TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jul 28, 2025

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Tennessee and attorney Daniel Horwitz have filed a lawsuit challenging the Bartlett Board of Mayor and Aldermen’s denial of a permit requested by the Bartlett Muslim Society to build a mosque. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, the suit alleges the city’s decision violates the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUPIA), Tennessee’s Preservation of Religious Freedom Act and the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause. According to the ACLU, mosque officials have met permit requirements, including conducting a traffic study that showed no adverse impact. The group is asking the court to find that the city’s actions violate RLUIPA and mandate approval of the permit.