Tagged: freedom of religion

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) — Muslims in the Tennessee city of Murfreesboro were able to celebrate Friday prayers in a new mosque after more than two years of controversy about the building.

Opponents of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro who sued to try to halt construction were nowhere to be seen. Instead the worship space was filled with smiling men, women and children.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP/WMOT) — The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro (ICM) will be permitted to occupy its new mosque in time for Ramadan.

WTVF-TV is reporting that a federal judge issued an emergency restraining order Wednesday evening that compels county officials to grant immediate occupancy. The order means that ICM will likely get to celebrate Ramadan beginning Thursday evening in its new facility.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  The Rutherford County Planning Commission has voted to appeal a court decision that voided their approval of the Murfreesboro Mosque.

The Planning Commission voted 6 to 1 Monday night to challenge Rutherford County Chancellor Robert Corlew’s decision in the case. Corlew ruled May 29 that the Commission failed to provide sufficient public notice for the 2010 meeting at which they approved the mosque’s construction permit.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  The Murfreesboro Mosque case returns to the Rutherford County Courthouse Wednesday morning.

Plaintiffs are asking Rutherford County Chancellor Robert Corlew to rescind a building permit awarded nearly two years ago by the county for the construction of a new mosque on Veals Road.

Construction is well underway on the Islamic Center’s new facility. Mosque spokesman Saleh Sbenaty gave WMOT a tour of the construction site Monday. The walls and roof are essentially complete and workmen are now starting on the building’s interior.

LENOIR CITY, Tenn. (AP) — Officials of Lenoir City say a patch that includes the word "religion" will remain on police uniforms.

Mayor Tony Aikens says he told a large crowd at a city council meeting last night the city will not yield to the Freedom from Religion Foundation's demand that the patch no longer be displayed.

Lenoir City Police shirts and jackets display a triangular shoulder patch with the words "education," ''religion" and "industry."