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AP Photo/Erik Schelzig
A worker walks out of a mosque being built in Murfreesboro, Tenn., on June 21, 2012. The mosque has been the subject of a lawsuit since 2010.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A federal judge has ruled that Muslims in a Tennessee congregation have a right to occupy their newly built mosque, overruling a county judge's order that was keeping them out.
The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro sued Rutherford County on Wednesday and U.S. District Judge Todd Campbell granted the mosque an emergency order to let worshippers into the building before the holy month of Ramadan starts at sundown Thursday. Federal prosecutors also filed a similar lawsuit.
But a county building codes inspector announced Thursday the mosque would not be ready for occupancy for at least two weeks, reported Tennessean.com.
Septic facilities need to be installed, and approval needs to be obtained from the state Department of Environment and Conservation, the fire marshal, and other entities, said Rutherford County Building Codes Director David Jones after he inspected the Islamic Center on Thursday morning. There's also exterior work that needs to be done before the building is ready for its final inspection, he said.
The future of the mosque had been in question since May, when a local judge overturned the county's approval of the mosque construction. This month, he ordered the county not to issue an occupancy permit for the 12,000-square-foot building.
In past years, community members have gathered for Eid-al-Fitr -- the breaking of the fast for Ramadan -- in the parking lot of the rented worship space that they outgrew, the Tennessean.com reported.
The contentious fight over the mosque stems from a 2010 lawsuit filed by a group of residents who made repeated claims that Islam was not a real religion and that local Muslims intended to overthrow the U.S. Constitution in favor of Islamic religious law.
Those claims were dismissed, but opponents won with a ruling that overturned the approval to build the mosque on the grounds that county didn't give adequate public notice of the meeting.
Previously on this story: Mosque work continues after judge voids building permit
Although the county advertised that meeting in the same way it has advertised others, the judge said extra notice was needed because the mosque construction was "an issue of major importance to citizens."
'The Muslim community ... has been under siege'
In court Wednesday, U.S. Attorney Jerry Martin said the chancery court judge, in essence, created a separate "mosque standard" applicable only to someone who wants to build a mosque.
Citing acts of vandalism, arson and a bomb threat against the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, Martin said, "The Muslim community in Rutherford County has been under siege for the last two years. Now, after doing everything right, they are told that they can't move in."
Martin asked the federal judge to fulfill a promise made by the congregation's religious leader, Imam Ossama Bahloul, to the children of the congregation that justice would be done and they would be allowed to worship in their new space.
The congregation is being represented by The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and local civil rights attorney George Barrett. The lawsuit filed in federal court in Nashville alleges violations of federal law and the constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and equal protection.
"If ICM were a Christian church, it would have been granted a certificate of occupancy and would be worshipping in its new facility today," a memorandum to the federal court reads, citing 20 instances of Christian churches that have been allowed to build since 2000. "... The discriminatory treatment of the mosque also sends a powerful message to the Muslim community that they are second-class citizens, not worthy of the same rights or protection as Christian churches."
Attorneys for Rutherford County did not oppose the temporary restraining order. County attorneys have argued in chancery court hearings that treating the mosque differently from other applicants was discriminatory and a violation of their rights.
County Attorney Jim Cope said after the hearing that he felt vindicated by Campbell's ruling.
Mosque leader Bahloul said he had been reluctant to involve the mosque in the lawsuit but felt he had no choice after the certificate of occupancy was refused.
He said Campbell's ruling means a lot to Muslims in Tennessee and their supporters.
