In Rutherford County, Tennessee, an attempt to halt the construction of a mosque on the foolish grounds that Islam is not a religion, and that it is inherently a threat, has been dismissed by Judge Robert Corlew. The Tennessean reports:
Corlew said the plaintiffs have to prove an injury different from that suffered by other residents of the county, but denied their claims that their religion made them targets for subjugation under what is known as Shariah law.
He said earlier that the court did not find that Islamic Center of Murfreesboro members adhered to extremist religious ideas.
…[T]here is inadequate evidence in the record which supports this plaintiff’s contention of a casual connection between the teachings of Sharia law and the actions of the county government,” Corlew wrote.
Corlew said that he respected the opinions of the plaintiffs but that the U.S. Constitution has established the right to freedom of religion and tolerance of differing religious beliefs.
Corlew is allowing one claim to proceed: that the planning commission violated open meetings law, but not claims that the commission made an inappropriate decision, that a mosque represents a threat to the community, or that somehow Islam does not qualify for religious liberty protections under the US Constitution.
