Editing Rutherford County, Tennessee (section)

===Modern history===
In the early 2000s, Muslim immigrants settled in the county, particularly in and around [[Murfreesboro, Tennessee|Murfreesboro]]. Their efforts to develop a [[mosque]], the [[Islamic Center of Murfreesboro]] (and its subsequent replacement) became the focus of intense local controversy and opposition from non-Muslims,<ref name="tennessee_mosque_2021_07_19_bbc">[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-18909744 "Tennessee mosque gets go-ahead after legal fight,"] July 19, 2012, ''[[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]],'' [[United Kingdom]], retrieved October 15, 2021</ref><ref name="feds_file_2010_10_19_ap_taiwannews">Hall, Kristin M. ([[Associated Press]]): [https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/1407772 "Feds file legal brief in support of Tenn. mosque,"] October 19, 2010, ''[[Taiwan News]],'' retrieved October 15, 2021</ref><ref name="us_judge_halts_mosque_2012_05_30_tribune_com_pk">[[Reuters News Service]]: [https://tribune.com.pk/story/386179/us-judge-halts-construction-of-tennessee-mosque "US judge halts construction of Tennessee mosque: Judge ruled that local government had failed to follow proper procedures before granting building permit,"] May 30, 2012, The ''[[Express Tribune]],'' [[Pakistan]], retrieved October 16, 2021</ref><ref name="vandals_apologize_2018_03_10_ap_globalnews_ca">[[Associated Press]]: [https://globalnews.ca/news/4075418/tennessee-mosque-islamic-center-mufreesboro-vandals/ "Tennessee mosque vandals apologize for ‘dumb, foolish’ actions,"] March 10, 2018, ''[[Global News]],'' [[Canada]], retrieved October 15, 2021</ref> and were stymied by political and legal battles,<ref name="feds_file_2010_10_19_ap_taiwannews" /><ref name="us_judge_halts_mosque_2012_05_30_tribune_com_pk" /><ref name="us_judge_halts_mosque_2012_08_10_ap_foxnews">[[Associated Press]]: [https://www.foxnews.com/us/embattled-tennessee-mosque-opens "Embattled Tennessee mosque opens,"] August 10, 2012, updated December 1, 2015, ''[[Fox News]],'' retrieved October 16, 2021</ref><ref name="a_fight_2014_02_13_theatlantic">Ohlheiser, Abby: [https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/02/fight-over-tennessee-mosque-has-cost-one-county-343276-so-far/358054/ "A Fight Over a Tennessee Mosque Has Cost One County $343,276 (so Far),"] February 13, 2014, ''[[The Atlantic]],'' retrieved October 15, 2021</ref> arson, bomb threats and vandalism.<ref name="vandals_apologize_2018_03_10_ap_globalnews_ca" /><ref name="faith_leaders_2012_08_10_washingtonpost">Markoe, Lauren: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/faith-leaders-urge-americans-to-combat-attacks-on-religious-minorities/2012/08/09/f7d6561a-e26e-11e1-89f7-76e23a982d06_story.html "Faith leaders urge Americans to combat attacks on religious minorities,"] August 10, 2012, ''[[Washington Post]],'' retrieved October 15, 2021</ref><ref name="arson_caused_fire_2012_09_04_ap_foxnews">[[Associated Press]]: [https://www.foxnews.com/us/arson-caused-fire-at-tennessee-mosque-site-police-say "Arson Caused Fire at Tennessee Mosque Site, Police Say,"] September 4, 2012, updated November 30, 2015, ''[[Fox News]],'' retrieved October 22, 2021</ref><ref name="a_fight_2014_02_13_theatlantic" /><ref name="a_fight_2012_07_18_nytimes">Severson, Kim: [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/19/us/judge-allows-muslims-to-use-murfreesboro-mosque.html "Judge Allows Muslims to Use Tennessee Mosque,"] July 18, 2012, ''[[New York Times]],'' retrieved October 15, 2021</ref> A federal court forced the local authorities to allow the mosque,<ref name="tennessee_mosque_2021_07_19_bbc" /><ref name="us_judge_halts_mosque_2012_08_10_ap_foxnews" /><ref name="a_fight_2012_07_18_nytimes" /> and opposition subsided, but sporadic incidents continued.<ref name="vandals_apologize_2018_03_10_ap_globalnews_ca" />