"We are here to celebrate the freedom of religion and that the concept of liberty is a fact existing in this nation," he said, reported WBIR.com in Tennessee. "The winner today is not an individual, the winner today is our nation and the fact that our Constitution prevailed."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Beyond the obvious issues of freedom, what is particularly sad is that because these people refuse to engage with Islam at all they have no clue about the most basic essential facts of what's actually in the Quran: it is there that Muslims learn the entire history of Jesus, Abraham, Moses, Noah and all prophets who came to deliver a message from God to humanity. It is there that Muslims are taught to respect an honour Jews and Christians as "people of the Book." Anyone who even bothers to open it will find page after page on Jesus and Mary, on Moses vs Pharoah, stories that they will recognize from their own upbringing. I heard a complete and total moron from a County representative pretending he was an attorney cross-examining the petitioners (it's a Zoning request for goodness' sake) actually say, "Do you believe Allah is God?" Hello? The word Allah is Arabic for..wait for it..God. So what, are we supposed to have some short list of acceptable English translations of the word "God." I mean, seriously, climb off the mountain and come down to the rest of planet Earth. Oh, and once in awhile, pick up the Constitution and give it a read.
Jesus was not a pacifist! His followers protected him from wild beasts and highwaymen by use of weapons. In fact, Peter lopped off the ear of one of those that came to take him before the Jewish Court. Jesus said his war was not against earthly governments but was indeed a spiritual war. Our first obligation is to protect those of our own and if that involves weapons, so be it!
Please stop the Bible lessons. It's totally irrelevant to the issue. The Constitution doesn't say ANYTHING about Christianity.
The constition guarantees that I can dance around any totem pole I want to.
John Clemnetstone - just say stupid!
So you're going to be an anti-Muslin vigilante? What's your plan, shoot them down in the street or break into their homes and slaughter them at night?
What a guy!
Yeah, way to defend those honor killings...
way to defend the ant-blashphemy laws...
Gee, where can I get some acid to throw on little girls faces who want an education?
Isam, just say NO.
What in the world are you talking about? Is someone proposing to allow honor killings? Has Tennessee passed some anti-blasphemey laws?
Did someone refuese to prosecute a muslim for throwing acid on littler girls faces?
Republicans love "freedom", but they hate civil rights. LOL. They love the Constitution, but they don't understand it.
Thank <insert your favorite invisible daddy in the sky here> that the founding fathers were smarter than these rubes.
sam -- when you want to crawl out from your rock, you might just google honor killings ---- and you will only get Islam...same with the other atrocities...
Yawn...so many uninformed posts...but not enough time...
Sam
Republicans also love this country but hate half of the people in it
The Republican Party is slowly morphing into the old Dixiecrats
"The Republican Party is slowly morphing into the old Dixiecrats"
That's been happening since the 60s when LBJ pissed them off by give civil rights to black people. The Republicans were a minority party until they started recruiting rural, sourthern, racists, and they still are. There aren't enough country club members for them to win any election without the hillbilly vote.
In Texas, EVERY large city was BLUE in 2008. Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Austin, and El Paso all went for Obama. Unfortunately, we have a LOT of trailer parks.
Interesting how these snake-handling geeks want to claim that Islam isn't a "real" Religion.
Let's see
One of the opponents stated that Islam is not a "real" religion
Now that's a hoot
I hate to break it to you buddy but all religions are made up BS
And the sooner that we get rid of them all the better
unforgiven -- it is doubtful you could even define relgion...you do understand that Bertrand Russell considered communism to be a religion?...while I am not a communist, it is not trivial to dismiss its principles...
So many uniformed posts...so little time....
John
Surely you jest
Question: What's the difference between religion and delusional thinking
Answer: A book
"define religion".
That's a hoot. Excuse me. It's time to dance around my totem pole.
LOL -- Amusing the non-responses of the Islam appologists..
So many uninformed posts...but not enough time. (sigh)
Bertrand Russell?
Sam-289381 said communism is not a religion. What makes his opinion more valid than mine? Nobody in their right mind would define a political belief as "religion", especially not the Supreme Court.
The Constitution does not define "religion", and doesn't mention Christianity, or Judaism, or any other specific religion. The Supreme court has historically give a very broad definition to "religion". I'm confident that Islam qualifies...... Invisible diety that can't be proven to exist? Check. Holy book "written" by invisible diety? Check. Rabid followers who pick and choose various vague religious writings and interpret them to mean just about anything they want? Check.
