Islamic Center of Tennessee sues board member who tried to fire imam and hire audit firm

Liam Adams, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read

A former board member at the Islamic Center of Tennessee is barred from the Antioch mosque after it sought a restraining order in response to the board member’s attempt to “seize complete control of ICT,” the mosque alleges in a June 30 lawsuit.

Davidson County Chancellor I'Ashea L. Myles granted ICT's request for a restraining order on Monday, saying “employees and parishioners may face further damage, harassment, threats, and interference with its legitimate business.”

The former board member, Salah Ayesh, said in a June 14 letter to the board his actions were based on concerns about mismanagement in the past couple years and risks of legal noncompliance, according to a copy of the letter in ICT’s lawsuit.

The Islamic Center of Tennessee.
The Islamic Center of Tennessee.

The ICT board ousted Ayesh, previously a board chair, on June 14 after Ayesh entered the ICT business office without permission and sought to hire a consulting firm to conduct a forensic audit. When Ayesh entered the business office, he removed records and changed locks, according to the lawsuit.

A week after the board removed him, Ayesh told ICT Imam Moaz Roaf that the imam was fired “effective immediately,” according to a June 28 letter included in the ICT lawsuit.

“You further are instructed not to discuss this matter with any ICT employees…and not to enter any ICT property or attend any ICT events without first obtaining my written permission,” Ayesh said in his June 28 letter to Roaf. In that letter and his June 14 letter to the board, Ayesh signed as chairman of the board, a title he last held in 2021.

On social media, ICT publicly doubled down on its description of events contained in the lawsuit.

“During the course of these unfortunate events , ICT board members, on multiple occasions, attempted mediation with Mr. Ayesh…but all such efforts were in vain,” ICT said in a statement on Facebook. “May Allah SWT protect ICT from Fitnah (slander) and wrongdoers.”

Screen grab from security camera at the Islamic Center of Tennessee when a now ousted board member entered the business office and removed records. The Antioch mosque sued the ousted board member afterward.
Screen grab from security camera at the Islamic Center of Tennessee when a now ousted board member entered the business office and removed records. The Antioch mosque sued the ousted board member afterward.

Ayesh's attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

Though less common for Nashville area mosques, power struggles have occurred at other local faith congregations.

Conflict over leadership styles and a church’s future have led to the departure of well-known pastors at Covenant Presbyterian Church in 2018 and at Grace Chapel in Franklin in 2021. Christ Presbyterian Church is currently dealing with turmoil, though for different reasons, amid the suspension of senior pastor Scott Sauls.

Liam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean. Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or on Twitter @liamsadams.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Islamic Center of Tennessee sues board member over leadership conflict