Mosque will have to wait for occupancy permit - WKRN, Nashville News, Nashville Weather and Sports

Mosque will have to wait for occupancy permit

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By Chris Bundgaard, Reporter - bio | email
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -

One day after a federal court ruling that would allow a controversial Murfreesboro area mosque to soon open, the members of the congregation learned they may have to wait about two weeks before they can move in the building.

Codes inspectors from Rutherford County were at the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro bright and early Thursday to check on the construction, but they indicated no certificate of occupancy, the legal document allowing the mosque to move in, would be issued until the building is finished.

Mosque construction foreman David Salimi told Nashville's News 2 three inspectors, including director David Jones, showed up around 7:30 a.m. and looked at the progress for about an hour.

"No one can get in there right now except construction workers and the inspectors," Salimi said."Even the Imam can only take a few steps in," he added, referring to the mosque religious leader.

According to Salimi the building is around 90% complete and could be ready for occupancy in upcoming weeks.

After Wednesday's court ruling, there had been hopes from some mosque members that they could get the certificate of occupancy in time for their holy month of Ramadan which begins with initial prayers Thursday night.

"We are hoping that these two weeks will be enough for the contractor's work and the inspection process to go through, and then by the end of two weeks, we will have our certificate of occupancy," said longtime ICM member Dr. Saleh Sbenaty who is an engineering professor at MTSU.

"We understand the inspection process is going to take several days," he added.

On Wednesday, Federal Judge Todd Campbell ordered Rutherford County to allow the final step of the permit process which is the certificate of occupancy.

It overturned a lower Chancery Court decision that denied the certificate of occupancy for the 12,000 square-foot building just outside the city limits southeast of Murfreesboro on Veals Road and Bradyville Pike.

The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro and the U.S. Justice Department had sued Rutherford County on Wednesday asking Judge Todd Campbell for an emergency order to let worshippers into the building before Ramadan.

In May, a Rutherford County Chancery Court judge overturned the county's approval of the mosque construction citing lack of proper public notice.

This month he ordered the county not to issue the occupancy permit for the building.

Joe Brandon Jr., the attorney for the group of Rutherford County citizens who tried to stop the mosque construction, told Nashville's News 2 Thursday, "We were robbed by the federal government."

Brandon added that he is "exploring his options" with his clients, adding, "We find the federal court ruling offensive."

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