The only thing that can be remotely justified is the judge calling Islam not a "real religion" because Muslims consider Islam to be more than a religion. They think of it as a way of life. Actually, when I took the ACT, Islam wasn't listed as a religion and the list had over 40 religions...
Nope. Judges don't get to define what a "real" religion is, and neither do you.
Camel jockeys ..tsk...give them an inch and bye bye tennesee , nice knowing ya
A nice example as to how Americans are treated by the local as well as national bigots. I jsut wrote a blog post, featuring John McCain defending Hillary Clinton.
I need not go thru that sad episode in which former GOP presidential contender, Michele Bachmann, with few others, accused Hillary of subscribing to the hated Muslim Brotherhood. Such a waste of her valuable time. Huma Abedin, the culprit, Hillary's long time aide, is Muslim, no kidding. She was married to a Jew, no kidding. They have a bouncy baby, no kidding. Huma Abedin was born in the good old USA, no kidding.
If anything as stupid as Michele, et al frontal assault on a noble person can happen in this land, a minor, bureaucratic delay may not be considered as a violation of (group) of person's fundamental rights.
This is America, the land of milk and honey and right wing (Christian) fundamentalists jingoism.
Life goes on.
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I am glad that Michele Bachmann spoke. With her past behavior, in the GOP presidential nominee campaign, I heard her saying more crazy things. Promptly I commented on her rather, idiotic notions.
She has constituency, not necessarily in state. She speaks for a section of American political spectrum, conservatives. They are impatient to get to the seat of power. The ultimate seat. The US presidency.
Fine and dandy with me. This is democracy. All shades of political opinions are welcome. Michele lost her chance and was sulking for long time, being not recognized as a presidential caliber. She still has some vim and vigor.
Her accusations are not any different than what is coming out in negative ads of Mitt Romney. Republicans, with free money flowing from rich Republicans and some more to spare are showing signs of defeat and are ready to go ballistic on anything that gets them some attention.
Hi John McCain, may God be with you.
Goodbye, Michele, nice noticing you. B Nice.
…and I am Sid Harth@webworldismyoyster.com
Rednecks hate every part of the Constitution that doesn't support their hatred and bigotry.....
One fact that a lot of mosque supporters ignore is how many American mosques (and elsewhere in the west) are funded and operated by wealthy Saudi backers. "So what!" one can say, but what happens is that those fundamentalists then export and install their own favored Wahhabi extremist Imams to preach at the new mosques. Of course those preachers then inject these profoundly regressive messages into sermons and literature of the mosques, spreading the most backward and intolerant version of Islam that exists in the world among the new American Muslim flock.
So yes, unfortunately they have a right to build all these mega-mosques in America (even though very few churches or other faith-houses are allowed in many Islamic countries, and NONE in Saudi Arabia), but anyone who celebrates this process of spreading the worst kind of Islam around the world from Wahhabi central command in the Arabian Peninsula is living in a dangerous fantasy world thinking that this is a good and/or healthy thing.
You want to stop immigration? Write your congressmen.
In the meantime, adhere to the Constituion. Religious freedom is guaranteed for all religions, not just the ones you like. You're free to dunk each other in water. I'm free to dance around my totem pole of choice.
Yes Sam, the importation of religious extremism does concern me greatly. As an atheist I can see the danger with perhaps more clarity than some others. Limiting Immigration is a rather different matter than the one I brought up because Saudi Wahhabit preachers would only constitute a minuscule number of immigrants each year, perhaps as low as a dozen or two, so Immigration is beside the point.
Pretty funny how you try to pigeon-hole -- and thus dismiss -- me as some kind of "dunking" Christian. Nice try though, juvenile as it is. You probably can't do any better so I don't blame you too much.
What's your point Adam44?
You just underlined it.
Adam,
You're still trying to undermine the Constitution of the U.S. I don't care if you're a Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Mormon or atheist, the Constitution allows for freedom of religion.
Even the "scary" ones.
hambone, methinks you need a remedial course in reading comprehension. I explicitly wrote:
Let me highlight the key words of that sentence for you: THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BUILD. I just don't have to like what's being imported to preach in all these new Saudi mega-mosques. Get it?? ... probably not.
