Muslim Advocates commends the U.S Department of Justice for filing an amicus brief on October 18 supporting the construction of mosque in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The DOJ’s support for construction of a new mosque for the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro comes just weeks after Muslim Advocates Executive Director Farhana Khera met with U.S.Attorney General Eric Holder to express concern and urge decisive action to counter anti-Muslim hatred across the country.

The government’s brief argues that Islam is a religion entitled to protection under the First Amendment and that Rutherford County properly treated construction of the mosque as it would other proposals for the construction of houses of worship.

Mosque members in Murfreesboro reacted positively to the government’s support, calling it a “blessing.”

Attorney General Meets with Muslim Advocates, Faith Leaders to Address Rising Anti-Muslim Bigotry & Hate Crimes

(WASHINGTON, DC) September 7, 2010–A broad coalition of national faith leaders and advocacy groups from the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Arab, Sikh and South Asian communities–led by Muslim Advocates, the Interfaith Alliance, the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism–meets this afternoon with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to discuss steps the Department of Justice and the Attorney General can take against rising anti-Muslim hate and acts of violence and intimidation against American Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim.

Today’s meeting is the result of a meeting on August 30 with Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Tom Perez, Muslim Advocates, the Interfaith Alliance, the Baptist Joint Committee and the Religious Action Center. Following that meeting, the Department invited these four groups to return to meet with the Attorney General directly. They will be joined by an expanded group of Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith leaders and Muslim, Arab, Sikh and South Asian community organizations.

Read the full, joint press release.
CNN reporter Brian Todd spoke with interfaith leaders after their meeting, and ABCnews.com featured Muslim Advocates Executive Director Farhana Khera’s comments in its coverage.

Watch Farhana Khera and Rev. Welton Gaddy’s September 8 interview on CNN’s American Morning.