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http://www.alternet.org/rss/breaking_news/301492/us_justice_department__backs_tennessee_mosque_project/
The Justice Department's civil rights division filed an amicus brief in support of Rutherford County in Tennessee, which is being sued by a group of landowners who are opposed to county-approved plans to build a mosque in Murfreesboro.
The brief said that Islam, like all religions, is entitled to protection under the First Amendment to the US Constitution, and Rutherford County was obliged by law to "treat the mosque project as it would other proposals for construction of places of worship."
"A mosque is quite plainly a place of worship, and the county rightly recognized that it had an obligation to treat mosques the same as churches, synagogues, or any other religious assemblies," assistant attorney general for civil rights Thomas Perez said.
"This is not only common sense; it is required by federal law," he said.
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