Hi Adam I was going to write asking the community why they collapsed your post, but I see you have reposted it here so no worries, I do think you bring up a valid concern as Wahhabis is one of the most extreme and oppressive sects of Islam, however in the UK I know that more attention is now being paid to who is funding these Mosques and what kind of message they want to preach before they are granted planning permission, so I’d assume that the US would be doing something similar.
Finally I’d also like to say that whilst Saudi don’t allow other religious buildings I have never heard the Saudi’s claim to respect human rights and religious freedom (quite the opposite they have religious police) so put simply there will be a double standard here but that’s what we get when we are the ones saying our social systems are based on freedom and human rights.
Oh well that’s my take on this
You cannot argue with close minded uneducated simple minded people.
And you know who you are because this comment will be attacked even though I have not sided with anyone.
"haven't sided with anyone"
...oh...I think you have, and I agree with you.
Ah, right-wing Tennessee christianity in action.
Glad we still have a federal government to apply the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Those hillbilly bigots who yap about smaller gov't... yeesh! They're allowed to vote too! Should their be a test? Something that includes a family tree that forks out into many branches and the ability to speak about how trickle down economics is different than zero sum?
As an American and a Christian it saddens me that it has come to this...that we have ourselves become like them (a survival instinct no doubt). I must admit I do not like Muslims but I have a legitimate reason for feeling that way. They crowd our streets in the larger cities to show their numbers. They burn our flag, they praise suicide bombers who kill innocent people. They shout to the heavens that we are all infidels and must die because we do not believe as they do. They do not believe in our laws, they do not believe in our way of life, so I must ask the question....WHY ARE THEY HERE? Does no one ask that question? Must they come up to you personally and stick a gun in your face for you to realize that they mean you harm? I've noticed that most of the people that defend their right are those that have had to fight for their own, such as gays who have had to fight for their right to marry, blacks who have had to fight for their right to vote, all of us have had to fight for something but should we be fighting for someone who has made it clear that they mean us harm. The religion itself teaches this therefore if you are a true Muslim then we are your enemy. I don't really care to grant my enemy tax exempt status, and allow him to move into my neighborhood and gather in large numbers. Lets be realistic my fellow Americans, Christians and Non Christians alike, the Muslims are not our friends their religion REQUIRES them to kill us. What about that don't you understand? Again, ask yourself the question WHY ARE THEY HERE WHEN OUR VERY WAY OF LIFE OFFENDS THEM???
Do you understand that this is a constituitional issue, not a religious issue? You're advocating a reversal of one the main reasons this country exists: Freedom of Religion.
If you get to define what "religion" is for others, then we have no religious freedom, and YOUR religion is in danger of being redefined as a cult.
Buy a clue.
Well I went and bought myself a clue and yes I do realize this is a constitutional issue, and it is a fine line that we walk but it still does not negate my point. They mean us harm, get a clue!
Islam is not a religion like America is not a country. The right wing bigotry is just unfathomable, and unconscionable.
Why don't you try to get the muslims to accept homosexual priest! See what they have to say. peeon.
@savygator
Huh? Which part of religious freedom do you not understand? Oh wait.....all of it......never mind.
Why don't you try to get the catholic pedophiles to accept homosexual priest! See what they have to say. peeon.
This question from NBC poll "Do you think mainline Christian churches are in decline because they are too liberal?" Answer not in
Tennessee
Where Bigots and Bibles go hand in hand.
If you don't like it leave!! The only problem is the "christians" don't fight your secularism like the muslims do.
Sure they don't. I'm proud of you; you managed to write that with a straight face, I'll bet.
Who gets to define what a "religion" is. YOU?
If and when we become a majority hispanic country, do they get to redefine religion as Catholicism only?
Think.
