Murfreesboro judge won't let new mosque open

A Rutherford County judge is continuing to block a local mosque from receiving a certificate of occupancy.

Chancellor Robert Corlew issued the injunction last month after ruling that county officials did not provide sufficient public notice for the May 2010 meeting where the mosque's construction plans were approved.

The county has argued that it treated that meeting like any other and has appealed the ruling to the Tennessee Court of Appeals.

County attorneys on Monday told Corlew he should stay his injunction on the certificate of occupancy while the appeal is pending. Corlew declined to do so, saying that a stay would gut his decision that voided construction approval.

Construction of the new Islamic Center of Murfreesboro has been ongoing throughout the dispute and is nearly complete.

Associated Press, 2 July 2012

View the Original article