A city outside Atlanta is facing a potential lawsuit for refusing to allow a group of Muslims to open a prayer center in a shopping center.
Charisma News reports that the City Council of Kennesaw, Georgia denied the request, citing a zoning ordinance that forbids places of worship in the shopping center; the Muslim group who issued the request has no filed suit, claiming the denied request violates their religious freedom.
Douglas Dillard, attorney to the Muslim Kennesaw residents said, "We think it's discriminatory, and it violates equal terms. They had no reason to deny this.”
Prior to the City Council’s 4-1 vote to deny the request, about 10 protesters waved American flags and held signs that said, “No mosque.”
Another shopping center in Kennesaw reportedly houses a mosque but city spokeswoman Pam Davis said that the retail space has “completely different zoning” which permits houses of worship.
Publication date: December 4, 2014