Let me guess, your Hispanic
I guess we're just ignoring the First Ammendment, unless we're Christian? Their right to worship is in our Constitution. I'm an Atheist and I think all religions are dumb. But, this country protects my right to express that and their right to worship. The community sounds like a bunch of racist bigots who need to turn off Fox News. It's funny how these people complain about religious freedom when it pertains to them, but get all up in arms when it's another religion. Hey! YOU'RE ALL FRICKEN CRAZY! You people talk to an invisible man in the sky. However, this country allows you the right to be that crazy. Before you know it, we'll be back in the 30's where only white, ''Christian'' men have rights. Good job, America. Nothing like moving backwards.
That's the stated objective of the neocons. Read the official Texas GOP platform.
There is a reason why the Taliban throws acid on little girls who want an education...because an educated mind will renounce Islam...
Simply look at the irrational posts on this thread that defend it...sad if it wasn't so tragic...
Islam is a cult.
Tenn. got it right...Bravo, Tenn.!
1.6 billion members and it's a cult. As they say in Blue Color Comedy, "here's your sign."
What's irrational is people advocating the suspension of religious freedom. If you take away their religious freedom, you take away your own.
Old Vet -- Wow. You want to say there is a maximum number on the size of a cult. Really?
Old is ok. Old and senile is not.
Sam --Again, you beg the question...and again, you are not familiar with the law...
The government can step in if the religion is deemed harmful to the common good....try to keep up.
No, John, I'm saying that if 1.6 billion people belong to the second largest religion in the world, most intelligent people would not believe it to be a cult. Christianity started as a cult of Judaism but ultimately became an accepted mainstream religion once it gained the support of Roman officials and the adherence of a large proportion of the population of the Roman Empire. You have already shown yourself to be a bigot regarding Islam so I don't expect an intelligent response from you.
By the way, neither you nor anyone else has shown Islam to be harmful to the common good. Your bigotry, if adopted by others, would be more of a threat.
This is a street fight. People who believe in the USA need to become like the forefathers and up the ante.. "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism" - Thomas Jefferson.
John,
Please cite the law that allows the government to "step in"...
I won't hold my breath.
old vet -- calling someone a bigot when they are not is a rather poor form of argument...lol..
Obviously you simply have to look at the Islamic countries where Islam is practice to see its harmful effect..
Denial of facts does not make them less true.
Rather sad you attempt to use 'social proof'........it does not matter if the majority of the world's population believed the world was flat...who cares? They were still wrong...as are you with regard to Islam
Perhaps a bright spot in this story is that the County attorneys argued that treating the mosque differently was discriminatory and did not oppose the Federal court order. Not everyone in Rutherford County is brain dead.
Fascism will come to America wrapped in a flag, carrying a bible...
Yep--and proclaiming itself to be the savior of American liberty.
Burn IT! If the people in the county don't want it. This is a street fight. You wants it more?
Savy--There has been no county vote on the issue. The county attorney's opposed the chancery court's decision as discriminatory and did not contest the Federal judge's restraining order. Let us not assume that everyone in and around Murfreesboro is a bigoted fool.
I would like to apologize to everyone with a brain for my Tennessee neighbors. they make me ashamed to be from TN. please know we are not all like that. after years of fighting for racial equality, I found myself in tears the day I voted for President Obama. I am heartbroken to witness the upsurge of racial prejudice we now are facing. I thought we had moved farther up the food chain but I guess we have not
Apologize to the 2800 souls murdered by Islamic Fanatics on 9-11. Apologize to the innocents killed by a Islamic Suicide Bomber in Bulgaria. Apologize to the Naval Personnel on The USS Cole. Seventeen American sailors were killed, and 39 were injured. I could go on all day. These people are marching to a different drum. Don't compare them to any sane religion. They are murderers plain and simple.
The "Islamic Fanatics on 9-11" and "Islamic Suicide Bomber in Bulgaria" were from Tennessee? Nice stretch of logic there, Banker.
I don't believe this is what our Forefathers had in mind when the Constitution was written. Another example of ISLAM. The Suicide Bomber in Bulgaria. Tell me what Religion allows people to strap explosives on their bodies and kill innocent people just because they are from a certain Country? What kind of murdering fanatics crash airplanes into buildings killing thousands of innocent people. What kind of Judges rule anything in their favor? The festering of attitudes over this so called Religion will ultimately come to a head.
