Court Ruling: New mosque allowed Ramazan opening

District chief judge grants temporary order - sought by Islamic Center, backed by US Department of Justice lawsuit.

NASHVILLE/ TENNESSEE:

A federal judge on Wednesday ordered a Tennessee county to conduct a building inspection that is expected to clear the way for a new Muslim mosque near Nashville to open for Ramazan observances, which begin at sundown Thursday.

District Chief Judge Todd Campbell granted a temporary restraining order - sought by the Islamic Center and backed by a US Department of Justice lawsuit - to allow worshipers to begin using the new facility in Murfreesboro, Tennessee after the building inspection later on Wednesday.

A county judge in May had barred the congregation from using the nearly-complete facility on objections over grant of the  building permit by the local planning commission. The imam of the mosque, Ossama Bahloul, hailed the court decision. “We look forward to celebrating Ramazan with our neighbours,” he said.


Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2012.