MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP/NewsChannel 5) - Despite a federal judge issuing a temporary restraining order to allow the Murfreesboro Mosque to go through the inspection process, it will not open in time for the start of Ramadan.
Leaders of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro said Rutherford County Codes Director David Jones came to the property Thursday morning, without scheduling a time to meet them. The holy month of Ramadan starts at sundown Thursday.
They said despite Wednesday's victory in federal court, there is still work to be done before they could pass an occupancy inspection.
That inspection could happen in the coming weeks, which would allow them to finally move-in.
Phone calls to Jones' office Thursday haven't been returned.
The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro sued Rutherford County on Wednesday and asked U.S. District Judge Todd Campbell for an emergency order to let worshippers into the building before the holy month of Ramadan starts at sundown Thursday.
Federal prosecutors also filed a similar lawsuit.
Attorneys for the mosque argued that the county judge violated the group's First Amendment rights, but at the end of the day both sides simply wanted to do right by the law.
"Our job is to follow the law, not to try to advocate for one side or the other. We just want to make sure the process is done appropriately, fairly and legally," said Rutherford County attorney Jim Cope.
"It's a time where we can say to everyone you can look to us here in America and learn from us that people have the right to practice any religion they want," added Islamic Center of Murfreesboro Imam Ossama Bahloul.
Attorneys said once the mosque opens, it will be hard for any court to shut it down.
The future of the mosque had been in question since May, when a local judge overturned the county's approval of the mosque construction. This month he ordered the county not to issue an occupancy permit for the 12,000-square-foot building.
The legal fight over the mosque has been ongoing since 2010.
Past Stories:
- July 18, 2012: Federal Judge Moves Mosque Closer To Opening
- July 10, 2012: Planners Consider New Vote On Murfreesboro Mosque
- July 2, 2012: Murfreesboro Judge Won't Let New Mosque Open
- June 22, 2012: County Appeals Judge's Ruling On Mosque Approval
- June 21, 2012: Texas Man Indicted For Threats Against Murfreesboro Mosque
- June 12, 2012: Commission Votes To Appeal Ruling On Murfreesboro Mosque
- June 11, 2012: Transparency Groups See Problems In Mosque Ruling
- June 7, 2012: Opponents Want Construction Stopped At Islamic Center
- June 1, 2012: Judge Voids Mosque Approval, Doesn't Stop Building
- May 30, 2012: Construction Continues On Murfreesboro Mosque
- May 29, 2012: Judge Says Murfreesboro Mosque Construction Must Stop
- April 26, 2012: Testimony Concluded In Murfreesboro Mosque Suit
- April 26, 2012: Islam Claims Blocked In Trial Over Murfreesboro Mosque
- April 20, 2012: Debate Over Murfreesboro Mosque Headed To Trial
- April 16, 2012: Former SNL Star Questions Murfreesboro Mosque
- April 4, 2012: Attorneys Ask Judge To Throw Out Mosque Challenge
- Feb. 8, 2012: Construction Begins On Murfreesboro Mosque
- Nov. 2, 2011: Chancellor Sets Date For Murfreesboro Mosque Trial
- Oct. 11, 2011: New Court Date Set In Murfreesboro Mosque Lawsuit
- Oct. 7, 2011: Another Plea Filed Against Murfreesboro Mosque
- Sep. 28, 2011: Group Breaks Ground On Murfreesboro Mosque
- Sep. 27, 2011: Groundbreaking For New Mosque On Wednesday
- Sep. 14, 2011: Mosque Construction Delayed After Bids Lacking
- Sep. 6, 2011: Murfreesboro Mosque Receives Bomb Threat 5 Days Before 9/11
- Aug. 31, 2011: Judge Affirms Ruling Allowing Mosque Construction
- Aug. 29, 2011: Judge Says Mosque is Protected by Religious Freedom
- June 27, 2011: Tensions Rise In Murfreesboro Mosque Hearing
- June 16, 2011: Plaintiffs Want Access To Leaders' Emails About Mosque
- April 19, 2011: Security Cameras Removed At Murfreesboro Mosque Site
- April 6, 2011: Mosque Neighbors Join In On Lawsuit
- March 9, 2011: Judge Denies Request For Emails In Mosque Hearing
- Feb. 14, 2011: County Lawyers To Ask For Dismissal Of Mosque Case
- Nov. 17, 2010: Judge Denies Request To Stop Mosque Construction
- Nov. 2, 2010: Legal Fees For Mosque Suit Could Top $50,000
- Oct. 25, 2010: High Cost Of Security Could Slow Mosque Construction
- Oct. 22, 2010: Opponents Try To Link Mosque Members To Terrorists
- Oct. 21, 2010: Attorney: Mosque Board Member Has Ties To Terrorists
- Oct. 20, 2010: County Officials Defend Action In Murfreesboro Mosque Case
- Oct. 19, 2010: Murfreesboro Mosque Lawyer Says He'll Still Make His Case
- Oct. 18, 2010: Justice Dept. Enters Murfreesboro Mosque Controversy
- Sep. 21, 2010: Bizarre Murfreesboro Mosque Confrontation Caught On Tape
- Sep. 11, 2010: Animal Rights Group Promotes Compassion for Murfreesboro Mosque
- Sep. 6, 2010: Murfreesboro Mosque Site Neighbors Moving Out
- Aug. 12, 2010: Commissioners Hear More About Murfreesboro Mosque
- June 25, 2010: Candidate Denounces Murfreesboro Mosque Proposal
- June 24, 2010: Murfreesboro Mosque Supporters Have Their Voices Heard
- May 20, 2011: Building Permit Obtained For Murfreesboro Mosque
- Nov. 15, 2010: Defense Rests In Murfreesboro Mosque Hearing
(The Associated Press Contributed To This Report.)