YOU don't get to decide what our "forefathers had in mind".
You can't take away freedom of religion because of the actions of some of it's followers....at least not in this country.
I'd hate to see the Constitution of the United States if right wing, teabirthers were allowed to "fix' it.
Banker--After reading the history of the Crusades, the Wars of Religion during the Reformation, and the Holocaust (just to name a few things) the answer I would give to your question (with allowances for technology) is Christianity.
I don't believe this is what our Forefathers had in mind when the Constitution was written Gentlemen. Tell it to the victims of 9-11, USS Cole and thousands of other incidents. You can recite History all you want about Christianity, but not to many Christians today strap explosives on themselves and blow up innocent men, women, and children.
Hey Sam....We have a history of dealing with fanatic religious groups in this Country. Especially when they murder and rape. Look it up.
Hey banker. We have a history in the country of dealing with ANYONE who murders and rapes. We prosecute Christians who bomb abortion clinics or murder abortion doctors, but we don't ban Christianity.
What are you talking about?
Actually it's exactly what they had in mind, that's why they wrote the 1st Amendment and also prohibited religious tests for public office. They resented Christian sharia law and wanted to make certain our government was secular
A number of the key founding fathers even owned Korans, including Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.
I learned everything I needed to know about Islam from 9-11 and hundreds of other incidents. Enjoy your Mosque gentlemen.
And I learned everything I need to know about white Christians from Oklahoma City.
/s
The Southern Baptists in Murfreesboro learned everything they know about Christianity from the KKK.
I learned about Christianity from my Baptist preacher when I was growing up.
The neighborhood around our church began to "darken". When the new, "darker" residents began showing up for "worship", our fine, "born again" preacher told them, "You people have your own churches".
He was a racist douche with an Elvis haircut, so, according to YOUR logic, ALL Baptists are racist douches with Elvis haricuts.
I'm in agreement with the locals opposing the newly built mosque! Don't let them move in!! The last thing they want is a mosque taking "root" in their community. Muslims meeting in a parking lot is one thing...but now they've got "a home" and once they occupy it, their plan is to take over the community. And no, I'm not a "conservative" or a "hillbilly" as they've been called, but I am a born again Christian, and I know what Islam is about. It is very much a real religion, it's just a false religion and it's a dangerous one...not just because of the terrorism and sword wielding, but because the source behind this religion is a spiritual abomination.
What your proposing is unconstitutional. If it was legal, it would open the door to discrimination against any and all religons.
Does that bother you at all?
Good point, Sam. What if there was a feeling wherever LetsGo resides that decided all Born Again Christians should now worship as they choose. Would he/she still have the same outlook?
Good point, Sam. What if there was a feeling wherever LetsGo resides that decided all Born Again Christians should now worship as they choose. Would he/she still have the same outlook?
A church structure is nice, but I don't need brick and mortar to worship Christ. I can worship the Lord in my car, at my desk, in the kitchen while cooking dinner, while watering my lawn, anywhere, everywhere. My body, which the Lord gave me, is my temple! In my redeemed heart..is where the Lord dwells.
That pretty much says it all...
Nobody's perfect.
Proof?
Let me guess: you think your religion is the true religion and not dangerous at all, right?
In the eyes of the government and law, Islam (and any other religion) is just as valid, protected, and equal as your is. That must stick you in the side like a thorn, eh?
Yes you can. Just as anyone else is entitled to worship as they see fit, regardless of religious belief. You can thank the Constitution for that.
My body is more like my own amusement park ride. Lot more fun that way! ;)
I just want to say, even though Tennessee is obviously a red state, that not everyone here in the Volunteer state is an ignorant, intolerant a**hole...
Seriously, you cant drive a mile in Tennessee, in any direction, without passing a Christian denomination church...this deal in Murfreesboro is pure ignorance and intolerance