Tagged: Mosque

MURFREESBORO, Tenn (AP/WMOT) — Rutherford County Planning Commission members are considering whether to schedule a new vote on construction of the Murfreesboro Mosque.

The county's appeal of the court ruling that prohibits occupancy of the nearly finished worship center would still go forward.

Rutherford County Regional Planning Commissioner Mike Kusch sought a lawyer's advice on the issue during a meeting Monday. Kusch says the lawyer told members the board is free to revisit the matter any time as long as public notice is adequate.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Rutherford County judge has ruled that construction of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro’s new mosque can continue for now. 

Opponents of the Murfreesboro Mosque convinced Judge Robert Corlew to nullify the county planning commission decision that approved it, but they lost their bid to stop construction immediately.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — A lawsuit that seeks to void the approval for a Rutherford County mosque will go to trial next week in Murfreesboro.

On Thursday, Chancellor Robert Corlew denied a defense motion to dismiss claims of inadequate public notice for the meeting where the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro was approved.

Even though the trial will now go forward, mosque spokesman Saleh Sbenaty says his congregation feels confident about the eventual outcome.

MURFREESBORO, TN (AP) The trial over the site plan approval for the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro has been scheduled for next April.

Seventeen plaintiffs are suing Rutherford County, claiming officials violated Tennessee's open meetings law.

Plaintiffs' attorney Joe Brandon Jr. also tried to argue that the mosque violated his clients' constitutional rights, claiming mosque members were compelled by their religion to subdue non-Muslims.

Chancellor Robert Corlew dismissed that claim in May.