Lawsuit Says Broken Arrow Violated Rights by Denying Mosque Rezoning
The Civil Rights Division is reviewing whether the city’s zoning rules burden religious exercise, and it requested up to five years of records.
- On Monday, Aug. 3, the Islamic Society of Tulsa and the Council on American-Islamic Relations filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Broken Arrow, alleging it illegally denied a mosque rezoning application.
- Voting 4-1 in January, the Broken Arrow City Council denied the rezoning request, citing traffic and infrastructure concerns despite the planning commission's prior approval.
- Attorneys allege the city violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act by treating the mosque proposal differently than similar religious projects that received approval.
- The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether the city's zoning practices comply with federal law, with city officials stating they are "fully engaged" with the probe.
- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond called on the Trump administration to "immediately halt" the investigation, arguing the federal records request constitutes overreach and threatens First Amendment rights.
15 Articles
15 Articles
The Epoch Times
Islamic Society Sues City Over Rejection of Mosque Proposal
The Islamic Society of Tulsa has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and four individual city council members after the city denied its request to build a mosque and Islamic community center. The suit, which was filed on Aug. 3, alleges the denial violated the U.S. Constitution, the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, and Oklahoma law by discriminating against Muslims. The city of Broken …
Lawsuit says Broken Arrow treated Muslims differently than other applicants
The lawsuit lists a litany of instances in which the Islamic Society of Tulsa says Christian churches, housing developments and retail centers with similar applications were approved or given a chance to address concerns.
Mosques experience 183% rise in bias attacks over 90 days - Los Angeles Wave Newspaper Group
By Sunita Sohrabji Contributing Writer SAN FRANCISCO — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) released a report July 27 noting that bias attacks and threats at Islamic places of worship have risen by 183% in the past three months. Threats of violence, arson, and intimidation are among the bias-related attacks faced by mosques in the US since May. In Wilmington, North Carolina, a man banged on the mosque door, cursed, and is recorded on…
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