Mosque controversies across the United States

New York City, N.Y.: Conservative media outlets helped to turn a 2009 proposal for an Islamic community centre and mosque in Manhattan, two blocks from the former site of the Twin Towers, into a national controversy over a so-called “Ground Zero mosque.”

Though Mayor Michael Bloomberg supported the project, it was abandoned in 2011.

Murfreesboro, Tenn.: Local officials were bombarded by anti-Muslim sentiment after a mosque was approved in the Nashville-area city in 2010.

Opponents filed a lawsuit, an arsonist set fire to the construction site, a man was arrested for a bomb threat and the state lieutenant-governor said Islam might be considered “a cult.”

A federal judge finally allowed the mosque to open in 2012.

Sterling Heights, Mich.: The planning board voted 9-0 in September against a proposed mosque the city planner said was a bad fit for its location.

Among the strongest opposition came from the city’s large community of Christian Iraqi-Americans, some of whom expressed anti-Muslim sentiment. This case also prompted a lawsuit and a justice department investigation.

Bernards Township, N.J.: The wealthy suburb of New York City voted in December to reject a mosque proposed by an Islamic group led by a former mayor of the township.

Though the current mayor said the decision was strictly about land use, the group sued and the justice department opened a civil rights investigation.

Culpeper County, Va.: The county board voted 4-3 in April to reject a permit for the “pump-and-haul” septic system needed for a proposed mosque to be used by 15 people for twice-weekly prayer meetings.

The board had approved 18 of the 19 previous pump-and-haul applications since 1995, including five for churches. Daniel Dale