The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community stands alone among Muslims, with members worldwide often having to flee violence or threats in their native countries, the Washington Post (NYSE:WPO) reported Saturday.

The faith was founded more than a century ago in India and has about 70 million members worldwide, despite persecution for calling itself the "true Islam."

Some Ahmadiyyas received political asylum in the United States in the 1990s and now there are about 40 mosques nationwide. The Silver Spring, Md., mosque has about 3,000 members, leading it to look for a larger site.

They thought their search ended with a contract to purchase a 224-acre farm that could serve as a worship center as well as hosting up to 10,000 people for an annual three-day national convention.

But opposition from Walkersville, Md., ended the idea. Town officials adopted zoning changes that prohibited the project on grounds of potential traffic and water supply disruption.

"We did not expect that," Ahsanullah Zafar, the ameer or president, of the U.S. Ahmadiyya movement told the Post.