TENNESSEE MOSQUE: Judge Orders Officials to Let It Open

A federal judge in Tennessee ruled yesterday (Wednesday) that officials in Murfreesboro, Tennessee must conduct a final inspection of a new mosque, potentially clearing the way for it to open in time for Ramadan, which starts today (Thursday). Opponents have used a number of legal strategies to block the opening of the mosque, but Judge Todd J. Campbell ruled that officials had been holding it to a higher standard than other religious buildings and that if the building is up to code, a certificate of occupancy should be issued immediately.

The site has been vandalized many times, including an arson attempt in 2010.