Christian Headlines Blog Christian Blog and Commentary

Get guidance on Bible study from C.S. Lewis - Free Course!

Minnesota Town Sued after Refusing Muslim Worship Center

  • Carrie Dedrick Religious persecution, missions, Christianity around the world
  • Updated Aug 29, 2014

St. Anthony Village, a small town in Minnesota, is being sued by the U.S. government for refusing to allow a Muslim group the right to open a worship center.

According to Charisma News, St. Anthony Village council members voted in 2012 against the Abu Huraira Islamic Center. The Muslim grouped had requested to open the worship center in the basement of the St. Anthony Business Center. 

The Muslim group claims that they were denied permission to open a place of worship because of their religious affiliation. The municipality maintains that a lack of space was the reason for the denial. 

Molly Moran, acting assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division said, "Religious freedom is one of our most cherished rights, and there are few aspects of that right more central than the ability of communities to establish places for collective worship.”

According to the Justice Department, the town’s denial of the Muslim worship center was unlawful because the building’s zoning code states “assemblies, meeting lodges and convention halls” are permitted.

Publication date: August 29, 2014