The hearing in Murfreesboro is supposed to be about whether Rutherford County officials violated Tennessee's open meetings law when they approved the mosque's site plan.
On Saturday, he visits Nazareth, where the cornerstone of a mosque has been laid in the shadow of the Basilica of the Annunciation, raising tensions between Christian and Muslim Arabs, and between the state of Israel, which approved the mosque, and the Vatican, which disapproves of its siting.
The high court has dismissed an application for special leave to appeal a ruling that upheld Bendigo council's decision to approve the mosque.
Muslim activity is allowed only in government-approved mosques, holy books cannot be widely circulated and only clerics can wear religious attire.
To its credit, the Rutherford County government upheld the rights of the Muslim congregation and approved the new mosque.
In Athens, where I had lived for four years, many Muslims are relative newcomers who must worship in rented basements until a mosque — approved by the Greek Parliament in 2006 — is built.
That resistance to diversity, though, is not something we want to emulate, which is why I'm glad the mosque was approved on Tuesday.
Bunches of multi-coloured balloons can still be seen on poles in the town, part of a campaign organised by local churches and activists at the weekend to replace the black balloons that appeared after the mosque was approved.
Before the $3m mosque was approved in June 2014, Bendigo council received more than 350 objections to the development, which would include two prayer rooms, a shop and a community sports hall.
Still, the mosque was approved and construction is now well underway.
Hundreds marched in protest after Rutherford County officials approved plans for the mosque in 2010.
