Trial over Murfreesboro Islamic Center plan set for next April

Not WelcomeThe trial over the site plan approval for the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro has been scheduled for next April. Seventeen plaintiffs are suing Rutherford County, claiming officials violated Tennessee’s open meetings law.

Plaintiffs’ attorney Joe Brandon Jr. also tried to argue that the mosque violated his clients’ constitutional rights, claiming mosque members were compelled by their religion to subdue non-Muslims. Chancellor Robert Corlew dismissed that claim in May.

Rutherford County attorney Josh McCreary said that Corlew set an April 25 trial date during a hearing on Wednesday. Corlew also agreed to allow The Murfreesboro Post to intervene in the case.

Notice for the meeting where the site plan was approved was printed in The Post. Plaintiffs argue The Post is not a newspaper of general circulation, as required by law.

Associated Press, 2 November 2011