ACLU-TN Takes Legal Action Against Bartlett City Officials Over Mosque Construction Blockade

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee and attorney Daniel Horwitz have initiated a lawsuit contesting the Bartlett Board of Mayor and Aldermen’s refusal of a special-use permit sought by the Bartlett Muslim Society to establish a mosque. This action comes after months of diligent efforts by the Society to comply with city requirements, including financing an expensive traffic impact analysis by a renowned transportation specialist. This study concluded that the proposed mosque would not generate any negative traffic effects and that no mitigation measures were necessary.“This is an evident infringement on religious liberties disguised in bureaucratic terminology,” stated Stella Yarbrough, ACLU-TN legal director. “The facts contradict the permit denial, revealing a deeper issue: an attempt to restrict religious practices based on community identity.” Despite unanimous rejection by the city’s planning commission, the city’s own planning director advocated for approval, noting the favorable treatment previously given to similar Christian churches. The lawsuit, Bartlett Muslim Society v. City of Bartlett, seeks to compel the city to issue the permit.