Tennessee Mosque Ordered Open by Judge

A federal judge has ordered a Tennessee county to move ahead with opening a Muslim congregation's newly built mosque after a two year fight by opponents. The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro sued Rutherford County Wednesday and asked District Judge Todd Campbell for an emergency order to let worshippers into the building before the holy month of Ramadan starts at sundown Thursday.

Federal prosecutors then stepped in with a similar lawsuit. In May, a Rutherford County judge overturned the county's approval of the mosque construction. This month he ordered the county not to issue an occupancy permit for the 12,000 square foot building.

Campbell ordered the county to move ahead on approving the mosque for use although it wasn't immediately clear if that could happen by Thursday.