Thomas Smith (left) gives closing arguments in April 2012 in Rutherford County Chancery Court in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (File photo)

A federal judge in Nashville ruled in favor Wednesday of opponents of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, saying the group of Rutherford County residents who are against the project are allowed to intervene in the case regarding religious land-use rights.

Although U.S. District Court Judge Kevin Sharp ruled Islamic Center opponents have a right to participate in the federal proceedings, he placed several limits on what arguments attorneys Joe Brandon Jr. and Thomas Smith are allowed to present during upcoming hearings.

In the ruling, Sharp said Islamic Center opponents are allowed to address whether an order barring the mosque from opening violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, a federal law that prohibits discrimination in land use and zoning decisions.

That order was issued by Chancellor Robert Corlew III after he ruled the Rutherford County Commission failed to provide adequate public notice prior to approving construction of the Islamic Center.

Opponents may not, however, present arguments about the legitimacy of Islam as a religion, nor are they allowed to make unfounded accusations alleging some of the mosque's members are involved in terrorism.

The decision comes less than a week after the Rutherford County Building Codes Department issued a permanent certificate of occupancy to the Islamic Center, allowing its members to use the recently constructed building, located on Veals Road off Bradyville Pike.