MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Strong accusations once again flew in a court hearing to stop construction of a Murfreesboro mosque.
The hearing for a temporary restraining order requested by three citizens resumed Wednesday in Rutherford County after a three-week break.
Joe Brandon, who represents the trio who want the mosque construction stopped, peppered Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess with accusations and questions about when and what he knew of the mosque approval.
"Does it bother you that they were approving a 52,000 square-foot mosque?" Brandon asked the mayor.
"No," he replied.
County attorney Jim Cope, who is defending the local planning commission's approval of the mosque, repeatedly objected to some questions of the county mayor and a county commissioner who serves on the planning commission.
"This is about the fourth time I have had to object to this argumentative badgering of the witness," declared Cope to Rutherford County Chancery Court Judge Robert Corlew.
Later, Cope's frustration grew even stronger when the plaintiff's attorney was questioning County Commissioner Gary Farley about Islamic Sharia Law.
"What do think of sex with children, do you believe in that," Brandon asked the commissioner.
Farley, who is also one of the planning commission members who approved the mosque in May of this year, shot back, "I do not."
The county attorney then jumped up saying "this is a circus!"
His objection was sustained by the judge.
Site development for the mosque, officially called the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, has created uproar since its approval, but county officials maintain that by law it was treated no different than any place of worship.
More county officials are expected to testify as the trial continues Thursday and Friday.
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Attorney Joe Brandon represents the trio who want the mosque construction stopped.
The mosque is being built off Veals Road, southeast of Murfreesboro.
