MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - A temporary occupancy permit has been granted for the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro after a final inspection on Tuesday morning.
Building Codes Director David Jones in Rutherford County said Tuesday that he issued a temporary occupancy permit to the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro after inspectors approved the building.
Mosque leaders hope to hold evening prayers at the building as early as Friday.
The temporary permit runs until mid-October, allowing the contractors time to finish the landscaping and some other last tasks.
Opponents have spent two years trying to halt construction of the mosque for the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro.
Construction was nearly shut down after a Rutherford County judge ruled in May that the meeting where mosque construction was approved was not sufficiently advertised to the public.
Last month, federal prosecutors stepped in to protect the religious liberty of mosque members. A federal judge ruled in their favor, allowing construction and permitting to move ahead.
The 12,000-square-foot mosque will replace a smaller one that's been used for 30 years.
Opposition to the new mosque has included a lawsuit, a large rally, vandalism, arson and a bomb threat.
Recently, members of Grace Baptist Church put up several white crosses along Bradyville Pike, alongside the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro.
They said the crosses are a statement of their Christian faith and their feelings towards the new mosque. Officials for the Islamic Center said they aren't upset, and believe they must love their neighbors.
The temporary permit runs until mid-October, allowing the contractors time to finish the landscaping and some other last tasks.
Past Stories:
- July 31, 2012: Opponents File Motion To Challenge Murfreesboro Mosque
- July 27, 2012: Murfreesboro Mosque Gets More Time For Completion
- July 20, 2012: County Judge Nearly Stopped Mosque Building
- July 19, 2012: Mosque Will Not Open In Time For Ramadan
- 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.)
