A Murfreesboro Mosque and Its First Amendment Fight: A Discussion on Religious Freedom

The Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan, nonprofit foundation that works to foster First Amendment freedoms for all, premiered a new short-form documentary, “Murfreesboro: One Mosque's First Amendment Fight to Worship,” for an at-capacity crowd of religious freedom supporters at the InterContinental hotel in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 7, 2022.

The short film’s release commemorates the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro’s current facility in August 2012 after a lengthy court battle with opponents of the Muslim community’s right to build a house of worship.

The evening included a panel conversation moderated by Eric Treene, former special counsel for religious discrimination at the U.S. Department of Justice, who was involved in the mosque’s legal struggles. The panel featured Dr. Saleh M. Sbenaty, the center’s outreach committee chair; Dima Sbenaty, a former member of the mosque; and Imam Ossama Bahloul, who headed the mosque during its struggle.

The release is the latest religious literacy effort by the Freedom Forum, which shares stories about Americans standing up for their First Amendment rights and the rights of others and helps educate the public about religious expression.

“The Freedom Forum has been helping Americans better know, understand, value and defend their First Amendment freedoms for decades,” said Jan Neuharth, chair and CEO of the Freedom Forum. “Religious freedom, including for people of minority faiths, is one of these fundamental freedoms.”

The program was supported by The Andrew & Julie Klingenstein Family Fund.

Видео A Murfreesboro Mosque and Its First Amendment Fight: A Discussion on Religious Freedom канала Freedom Forum