' over "America" in which our forefather built upon Christianity & THAT way of life. Obama is NOT a "Christian" as he claims. IF anyone IS a "Christian", they would NOT have to tell everyone or "advertise it"... TRUE Christianity is shown by your actions- Reading "The Beatitudes" will explain a LOT in which helps us to understand the "Ten Commandments"- Even if one is Athiest, in which I have many friends who are though I am not, at least they carry themselves with dignity & respect but MOST of all, they treat others that way. THAT is what makes them very special.
Anyway.... ALL that I ask for is that ALL people come together- JUST like we did after the 9/11, before we found out it WAS an 'inside job'- WE are ALL we have now- Our government has betrayed us in ways we never thought would be happening- May God.. OUR ONE GOD, help us all... We never should have let this country turn it's back on Him. He blessed us with this country, though it was "taken / stolen" by the ancestors from the Indians & LOOK what THEY did to THEM! (NOW it's KARMA time...) Ever since we did "kick God out", our country has gone to hell & it's going to get a LOT worse. :-( BTW? I NEVER mean to offend ANYONE- If anything that I have written has been taken out of context, I sincerely apologize. I'm just expressing myself the best way I can. Love to ALL & LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH!!!
Wow, I see bigotry is still alive and festering in Tennessee. There are probably a hundred churches in that county. If I can put up with a church every 5 miles they can put up with one mosque in a +50 mile radius.
The spokesman for the plaintiff is a real piece of bovine ordure, claiming continued construction is "Sharia law." Really? Do they even have internet hook-up in this ignorant backwoods community? Any chance this dubious judge can also put an injunction on the residents in this bigoted community from further procreating? Clearly too late.
You bigoted hypocrites don't know @!$%# about those people. Basically the same happened when the Muslims started construction on their mosque near ground zero in New York City.
Murphreesboro is more or less a subburb of Nashville and there are a lot of intelligent people there but you hypocrites feel the need to look down on someone and now that is all that is all that is left that is "politically correct" So don't go preaching when you are every bit as guilty.
Rick sounds like a FOX viewer.
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They likely think that that whatever form of christianity they claim to practice is the only 'real' religion.
Do you suppose they have any idea what ignorant morons this makes them sound like?
Yes, of course, but the difference is that they're not going to try to kill you over it.
No the difference is, instead of killing you, they just seek to make you less than a full human with full rights through the law, which is obviously the most cowardly way of doing it, and of course the religious right embraces cowardism.
That's some pretty distorted logic there. Equating opposition to gay marriage with physically killing someone for their sexual orientation. Thank your lucky stars that you are in no danger at all for such nonsense.
Just as obviously, courage and cowardice have nothing to do with it. There are religious TEACHINGS involved which are different. It's true that both Christianity and Islam strongly disapprove of homosexuality, but they differ on what to do about it. In your view, apparently if Christians were as courageous as Muslims then they would be trying to physically kill homosexuals. What a despicable statement.
I doubt they do, but then again I am also assuming that you don't realize that your post makes us think the same thing about you. People in America have a right to dislike Islam and to legally oppose it in any way possible should they choose. The true morons are the Americans oppose this for Christians, while supporting anything and everything Muslims want to do here.
Ah yes. Religious ignorance and intolerance lives.
I would argue that anyone who follows an organized religion is ignorant and governments that allow organized religion to pray on the poor and simple-minded are also at fault...